EDUCATION: SPECIAL SCHOOLS, AND JUVENILE PROBATION SYSTEM AND INFANT-LIFE PROTECTION. [In continuation of E.-4, 1917.]

Appendix to the Journals of the House of Representatives, 1918 Session I-II, E-04

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Session 11. 1918. NEW ZEALAND.

EDUCATION: SPECIAL SCHOOLS, AND JUVENILE PROBATION SYSTEM AND INFANT-LIFE PROTECTION. [In continuation of E.-4, 1917.]

Presented to both Houses of the General Assembly by Command of His Excellency.

CONTENTS. I'ligo j Page 1. Extract from the Annual Report (E.-l) of (he 3. Costley Training Institution — Statement of Minister of Education .. .. .. 1 Accounts .. .. .. ..10 2. Industrial Schools and Juvenile Probation Homo 4. Infant-life Protection Statistics .. ..17 Statistics .. .. .. .. 12 1 No. I.—EXTRACT FROM THE FORTY-FIRST ANNUAL REPORT OF THE MINISTER OF EDUCATION. SPECIAL SCHOOLS BRANCH. Work of.the Special Schools Section. The extensive field of the work of the special schools section, of the Education Department includes (1) the care of destitute, uncontrollable, or delinquent children committed to receiving-homes or industrial schools, and all juvenile offenders transferred from gaols to industrial schools, and the investigation in all cases of children brought before the Courts, and supervision in cases where the probation, system is applied ; (2) the education and care of deaf, blind, or feeble-minded children over the age of six years ; (3) the supervision of all children under the age of six years who are — (a) maintained apart from their parents or guardians, (b) adopted with premium.

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Dependent Children and Child Welfare. Reforms in the System,. As a result of a review of the whole system dealing with destitute and delinquent children and juvenile offenders, a commencement was made during the year with the carrying-out of the following reforms : — ' (1.) Extension throughout the whole of the Dominion of the juvenile probation system. (2.) Establishment of probation homes. (3.) Variation of functions of certain of the residential industrial schools, involving extension of boarding-out system and application of the probation system in approved cases to the inmates of these schools. (4.) Establishment of central store and purchasing system providing for the equipment and supplies of all (Government receiving-homes, industrial schools, and special schools, and an extension of the system of exchanges of produce and commodities between schools. (5.) Adoption of approved system of stores and accounts at all schools, and centralization of collection of inmates' wages and payments for boarded-out children. Lack of Parental Control; Street Trading among Children; too frequent Attendance oj Children at Picture-theatres; Need, for Legislative Action. Of the 204 children charged during the year as not being under proper control, or accused or found guilty of punishable offences, 166 were boys. The increase in. juvenile delinquency is due mainly to the early emancipation, of the child from the home influences, and to the utter indifference of some parents as to the welfare of their children. At present the streets are the evening schools of many of our young people. The excitement and allurements of the streets and places of public entertainment are often sought in preference to the sordid, or monotonous conditions in the home. The lack of comfort in the home, and the failure of the parents to hold the interest of the children, are all factors in accounting for the large number of children who come before the Courts every year. It is estimated that at least 75 per cent, of the boys referred to above were street traders prior to admission, while the passion for the picture-shows probably accounts for a large proportion offthe remaining cases. Such public attention has been drawn by social workers, teachers, and others to the pernicious influence that casual trading in the streets, and too frequent .attendance at picture-shows, has on the mental and physical condition of school-children that it is hoped the necessary legislation which has been prepared to meet this condition of affairs will be introduced and passed at the next session of Parliament. Appointment of Juvenile Probation Officers. In the Statute Law Amendment Act of last session, provision was made for the appointment of Juvenile Probation Officers and for the establishment of probation homes. This enabled the Department to introduce a system providing for investigation by Juvenile Probation Officers in all cases of children charged with offences against the law, or coming within the meaning of the various Acts relating to children. In the majority of these cases the children who in the ordinary course would have been committed to industrial schools have been placed on probation either in their own homes or with friends or in situations. The percentage of successes is very great —nearly 97 per cent.— m, that in the majority of cases not only is the reformation of the children proceeding satisfactorily in their own homes, but the cost of their maintenance in industrial schools has been saved. Result of Extension of the Probation System,. The following figures show the number of children dealt with by the Courts in the four centres. In the case of Auckland the figures cover a period of nineteen months, but in the other centres a period of five months only : At Auckland 337

