NEGLECTED CHILDREN
SIR,—My attention has been drawn to Mr. Robert Ward's letter in your issue of July 23rd. The pre-war establishment of our N.S.P.C.Q. Inspectorate numbered 272; it was (and is) our intention to increase this number to at least 300, but service with the Colours has temporarily reduced our establishment to 230. These 230 men and women are dealing with some 40,000 cases each year—inauding a great number of the type described by Mr. Ward. Doubtless many others are not brought to light, but then we are obliged to rely on Mr. Ward, and millions of other citizens, to keep watch and ward and to notify our inspectors, hon. secretaries and correspondents, or our central office of such cases— indeed, of all cases where the physical, mental or moral welfare of children is concerned.
We are well aware of the shortage of residential " homes " for children, whether under Government or Local Government direction or operated by the great charitable bodies, with all of whom we work in the closest collaboration ; but it is incorrect to suggest that where parents have undergone prison sentences for neglect, the children are invariably "sent back to these same parents." Where there is a dear prospect of improved home conditions, it is certainly our policy to rebuild the home, under our inspectors' watchful supervision ; but where it is clear that there is no prospect whatever of a reasonable home life for the children, they are committed by the Court or the Juvenile Court to the care of the local education or public assistance authority (which means foster parents or an approved school, or temporarily in a hospital or public assistance institution), if there is no vacancy in a "home." Certainly not back to the disgusting conditions to which Mr. Ward refers.—Yours very truly, A. B. PURTON, Director. National Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children, Victory House, Leicester Square, London, W.C. 2.
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