CHILD WELFARE WORK

Taranaki Daily News, 13 September 1934, Page 7

CHILD WELFARE WORK

NUMBER UNDER SUPERVISION. CONDITIONS IN THE HOMES. The number of children under the supervision of the Child Welfare Branch of the Education Department at March 31 last was 7259, states the annual report, tabled in the House of Representatives on Tuesday. Of the total 4277 were classified as State wards. The number committed to the care of the superintendent of the 'branch during the year was 423, classified according to reasons of committal as follow: Indigent, 154; delinquent, 22; detrimental environment, 53; neglected, 4; not under proper control, 117; accused, or guilty of punishable offence, 73. In addition six were admitted by private arrangement, while 47 were temporarily admitted, making the total admissions 476. Of the children committed 72 had been dealt with previously by the Courts for other offences, for which they had received terms of supervision. The superintendent says an important part of the work of child welfare officers is that of adjusting conditions in homes and in connection with families to prevent the commitalof children to the care of the State. In very many cases parents whose children are difficult to manage avail themselves of the ser-. vices of the officers for the purpose of supervision and friendly guidance. At the end of the year 1081 children were being dealt with in that connection. By an arrangement with the Justice Department, applications for adoptions are investigated by child welfare officers before being dealt with by magistrates. During the year 295 children were adopted (17 of these being State wards), and in 14 cases premiums were approved by the Courts.