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children appeared before the Court; at Wellington, 24 ; at Christchurch, 59 ; at Dunedin, 20 : total, 440. Of these, 110 were committed to industrial schools, 32 were committed to industrial schools but placed on probation, and 137 were placed on temporary probation. Reduction in Numbers in Residence at Industrial Schools. As a result of an investigation regarding the conditions of the homes and the conduct of the resident inmates of each of the schools it was found possible to place out a considerable number either at board, with friends on probation, or in situations under supervision. Consequently the numbers in residence were reduced from 1,009 at the end of 1916 to 699 at the end of 1917, notwithstanding the fact that 358 children were committed to industrial schools during the year. As a result of this reduction it was possible to vary the function of the Auckland Industrial School from a residential school to that of a receiving-home or clearinghouse. Reorganization of Boys'' Schools. At the same time important changes were carried out in connection with the boys' schools. It was decided to reserve the training-farm at Nelson for boys of school age only, and the Training-farm at Weraroa for boys over school age. This change enabled the Department to close the day schools at Burnham and at the Training-farm, Weraroa, and by applying the system of boarding out direct from the Training-farm at Nelson it has been possible to close the Nelson Receiving-home. The probation system resulted in a considerable reduction in the numbers at each of these schools, and by a change in the system of classification at Weraroa it was possible to decide definitely on the closing of the Burnham Industrial School. The actual closing of this school was not accomplished, however, until June, 1918. With a view-to increasing the revenue-producing results associated with the industrial features of these institutions, considerable improvements have been effected in connection with the working of the farms attached to the trainingfarms at W T eraroa and Nelson. At Weraroa the dairy herd has been increased, a factory for the manufacture of small cheeses has been established, the matter of growing vegetables on an extensive scale for the market has been taken in hand, and provision has been made for rearing a large number of pigs every year for the market. To enable these industries to be carried out successfully it was necessary to obtain additional land for wintering the dairy herd. Suitable land was available adjoining the school property, and the purchase was finally completed during 1918. Provision for Older Girls requiring Lnstitutional Training. The number of girls in residence at both Caversham and Te Oranga Home was so small at the end of the year that the Department now proposes to close the latter school, and by remodelling the system of classification at Caversham hopes to be able to make ample provision for the older girls who require institutional training. Establishment of Probation Homes. The principles upon which the Department's policy is now based are very fully explained in the special report E.-lA presented to Parliament last year. The complement of the probation system is found in the probation home, which it is proposed to utilize for cases requiring short periods of detention or separation from parents, for punishing minor breaches of probation, for providing shelter and safety for children before trial either on arrest or on remand from the Courts, and for the accommodation of inmates of industrial schools and receiving-homes returning from foster-homes or travelling to and from situations. A probation home has been established at Christchurch, and provision is made in Auckland for the accommodation of suitable cases in the Probation Officer's private house. A property has been purchased in Wellington and will be available shortly for the reception of boys. The matter of acquiring a place in Dunedin is also under consideration. It is not proposed at present to detain any boy in a probation home for more than three months, so that the accommodation provided at each home is of a very limited nature.

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Object, of Probation System. The object of the probation system is not only the reformation of the delinquent child in the natural surroundings of his own home, for in many instances it also assists in the amelioration of the home conditions and is the means of bringing the parents to realize more fully their obligations in respect of their children. Economies effected by Reforms. In addition to the benefit derived by the child from the application of the probationary system, the changes have also been the means of effecting considerable economies. By the closing of certain schools and the reduction in the numbers main- £ tamed in other schools the annual saving is .. .. .. 0,300 The increase in the annual revenue derived from farming operations due to niore practical and systematic working is .. .. .. .. 2,500 The annual saving through the establishment of a central store and the standardization of materials used, and the adoption of more businesslike methods of purchasing is .. .. .. .. .. 4,500 The saving effected in maintenance by the application of the probation system during the past twelve months was .. .. . . 0, 050 Estimated total saving for the year .. .. .. £19,350 Since the end of the financial year substantial additional savings, amounting to approximately £3,500, have been effected by the further reduction of the numbers in residence at two of the industrial schools. Number of Children belonging to Industrial Schools. The total roll number of children belonging to industrial schools and receivinghomes at the 31st December, 1917, was 3,252. Of these, 1,934 were boys and 1,318 girls. The children are classified as follows :— In residence — In Government industrial schools . . . . .. .. 305 In private industrial schools .. .. .. .. .. 331 Total .. .. .. .. .. .. 699 Boarded out — Prom Government schools (including receiving-homes) .. .. 1,210 From private industrial schools .. .. . . . . . . 9 Total .. .. .. .. .. .. 1,219 Placed out in situations .. .. .. .. .. .. 040 With friends on probation .. .. .. .. .. .. 390 In private institutions, hospitals, absent without leave, in prison, &c. . . 298 Grand total .. .. .. .. .. .. 3,252 Expenditure on Industrial Schools and Probation System. The net expenditure for the last financial year, including expenditure under the probation system but exclusive of capital charges for additional buildings, works, &c, was £42,580, showing an increase of £1,276 on that of the preceding year. The number maintained at the end of the year was 2,054. It should be mentioned, however, that the increase during the year of the rate of payment for boarded-out children from Bs. to 10s. a week, necessitated by the increased cost of living, involved an expenditure of £5,000 in excess of the previous year's figures. The contributions from parents under orders of Court, agreements, &c, amounted to £14,359, being at the rate of £7 per head of those maintained. This is an increase of £2 7s. per head over the rate of the preceding year.

