CHILD WELFARE

Greymouth Evening Star, 3 April 1943, Page 3

CHILD WELFARE

CONFERENCE OF OFFICERS

WELLINGTON, April 2

A regional conference of officers of the child welfare branch of the Education Department was held in Wellington this week. Opening the conference the Minister of Education (Mr. Mason) paid a tribute to the excellent work done by the child welfare officers during the war years. The fact that in spite of many public statements to the contrary the latest published figures showed no increase in juvenile delinquency in New Zealand, was attributable in no small part, he said, to the good work done by the child welfare branch and related social services. However, it must be admitted that conditions existed that would make for an increase in juvenile delinquency, and it would hot be surprising to see something of an increase here, as there had been in both Great Britain find America. He hoped the conference would formulate measures to deal with the new problems arising. One session of the conference was devoted to a joint meeting, convened by the Minister, of officers of the child welfare branch and representatives of various organisations concerned directly in child welfare, including churches. The main purpose of the meeting was to secure greater co-ordination of work 01. all agencies dealing with children. There was general agreement on the need for improved methods of recruiting and training social workers, and it is expected that the various organisations concerned will co-operate in plans to meet the present urgent needs in the field of child welfare.