The Guardianship and Custody of Infants Act – with the full title “An Act to Amend the Law as to the Guardianship and Custody of Infants” 1891 (Act no. 55 Vic. No.13) – made provision, on the death of the father, for the mother of a child to become his/her guardian, alone or jointly with others. The Supreme Court had the power also to act when a parent had ‘abandoned or deserted his infant’ or allowed his infant to be brought up by others for a substantial period without contributing to the child’s upkeep, to refuse to allow the child to return to the parent unless it was clear that the parent was fit to assume responsibility for the child’s welfare. This act was repealed by the Children’s Services Act on the 23 of November 1965 taking affect on the 1 August 1966 (Act no.42/1965).