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The following figures show the expenditure in. connection with Government and private industrial schools during the year: — Expenditure on Government Industrial Schools, 1917-18. £ Salaries .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 15.087 General maintenance .. .. .. .. .. .. 24.483 Travelling-expenses .. .. .. .. .. .. 1,752 Furnishings, repairs to buildings, small works .. .. .. 2,250 New buildings and works .. .. .. .. .. .. 2,999 Payments to foster-parents .. .. .. .. .. .. 28,790 Gross cost . . .. .. .. .. .. 75,907 Recoveries from parents and others .. .. .. .. £25,200 Sales, &o. .. .. .. . . .. . . I ,003 20.809 Warnings of past inmates paid to Public Account .. .. 5,934 32,803 Net cost of institutions . . . . . . . . . . 43, 101 Salaries, &c, of visiting and probation officers and sundries .. .. 2,415 £45,579 Expenditure on Private Industrial Schools. Gross cost .. .. .. .. .. . . .. 2.970 Recoveries .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 1,835 Net cost .. .. .. .. .. .. £1,141 Included in the total sum recovered (£26,869) is an amount of £10,897 paid by Hospital and Charitable Aid Boards for the maintenance of 954 children committed to industrial schools on account of indigency. In addition 141 inmates of private industrial schools were maintained at the expense of Hospital and Charitable Aid Boards. As these latter schools make their claims direct against the Boards, the figures are not included in this report. Section 50 of the Industrial Schools Act provides for the placing of inmates of industrial schools in situations and for part of their earnings to be placed in trust accounts in the Post Office Savings-bank. There are some two thousand such trust accounts, representing about £50,000. Though these earnings cannot be claimed as a right, in practice they are generally paid over to the persons concerned who, after passing out of the control of the schools, are able to give evidence of good character, provided that satisfactory investments for the money are shown. The Boarding-out System. The system of boarding out young children from industrial schools has been in operation in New Zealand for the past thirty-five years. As part of the recent reforms the Department has extended the boarding-out system considerably : the rate of payment has been increased from Bs. to 10s. a week ; the list of clothing supplied as an initial outfit has been altogether revised, providing for better material and more of a standard so far as fit and style are concerned ; and provision has been made for more frequent inspection of the foster-homes and the children by departmental officers. The detailed reports of the honorary lady visitors, the Department's Visiting Officers, and the teachers of the various schools that these children attend are a striking proof of the success of the boarding-out system and of its superiority when compared with the barrack or institution system that is still followed by the many private and religious organizations interested in child-welfare in New Zealand. A perusal of the official, reports and literature respecting the child-welfare systems in other countries shows that the preference for the boarding-out system in dealing with neglected and dependent children is practically world-wide. Indeed, so overwhelming is the evidence in this direction that the respective merits of the two systems have almost ceased to be a matter for controversy.

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j?J The boarding-out system aims at placing the dependent or neglected child in the natural surroundings of a good country home where such child will grow up with his foster brothers and sisters and become one of the family. He attends the local public school and the Sunday School, associates with children outside his fosterhome, and in short becomes an ordinary member of the local community. When the time comes for him to make a start in life for himself he possesses the ordinary child's knowledge of the world, and in addition has the guidance and affection of his foster-parents in all his efforts. To the child who has been reared in an institution no such advantages can be given, and when that child is placed out, as he invariably must be on reaching the wage-earning age, he suddenly finds himself, with character wholly unformed, placed in a new world and among strange people. Only those who have come in close contact with the institution-bred child can realize the tremendous handicap with which he begins life in the outside world. It is not possible, however, to board out all children who are committed to the care of the State. The institution occupies a valuable and a necessary place in this work, provided that it is properly equipped and managed. Children of vicious habits or who for various causes are unfit to associate with ordinary children must of necessity be admitted and detained in institutions for a certain period for purposes of observation and for preliminary training in discipline and correct habits. There is no doubt, however, that the normal healthy child who is committed to the care of the State on account of destitution, or on account of the character of the parents, is better provided for by boarding out in a selected foster-home under strict supervision. This system forms the closest approximation to the normal home life of which these children have either been deprived or have never had. The following is an extract from a book written by Sir John E. Corst, entitled " The Children of the Nation " :— " The most natural and ideal method of dealing with a deserted and homeless child is to place it in a real home where it can enjoy the love and affection of foster-parents. The home life draws out the child's individual character instead of suppressing it as institution life does. It grows up with other children, learns with them, plays with them, gets into childish scrapes, and loses that sense of separation and strangeness of position which in the rearing of ctiildren is above all things to be avoided . . . Children boarded out in private families become absorbed in the general life of the village in which they are placed, and thus escape the evils inseparable from tne dreary routine of an institution. . . . Dr. Barnardo found the health of the children whom he boarded out very much higher than that of the children in his institutions, and on this and other accounts he ended by almost entirely abandoning the latter system for the former. . . . Dr. Barnardo, who began by trying large institutions and afterwards village communities, adopted boarding out, twenty years before his death, as superior to both. He told the Committee on Poor-law children that he would not create another large institution under any circumstances, and that although, he had had many opportunities of adding to his institutions he had declined to do so, ' because boarding out is so much better.' " Industrial Training. The importance of the work of training and moulding into useful citizens these delinquent and vagrant children, who if left to their own devices would probably become a permanent burden on society, cannot be too strongly emphasized, particularly at a time when the services of every available person are an asset to the country. Some hundreds of boys during the past year have been turned out from the various schools as competent workers and are now either filling the places of those who have gone to fight for the Empire or are already soldiers themselves. Several have won distinctions on the field, and a considerable proportion of those who have enlisted are now holding commissioned rank. It is impossible at the present time to estimate the number of these lads who have joined the Eorces since the commencement of hostilities. From information received from time to time it is evident that they make excellent soldiers. Almost every casualty list issued contains the names of some of these young men both past and present inmates of schools who have either been wounded or have made the supreme sacrifice.

