It is a pity that a new career, open particularly
to women—that of Children's Officer under the Children Act which arose out of the Curtis Report—is not making a stronger appeal. The need for com- petent, understanding and sympathetic persons to watch the interests of children deprived for one reason or another of home care is great. The Children Act is working, and on the whole working well, but there is room for a great deal of improvement yet. Miss Rosling, of the Children's Department of the Home Office, said a 'few days ago that in some institutions children are still not allowed to talk at meals (this rule was particularly condemned by the Curtis Committee), that in one home the children from three to five are dressed in dismal dark-grey. suits, which leave boys indistinguishable from girls, that in other homes the staff is not adequate to give the children care and sympathetic attention at all. Local Authorities are no doubt in many cases failing to live fully up to the spirit of the Children Act, but a sufficient supply of trained Children's Officers is the prime need.
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