In the House of Commons on Friday, April 3rd, Sir
Geoffrey Butler introduced a Bill to regulate the adoption of children. We need not go now into the details, as the Government held out no hope that time could be found for an Adoption Bill until the Committee presided over by Mr. Justice Tomlin had reported. We wish, however, to make certain remarks. It is high time that an Adoption Bill was added to the Statute Book. The precarious position of adopted children who at present have no legal rights is something of a disgrace to this country. We are shamed by the example of other civilized countries, and even by the ancient Romans. The demand of the Government for more information at this point provokes us to ask what has happened to the report of the Home Office Committee which was appointed by Mr. Shortt in 1920.
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