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Boys and Girls placed, in Situations or Occupations. Particular care is now taken, in the placing <jf boys and girls in situations or occupations for which they have special aptitude, and every precaution is taken to ensure that they are not exploited in the matter of wages or working-conditions generally. The question of wages has received particular attention during the past year, with the result that there has been an appreciable increase all round. The wages now received by these young people correspond very nearly with the ruling rates. The girls in situations and the children boarded out are visited, regularly by the lady Managers of the industrial schools and receiving-homes concerned, and also by the lady Visiting Officer, who is the revising officer for the Department and altogether independent of the Managers. All boys placed in situations, apprenticed, to trades, or on probation with friends are supervised and visited frequently by the Probation Officers, and also by the male Visiting Officer, who acts as revising officer for the Department. Admissions during the Year and the Reasons for Admission. During the year 331 children were committed to industrial schools, and an analysis of the state of these children prior to admission shows that 82 were destitute, 9 vagrants, 17 residing in disreputable surroundings, 112 not under proper control, and 92 either accused or guilty of punishable offences. Of these 331, only 94 were actually in residence at industrial schools at the end of the year, so that 237 were placed out at board, in situations, or with friends on probation, either on admission, or after a short period of residence at an industrial school. Co-operation of Organizations dealing with Child-welfare. Considerable advancement has been made in. the linking-up of the various organizations dealing with child-welfare. The infant-life protection system, through, its District Agents and visiting nurses, caters for the child under six years who is maintained apart from its parents or guardians. The medical examination of school-children brings many cases under the notice of the Department suitable for instruction, at special schools (deaf, blind, or mentally backward), while the personal visits of the school nurses to the homes of children requiring medical treatment have been the means of disclosing many cases calling for the supervision of the Department's social workers. For dealing with the truant-player and the child who, by his lack of progress at school, or by his demeanour or appearance, suggests either indifferent treatment in his home or want of proper parental control, the teacher, Attendance Officer, and Juvenile Probation Officer are all in. co-operation, with each other. The Department has under consideration proposals for extending this important branch of social service. Infant-life Protection. The purpose of this system is to provide supervision and protection for infants boarded out by their parents or guardians in circumstances that might lead to their neglect or ill treatment. Unless licensed as a foster-parent, no person in consideration of any payment or reward may receive or take charge of an infant for the purpose of nursing or maintaining it apart from its parents or guardians for longer than seven consecutive days. ' Infant " means a child under six years of age. Besides the district agents, duly appointed officers who are qualified nurses have full power to inspect the licensed homes. If necessary the Education Department may take over the maintenance of a child, recovering the cost from the parents or guardians, and the foster-parent's license may be revoked, the children in the home being otherwise provided for as the Minister may direct. Payment of a premium on the adoption of a child brings the case within the provisions of the Act. The number of homes licensed at the end of the year was 940, and the total number of children in them during the year was 1,361, an increase of 111 for the year. Of this total the number of infants under one year was 386 ; 12 children

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died, being 0-88 per cent, of those in the homes. Of that number nine died in fosterhomes and three in hospitals or mirsing homes to which they had been removed fo treatment, so that the deaths in foster-homes represented 0*66 per cent, only of the total number dealt with. The expenditure in connection with infant-life protection for the year ended 31st March, 1918, was £1,219 ; for the preceding year the amount was £1,350.

Special Schools. Summary showing Comparative Cost of Upkeep at Special Schools, 1916 and 1917.

It will be seen from the above figures that, notwithstanding the increased cost of living and the conditions arising out of the war, the average cost of maintenance has not increased. School for the Deaf. Sumner. The number of pupils under instruction is shown in the following tabulated statement — Buys. Girls. Totals. Pupils of 1916 who returned to school in February, 1917 48 44 92 Admitted at beginning of year .. .. .. 4 7 11 Admitted later .... .. .. .. 4 2 (i Absent owing to illness .. .. .. .... 1 1 Total number .. .. .. ..56 54 110 Left in March. 1917 .. .. .. .... 1 1 Lell in December, 1917 .. .. .. ..7 10 17 Pupils returning in 1918 after vacation . . 49 43 92 Of the 110 pupils, 28 came from the Auckland District, 4 from Taranaki, 12 from Hawke's Bay and Oisborne, 24 from Wellington, 2 from. Nelson, 1 from Marlborough, 1 from Westland, 20 from Canterbury, and 18 from Otago. Seven boys and three girls attended as day pupils. The ages of the seventeen pupils admitted ranged from five years eleven months to fourteen years and four months. There were seven under seven, four between seven and nine, three between nine and eleven, two of twelve, and one of fourteen years of age. The two aged twelve were cases of acquired deafness, but the boy of fourteen had been totally deaf from birth, and should have been sent to the school at the age of six years. He is a very intelligent boy, and should make good progress, but nothing will be able to make up for the eight wasted years. Apart from the two cases of acquired deafness, the average age at the time of admission was just under eight. In 1916 and 1917 it was over nine, so that some improvement in this respect is evident. An encouraging feature is that more than one parent has made application for the admission of a child at an earlier age than under present conditions the school is able to admit. This is an indication that parents are becoming alive to the necessity of commencing the education of the|young deaf diihl as soon as possible. Of the seventeen pupils who left, two had been at the school eleven years, five ten years, four nine years, two eight years, two seven years, one for one year and a half, and one for one year. The last two cases were of acquired deafness, a sister

