192408-1932-Supplementary-Bills-read-a-first-time- — Page 5

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Objects and Reasons.

1. Under section 9 of the Registration of Births and Deaths Ordinance it is the duty of the father or mother or in the case of death, illness, absence, or inability to attend of the father or mother the occupier of the house in which the child has been born, or any one present at the birth to give the necessary information to the Registrar within 42 days of birth.

2. It has been the custom for midwives to give the necessary information to the Registrar with regard to births where they have been in attendance and this information has been forthwith entered in the register. Sometimes this information is incorrect as to the exact name of the father, the mother or the child. This is an error of fact or substance which can only be corrected at the cost of $2.50.

3. It often happens that when the child is registered on the information of the midwife (generally one or two days after birth) no name has been given to the infant. The infant is thus registered un-named.

4. There are constantly arising cases where within the 42 days of grace allowed by the Ordinance the father attends in person and offers the requisite information only to be told that the child has already been registered on the information given by the midwife. If the midwife's information is incorrect he must produce $2.50 and two certificates to have it corrected and he must produce another $2.50 for inserting the name of the child in the register.

5. In each case the father is penalised for something he is not responsible for and naturally he objects.

6. This amending Ordinance amends section 11 of the principal Ordinance by reducing the certificate fee to one dollar and by abolishing the entry fee where the former is issued or where the latter is made within forty-two days of the birth of the child.

April, 1932

C. G. ALABASTER,

Attorney General.

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