DESERTED AND DESTITUTE CHILDREN.

Colonist, Volume XI, Issue 1113, 26 May 1868, Page 4

DESERTED AND DESTITUTE CHILDREN.

The Select Committee appointed to take into consideration paragraph No. 14, of his Honor the Superintendent's opening address relative to destitute children, have reported as follows : —

From the evidence of Mr. Shallcrass, it appears that there are at the present tinm twenty-one children, whoso ruaintenence from various causes falls wholly or partly on the Provincial Government; these can bos being main'y the death or desertion of the father, and consequent destitution of the mother, or in sonsa cases the death of both parents. In the absence of other organization for their relief, Mr. Shallerass, on behalf of the Government, places the children in chargo of the most suitable persons he can find, who are willing to receive them, the average cost of maintenance (exclusive of clothing) being from 6j. to 7s. per head per week. In all cases it appears to bo agreed that every child of suitable age is sent to school, and as much care as possible taken to secure the carrying out of this important provision. Without professing to believe that any serious abuses or gross inhumanity can exist under such a system in a smull community, your committee are still of opinion that the arrangements above described are unsatisfactory, that sufficient supervision cannot be exercised over those in charge, and that il is desirable, as soon as possible, to bring together all the destitute children under one roof, ancl place them in the charge of suitable persons, under the immediate inspection of the authorities. In (bis way only your committee are of opinion that dv attention to Iheir general treatment, their training, and their education can be secured.

The present hospital, which will soon be vncated by the completion of the new building, (although not altogether such as could bo w.ished), will nfford for the present far more accommodation for this purpose Your committee therefore recommend (in accordance with the suggestion of the Superintendent in his opening address), that on its being vacated it should bo devoted to the reception of destitute and deserted children, under the charge of a master or matron.

Your committee hope and believe, that on the establishment of such an institution, the attention and interest of the humane and charitable would be awakened on behalf of its inmates, (who from their age and circumstances are particularly calculated to arouse general sympathy), and that a committee of ladies would in all probability be readily formed, who would give themselves to the benevolent work of assisting in its supervision.

In considering the subject before them, your committee have been incidentally led to the larger question closely connected with it; the establishment of reformatories and industrial schools, under the provisions of the " Neglected and Criminal Children Act, 1867," of the General Assembly. Your committee will no further notice a question which has not been directly raised than to say that they strongly and unanimously deprecate the association of criminals' with those who have been solely reduced to dependency on Government support by misfortune, or the death or desertion of their parents.

Your commit tea thereforp propose (he following resolutions for the consideration of the Council:—

1. " That on the building now used as a Hospital being vacated it is desirable that it should be devoted to the reception of those children who from any oause have become a charge to the Provincial Government. 2. " That a Master and Matron should be appoin ted to take charge of the Institution under the control and supervision of a committee of such of the humane and charitable residents in Nelson aa mat interest themselves in its management, acting in concert with the Government. 3. " That his Houor the Superintendent be requested to place a sufficient sum on the estimates to give effect to these resolutions." Alfbed Gbeemfield, Chairmxn.