School. Number mainl of Pupils Net Mai iained. Expen intenance iditure. Average , per mnual Cost Head. 1916. 1917. 1916. 1917. 1916. 1917. School for Deaf, Sumner Speciiil School, for Boys, Otekaike.. Special School for Girls, Richmond 112 64 £ 109 4,277 95 4,902 48 £ £ s d. 3,393 38 3 9 5,608 76 11 0 1.756 £ s. d. 31 2 7 59 0 0 36 11 8

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and brother, the former completely and the latter partially deaf. The girl had completed her education, and the boy had acquired a sufficient knowledge of lipreading to enable him to return to the public school that he had been attending previously to his admission here. Exclusive of these two the average number of years under instruction of the pupils leaving was nine years, which in the case of deaf children is utterly inadequate. Besides the ordinary school, subjects the girls received training in dressmaking, cooking, laundrywork, and general housework, and the boys in woodwork and gardening. A class of fourteen boys also attended the Technical College at Christchurch for instruction in woodwork with very good results. Applications have again been made for the admission of pupils at an earlier age than under present conditions the school is able to receive them. In view of the good results that have been obtained elsewhere by the early education of the young deaf children and of the general consensus of expert opinion on the subject, it is necessary to consider at as early a date as possible the opening of a preparatory school for young deaf children. When this is done it will be possible to commence the education of the deaf at an age more closely approximating to that at which hearing children learn to speak, and when the vocal organs are still plastic and the imitative faculties most active. The medical inspection of schools has resulted in a large number of cases of defective speech and of defective hearing being brought to light. Where the two are associated it is probable that the defect in the hearing is such as to necessitate the case being received at this school for treatment. In cases where the speech does not appear to be defective and where the child appears to hear most of what is said to him it may be that if he is placed in a suitable position in the class-room — i.e., in the centre of the front row—the child may be able to make satisfactory progress at an ordinary school. On the other hand, it is surprising how very serious deafness may go undetected for years, and what an extremely severe handicap to education even comparatively slight deafness is to a child, when taught in a public school, particularly in one where the classes are unusually large. Such a child, if mentally bright, usually picks up a certain amount of lip-reading, and by watching the teacher's face and the movements of the other children, combined with a skilful, copying, may keep up with the work of the class, for a time to a surprising extent. of more serious deafness allied with only average mental ability are often classed as mental defectives, and their deafness overlooked. Slightly deaf children are frequently thought by teachers to be wilfully inattentive, and punished accordingly. This, combined with the constant effort to catch indistinct sounds in noisy class-rooms, may set up a serious condition of nerve-strain, which may undermine the general health and further deteriorate the hearing of the child. The hearing of all such cases should be carefully tested by their teacher, and if it is found that, when occupying a position in the centre of the front row of the class, they are unable to distinguish what the teacher, when speaking in an ordinary tone, says, or that they cannot hear the children in other parts of the room speaking or reading, the necessity for special instruction at this school is indicated. Cases of defective speech or of stammering should also be reported. The expenditure on the school for the last financial year is as follows : — £ Salaries .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 3,981 Maintenance of pupils and sundry expenses .. .. .. 1,858 Travelling-expenses .. .. .. .. .. .. 228 Maintenance of buildings, furnishings, &c. .. .. .. 70 6,137 Less — Parental contributions .. .. .. 1,339 Amounts collected from Hospital and Charitable Aid Boards 1,363 Sundry other recoveries .. .. .. .. .. 42 2,744 Net expenditure .. .. .. .. £3,393 The net expenditure for the year 1916-17 was £4,277.

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Jubilee Institute for the Blind, Auckland. The Jubilee Institute for the Blind, Auckland, which is established as a separate institution under the provisions of the Hospitals and Charitable Institutions Act, is governed by a Board of Trustees, four of whom are appointed by the Government. Provision is made at the Institute for the education and training of adults as well as children, although the Education Department is chiefly interested in the latter. In addition to the ordinary school subjects kindergarten classes are held, and instruction is also given in music, swimming, typewriting and shorthand, sewing, knitting, beadwork, &c. Technical, work and manual training forms an important part of the curriculum. The boys and men receive instruction in woodwork and in several trades, such as piano-tuning, mat and basket making, &c, while the girls are taught household duties, which will be of great benefit to them when they return to their homes after completing their education in the day school. The amount paid by the Government towards the cost of training twentynine pupils was £757 3s. 9d. (includes £30 paid for instruction in woodwork), and the amount refunded to the Government in the way of parental contributions and payments by Hospital and Charitable Aid Boards was £782 9s. Bd. The amount paid by the Government as subsidy to the Board of Trustees under the provisions of the Hospitals and Charitable Institutions Act was £2,051 18s. Bd. Education and Care of the Feeble-minded. The need for controlling and in the majority of cases for segregating all feeble-minded children is of the utmost importance if the physical and mental standard of the race is to be preserved, and also for the protection of society generally. In fact, the ordinary community holds no place for the feeble-minded child. The parents as a rule are utterly incapable of providing for such children, who can neither derive benefit from attendance at the public school nor can associate with the normal children of the neighbourhood. In the majority of cases it is essential for the sake of the mother and the other children of the family that feeble-minded children should be removed to an. institution where they can be dealt with by officers specially adapted for this purpose. The need for the segregation of girls of this type, more especially of those who have reached the age of puberty, is of very great importance. Of the cases already examined a great many are unfitted on account of their low mentality for admission to special schools, although in certain urgent cases admission has been arranged in the absence of any other means of dealing with them. The inmates of schools for feeble-minded children are given a very simple course of instruction suited to their limited intelligence. Instruction is largely of a manual character, since these children are able to advance very slightly in the arts of reading, writing, and counting. The object of the instruction is to quicken the intelligence and dexterity of the children, so that later on they may be able to take part in some simple occupation and help to some extent in supporting themselves and also find some interest in occupations suitable to their limited capacities. Only in very exceptional cases, if in any, can it be expected that any feeble-minded children can be brought up to a standard approximating to that of even the less efficient members of the ordinary community. It has been found that those who most closely approach the ordinary standard of intelligence and capacity run greater risks and are subject to greater dangers even than those with a very low grade of intelligence. It should be definitely known that all statements relating to alleged curing of feebleminded children, or to their replacement in ordinary schools under ordinary instruction, or to their becoming able to take their place in the ordinary community, are really the result of a misunderstanding of the types of cases to which progress such as the above refers. Improvement referred to in such statements has been accomplished not in the case of feeble-minded children, but in the case of merely backward children who make unduly slow progress under the ordinary methods of school instruction. There are many children of this type in New Zealand, but they are not placed in schools for the feeble-minded.

