INADEQUATE STAFF

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXV, Issue 23061, 11 June 1938, Page 16

INADEQUATE STAFF

WELFARE DEPARTMENT

COMMENTS BY MAGISTRATE UNSATISFACTORY SITUATION The Child Welfare Department staff at Auckland is inadequate, according to Mr. W, R. McKean, S.M., who in the course of a sitting of the Children's Court yesterday commented that tho situation ■was most unsatisfactory. His arose from a perusal of the aunual report of tho department, which made no reference to the boys' homo at Mount Albert. Mr, J. S. Cupit, the child welfare officer, said there had not been a housemaster at Mount Albert since October, 1937, and that there had not been a matron there since the middle of February. To carry out the work, his assistants had spent a good deal of their time outside office hours in helping to supervise the home. Their work began at ,6.30 a.m. and did riot finish until a late hour.

Mr. McKean said that three assistants could not hope to cope with the work of the department, apart from their task of helping at the Mount Albert Boys' Home. Apparently there were 100 young people who had been under supervision by the Court, and 130 State wards who were licensed out.

Mr. Cupit subsequently informed the magistrate that there were almost 600 female children under supervision. They were in various orphanages and institutions, and had to be visited from time to time, even though the supervisor had a very limited staff. It was essential, Mr. McKean Baid, that in the interests of the children a larger staff should be engaged, and that those who were chosen should be of a competent type.