AUSTRALIAN ABORIGINES.

Dominion, Volume 1, Issue 272, 10 August 1908, Page 6

AUSTRALIAN ABORIGINES.

PROBLEM OF THE CHILDREN. According to the report of the Aborigines Protection Board for the year ended December 31, 1907, which was laid upon the tabla of tho New South Wales Legislative Assembly. the census of aborigines taken by tho police last October showed that there were in the State 2317 full-bloods (939 malo and 669 femalo adults and 739 children) and 4613 half-castes (1120 male and 1005 female adults and 2482 children), making a total of 6960 as compared with 7072 for the year 1906, a decrease of 112. The deaths among the fullbloods exceeded tho births by 60, the numbers being 111 and 51 respectively, while there were on the other hand 117 more births than deaths among the half-castes, the births numbering IS3 and the deaths 66. _ "Somo difficulty," tho report states "is naturally experienced by tho police in making a correct census, more especially in the remote districts, on account of tho nomadio habits of tho race, who frequently cross over the borders to and from the adjoining States, and movo from one place to another within tho State. It will be observed that there is a still further decrease in the number of full-bloods, the number in 1907 being 2347, as compared with 6540 in 18S2 (when a census of tho aboriginal population was first taken). There is an increase in the number of half-castes during tho same period, namely, from 2379 to 4613. Tho total number of full-bloods and half-castes at the earlier date was 5919, as against 6960 in October, 1907."

Tho report further states that the number of aboriginal children attending school throughout tho State was 720, namely 696 at public schools and 24 at private schools, an increase of 14, as compared with 1906. Extracts culled from tho reports of inspectors to the Department of Public Instruction indicate that the progress of the children jp, on the whole, satisfactory. A departure from the ordinary method of education is proposed so far as these aboriginal schools are concerned, and it is intended to impart instruction in tho use of tools, sots of which, together with benches, have been supplied by the Board. Garden plots aro also being worked by the children, with varying success, and it is proposed to have instruction imparted in laundry work to the girls at Cumcroogunga, who are already being instructed in cooking. Olio" of the most important questions the Board has to face is that of tho large number of half-caste and other children (somo of whom aro almost white) at the various stations and camps. Under present conditions, though much has been done for some of them as regards primary education, and also (on tho Board's stations) training the girls for domestic duties, they are, to k largo extent, growing up in idleness and under tho influence of ill-regulated parents. "An attempt will be made to solve what is undoubtedly a difficult problem," says the report. "Returns are being obtained from the various superintendents of police throughout tho State, furnishing full information regarding the children at tile stations and camps tip to the age of 18 years, and tho Rtwrd will endeavour, without unduly interfering with parental control, to evolve some scheme for training these children to proper spheres of nss- - instead of allowi!!;: them to becoir.o an encumbrance oil the State." — ::r- r~—^