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Children who are feeble-minded in the real sense of the term are unlikely ever to improve sufficiently to make it safe for them to enter the general community. As the great majority of them will need to be under protecting control throughout life, and will not in the ordinary course be more than partially self-supporting even when they attain the adult stage, it is a question whether. they should not in the first instance and for the term of their lives be under the care of the Mental Hospitals Department. The Special School at Richmond for the reception of feeble-minded girls has now been fully established, and good work is being done under capable management. The teaching staff has been strengthened by the addition of another teacher (two teachers in all), and through their efforts an improvement is noticeable in the comportment and dexterity of the children. At the Special School for Boys at Otekaike a scheme providing instruction in carpentry, bootmaking, and mat and basket making has been carried out satisfactorily during the year. The younger boys receive instruction by means of kindergarten and Montessori methods, and many of them become quite skilled at handwork. Basketmaking and matmaking are occupations that feebleminded boys take to readily, but as the majority of them are of low vitality it is essential that occupations involving physical movement should also be available for them. Many of the elder boys assist either in the garden or orchard, or on the farm. Considerable improvement has been made during the past twelve months in the methods of farming the 300-odd acres attached to the institution. The following tables show the numbers dealt with during the past year, together with particulars regarding expenditure : — Special School for Boys, Otekaike. . Numbers as at 31st December, 1917 :— In residence .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 76 Boarded out .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 1 Temporarily absent with friends .. .. .. ... .. .. 2 79 Particulars of expenditure for the financial year ended 31st March, 1918 : —• £ £ Salaries .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 3,403 General maintenance .. .. .. .. .. .. 4,127 Travelling-expenses .. .. .. .. .. .. 345 Maintenance of buildings, furnishings, &c. .. .. .. 368 Additional buildings, furniture, &c. .. .. .. .. 1,636 9,879 Less — Parental contributions towards maintenance .. .. 1,130 Amount collected from Hospital and Charitable Aid Boards 1,186 Sundry other recoveries .. .. .. .. 319 2,635 Net expenditure .. .. .. .. £7,244 Included in the above figures, the sum of £1,636 was expended on additional buildings, furniture and equipment for new cottages, and in. completing new works already in hand at the end of the previous year. By the addition of three cottage homes accommodation for a further ninety boys was provided. During the year a great many new cases were admitted, on trial, but in some instances it was found after observation that the boys were of a very low grade mentally and quite incapable of improvement under the teaching at Otekaike. These cases are being gradually drafted out and provided for elsewhere, either by admission to a mental hospital or by returning to the care of parents or guardians. The Special School at Otekaike was established some eleven years ago. During this time a sum amounting to £41,000 has been expended by the Department in erecting buildings and providing adequate lighting, water, and drainage schemes.

E.— 4

12

Special School for Girls, Richmond. Numbers as at 31st December, 1917 : — In the school .. .. .. . . .. .. .. 21 On vacation .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 24 In hospital . . . . . . . . . . . . . ; . . 1 Boarded out .. .. .. .. .. .. .. ..2 At service .. . . .. .. .. . . .. .. 2 50 Particulars of expenditure for the financial year ending 31st March, 1918 : — £ £ Salaries .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 1,067 General maintenance . . . . . . . . . . . . 1,672 Travelling-expenses .. . . . . .. . . . . 195 Buildings, furniture, &c. .. . . . . . . .. 821 Maintenance of buildings, furnishings, &c. .. .. .. 115 3,870 Less — Parental contributions towards maintenance .. .. 667 Amount collected from Hospital and Charitable Aid Boards. . 541 Sundry other recoveries .. .. .. .. 85 1,293 Net expenditure .. .. .. .. £2,577

No. 2.—INDUSTRIAL SCHOOL AND JUVENILE PEOBATION HOME STATISTICS.

Table I1.—Expenditure on Government Schools, 1917-18.

