CHILD WELFARE.

Auckland Star, Volume LXII, Issue 86, 13 April 1931, Page 6

CHILD WELFARE.

"FairplayV letter, being anonymous, lacks conviction. I, too, may claim "to have had a lot to do with the Department," with the result that I can show that the system is the antithesis of what "Fairplay" claims it to be. Is he aware that the Department's local officials had recently to compel foster-parents of "boarded-out" children to discontinue using these unfortunates as purveyors of vegetables, fruit and milk in the outer, suburbs before and after school hours? These homes may be the best available, for, as is well known, people who are really suitable as foster-parents and can offer good homes do not take in State wards as; boardors. A women social worker has informed me that, when inspecting prospective homes, she was never instructed to inquire or observe as to the character or personality of the person in charge, consequently children are often placed with most unsuitable people ,with dire results. State wards while boarded out may receive dental and medical treatrnentaas prescribed by the school medical officers, but in the institutions there fs bo inspection, consequently boys and girls suffer severely in many cases from neglected health and dental caries. I have seen samples of "wardrobes" sent out with the "boarded-outs" and would be sorry for any child who did not possess better. The Department's methods of "investigating complaints" is now well known and counts for nothing in public opinion. M. B. SOLJAK.