AFFLICTED AND DEPENDENT CHILDREN.

Dominion, Volume 4, Issue 1216, 26 August 1911, Page 6

AFFLICTED AND DEPENDENT CHILDREN.

——$ THE CAPE OP THE STATE. .A report on tbo special schools for afflicted and dependent children lias boon presented to Parliament. It shows that the total number in such schools was 2586, and the expense to the Government .£51,922. The distribution w;as as follows :— Number, under Net Cost. Control. £ School for the deaf 07 4,057 Jubilee Institute for the Blind 39 721 Special School for Boys of Feeblo Mind 31 7,831 Industrial Schools 2,419 39,260 There is, says the report, unfortunately, very strong evidence that there are a large number of young pcoplo in New Zealand (as in other countries) who by reason of menial defect are unable to properly control their lives, and it is hoped that with the means that the law now allows they will not bo permitted to drift towards destitution and criminality, but will be no cared for that they will be able eventually either to maintain themselves respectably or to contribute to their maintenance, in suitable institutions according to their various capabilities. Tho amount in the Post Office Savings Bank held in trust in the nauios of inmates and former inmates of industrial schools is ..£27,052. ... These moneys represent the earnings of boys and girls in situations away from the •6ch6ols,_ or, of„; thpse^iu''residence under training,wlioslT services are worth more than tho cost of their maintenance. According to law, it is at the discretion of tho Minister for Education whether payment (with interest) is eventually mado <io these young people or not. In practice they do receive payment where there is evidence that the applicant's record after the control of the school has ceased haa been good, and that ho has a proper investment for' tho money. In exercise of his discretion the Minister may order forfeiture of the money where a former inmate proves his unworthiness to receivo it. In such a case the amount is credited to the public account. > Tho number of children maintained in licensed foster homes for the whole or part of the year was 1183, of whom IC9 wero under one year old. ,