General ™ ,„v,!„™ MainWnce *&?£' *™ n„ n i..A;.. n rn« a .. a tii n JMipaus w D.,ll^i«rto . „ . , 'including Travelling- £?ffif°„ Buildings Government Scioto. 8alarleB- Provlsions B expenseg g Bu >£ m f ■ and Clothing, J?X w ° rks - Salaries. General Maintenance 'including Provisions, Clothing, Farms, &c). Travellingexpenses. Furnishings, „ Bopairsto .. ,.;. Buildings, Ba ™?P Small w an £ Works. works - Boarding oat. (Payments to Fosterparents.) ffi Recoveries g to 5 from 5 o S Parents and -£ S a g Others, and fc g Q Sales from ft g Farms, &o. g Farms, Ac.). worKa - £ £ £ £ £ Auckland.. .. .. 854 2,126 213 42 35 Boys' Training-farm, Weraroa. 3,136 6,323 277 933 335 Receiving-home, Wellington 1,129 1,697 324 138 Receiving-home, Nelson .. 301 1,41.3 84 47 79 Boys'Training-farm, Nelson 3,537 4,414 171 326 353 Receiving-home, Christchurch 1,005 1,437 65 7 TeOrangaHome .. .. 1,050 963 137 158 82 Burnham .. .. 3,502' 4,403 268 501 Caversham .. .. 1,146 1,614 210 98 £ 854 3,136 1,129 301 3,537 1,005 1,050 3,502 1,146 £ 2,126 6,323 I ,697 1,41.3 4,414 1,437 963 4,403 .1,614 £ 213 277 324 84 171 65 137 268 210 £ £ 42 35 933 335 138 47 79 326 353 7 158 82 501 98 £ 4,351 21 10,717 3,024 26 5,946 £ £ £ 7,621 2,799 4,822 11,025 3,851 7,174 14,005 8,485 5,520 4,948 1,497 3,451 8,827 1,956 6,871 8,460 3,838 4,622 2,390 339 2,051 8,674 858 7,816 7,779 3,240 4,539 4,711 15,660 24,390 1,749 2,250 884 Probation Homes .. .. 27 93 3 .. 2,115 15,660 27 24,390 93 I ,749 3 2,250 884 2,115 28,796 73,729 2,238 26,863 6 46,866 2,232 Totals .. .. 15,687 24,483 1,752 2,250 2,999 15,68.7 24,483 1,752 2,250 2,999 28,796 75,967 26,869 49,091 Salaries, travelling-allowances, and expenses of visiting and probation officers, &c. Amount paid to Postal Department for payment of boarding-out orders Sundries 2,157 100 158 Less inmates' unclaimed earnings paid to Public Account .. 51,513 5,934 Total net expenditure 45,579

E.—4.

Table I2. —Government Expenditure on Private (Roman Catholic) Schools, 1917-18.

Table 13. —Government Expenditure on the Maintenance of Inmates sent to Other Institutions, 1.917 18. £ Door of Hope, Auckland .. .. .. .. .. .. 7 St. Mary's Home, Otahuhu .. .. .. .. 38 Salvation Army Homo, Christchurch .. .. .. 52 Female Refuge, Christchurch .. .. .. .. 24 Salvation Army Home, Dunedin .. .. .. .. .. 10 £131

Table I4.—Numbers under Control at 31st December, 1917.

13

Table 12. —Government Expenditure on Private (Roman Catholic) Schools, 1917-18. Name of School. Expenditure. Kecoveries. , Exl)e^iture. £ £ £ St. Mary's, Auckland .. .. .. .. .. .. 1,889 1,464 425 St. Joseph's, Upper Hutt .. .. .. .. .. 405 153 252 St. Mary's, Nelson .. .. .. .. .. .. 327 165 162 St. Vincent de Paul's, Dunedin .. .. .. .. .. | 355 53 302 Totals .. .. .. .. .. .. 2,976 1,835 1,141 Table 13. —Government Expenditure on the Maintenance of Inmates sent to Other Institutions, 1917 18. £ Door of Hope, Auckland .. .. .. .. .. .. 7 St. Mary's Home, Otahuhu .. .. .. .. 38 Salvation Army Homo, Christchurch .. .. .. 52 Female Refuge, Christchurch .. .. .. .. 24 Salvation Army Home, Dunedin .. .. .. .. .. 10 £131 Table 14.—.Numbers under Control at 31st December, 1917. All Schools. Government Schools. Private Schools. All School Pri Schoc lis. ivate i Li a J it* iUft* a A i 1 ii il U Ub Particulars of Children 3 HgSrSg.3 ||| V% g§ | gS a 1 |3 !§g 4% ;3£ g belonging to tho Schools. g SJ| R*| ?« 1*1 § § . § * I •! B. |g. B. B. G. B. G. B. I G. B. G. B. B. G. B. G. G. B. G. G. o | ■nda 00 .9 £ a > a 5 •a a w H £ S a a© BaS g a - "V« JS o 01 m.o °M J.PZ a.™ m H B. ! G. a .a a" s £ a a « 3 i i a 1 g 8 « I B. B. G. ■ 3 a a Ms in u O 0J hs a, j£ ft aifc> S 9 aa* QQ S a3 a =e o !>£§ ■ -w v* Q B. G. B. G. B. G. B. G. G. B. G. G. 03 o 4* 1 "3 O I Eh ' i In the schools Boarded out With friends At service Under guardianship .. Committed, but on probation In hospitals, convalescent homes, &c. In mental hospitals .. At School for the Deaf At Special School, Otekaiko At Special School, Richmond At Jubilee Institute for the Blind At refuges or cognate institutions At orphanages, oottage homes, &c. With the Expeditionary Forces In gaol Absent without leave.. 1 102! 13 9 4 1 2 10 106 90 .. 20 68 56 ! 158 .. 47 2i 7 2 1 4. 2 4 255 42 49 2 "4 8 * 194 29 31 1 2 3 1 1 103 13 11 ..! 128 38| .. 8 37 1 62 1 • • t 1 38! 8 1 1 29 i4 51 3 3 2 143 4 23 5 1 *9 11 97 16 17 8 2 49 67 14 2 1 0 98 12 24 27 s 20 90 10 69 4 i 3 86 1 11 6 5 82 ii 16 i 61 1 2 7 80 51 2 2i ■38 2 2 87 2 4 8 407 707 272 358 92 8 11 3 1 22 292 512 118 288 13 2 5 14 1 26 69! 1,21! 39( 64< 10! 1( 1( V ( 2! )9 19 )0 li; )5 L0 16 17 !2 10 .. 1 .. 2 21 !6 1 .. 1 1 5 .. 2J ..; .. 11 3 8 3 .. 3 I 1 36 3 1 5 1 1 8 7 1, 3 '.. 17 •• r« .. 3 ..! 1 3 •• 3 1 11 i 39 48 8 4 32 3 1 Totals 133 200 413 366 ■272 180 48 233 114 188 190 150 169 197 113 120 74 55 1,934 1,318 3,25i

