1893. 56 & 57 Vic., c. 48. Reformatory Schools
Act, giving power to a Court to remand a youthful
offender to a prison or to any other place,
which has in practice always been assumed to
be a workhouse.
1894. 57 & 58 Vic., c. 33. Industrial Schools Act.
Education.
1897. 60 & 61 Vic., c. 57. Infant Life Protection
Act, concerning persons receiving infants for
hire for the purpose of maintenance. An Act
for the abolition of illicit baby-farming.
1899. 62 & 63 Vic., c. 37. Poor Law Act, concerning
the control of guardians over orphans and
children of persons unfit to have control of them.
1901. 1 Ed. VII, c. 20. Youthful Offenders Act,
providing for (1) the removal of disqualifications
attaching to felony, (2) the liability of parent
or guardian in the case of youthful offenders,
(3) the remand of youthful offenders to other
places than prisons, (4) the recovery of expenses
of maintenance from parent or person legally
liable, etc., etc.
1901. 1 Ed. VII, c. 27. Intoxicating Liquors (Sale
to Children) Act, forbidding the sale or delivery
save at the residence or working place of the
purchaser of any description of intoxicating
liquor to any person under the age of fourteen
years, except in corked and sealed vessels, in
quantities not less than one reputed pint. It
should be noticed that the Licensing Act of 1872
prohibited the sale of any description of spirits
to any person apparently under the age of
sixteen years.
1903. 3 Ed. VII, c. 45. The Employment of
Children Act, containing restrictions on the
hours of employment, age of employees, nature
of employment, etc., etc.
There have also been several Education Acts either passed or proposed, but it is doubtful whether these have not usually had their origin in the exigencies of party politics rather than in a bonâ fide desire for the welfare of children. An honourable exception is the Elementary Education (Defective and Epileptic Children) Act of 1899.
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