Table 12. —Government Expenditure on Private (Roman Catholic) Schools, 1917-18. Name of School. Expenditure. Kecoveries. , Exl)e^iture. £ £ £ St. Mary's, Auckland .. .. .. .. .. .. 1,889 1,464 425 St. Joseph's, Upper Hutt .. .. .. .. .. 405 153 252 St. Mary's, Nelson .. .. .. .. .. .. 327 165 162 St. Vincent de Paul's, Dunedin .. .. .. .. .. | 355 53 302 Totals .. .. .. .. .. .. 2,976 1,835 1,141 Table 13.—Government Expenditure on the Maintenance of Inmates sent to Other Institutions, 1917 18. £ Door of Hope, Auckland .. .. .. .. .. .. 7 St. Mary's Home, Otahuhu .. .. .. .. 38 Salvation Army Homo, Christchurch .. .. .. 52 Female Refuge, Christchurch .. .. .. .. 24 Salvation Army Home, Dunedin .. .. .. .. .. 10 £131 Table 14.—.Numbers under Control at 31st December, 1917. All Schools. Government Schools. Private Schools. All School Pri Schoc lis. ivate i Li a J it* iUft* a A i 1 ii il U Ub Particulars of Children 3 HgSrSg.3 ||| V% g§ | gS a 1 |3 !§g 4% ;3£ g belonging to tho Schools. g SJ| R*| ?« 1*1 § § . § * I •! B. |g. B. B. G. B. G. B. I G. B. G. B. B. G. B. G. G. B. G. G. o | ■nda 00 .9 £ a > a 5 •a a w H £ S a a© BaS g a - "V« JS o 01 m.o °M J.PZ a.™ m H B. ! G. a .a a" s £ a a « 3 i i a 1 g 8 « I B. B. G. ■ 3 a a Ms in u O 0J hs a, j£ ft aifc> S 9 aa* QQ S a3 a =e o !>£§ ■ -w v* Q B. G. B. G. B. G. B. G. G. B. G. G. 03 o 4* 1 "3 O I Eh ' i In the schools Boarded out With friends At service Under guardianship .. Committed, but on probation In hospitals, convalescent homes, &c. In mental hospitals .. At School for the Deaf At Special School, Otekaiko At Special School, Richmond At Jubilee Institute for the Blind At refuges or cognate institutions At orphanages, oottage homes, &c. With the Expeditionary Forces In gaol Absent without leave.. 1 102! 13 9 4 1 2 10 106 90 .. 20 68 56 ! 158 .. 47 2i 7 2 1 4. 2 4 255 42 49 2 "4 8 * 194 29 31 1 2 3 1 1 103 13 11 ..! 128 38| .. 8 37 1 62 1 • • t 1 38! 8 1 1 29 i4 51 3 3 2 143 4 23 5 1 *9 11 97 16 17 8 2 49 67 14 2 1 0 98 12 24 27 s 20 90 10 69 4 i 3 86 1 11 6 5 82 ii 16 i 61 1 2 7 80 51 2 2i ■38 2 2 87 2 4 8 407 707 272 358 92 8 11 3 1 22 292 512 118 288 13 2 5 14 1 26 69! 1,21! 39( 64< 10! 1( 1( V ( 2! )9 19 )0 li; )5 L0 16 17 !2 10 .. 1 .. 2 21 !6 1 .. 1 1 5 .. 2J ..; .. 11 3 8 3 .. 3 I 1 36 3 1 5 1 1 8 7 1, 3 '.. 17 •• r« .. 3 ..! 1 3 •• 3 1 11 i 39 48 8 4 32 3 1 Totals 133 200 413 366 ■272 180 48 233 114 188 190 150 169 197 113 120 74 55 1,934 1,318 3,25i

_cj. —4.

14

Table I5.—Admissions in 1917, classified according to Causes of Admission.

Table I6.—Admissions in 1917, classified according to Status at 31st December, 1917.

Table I7. —Admissions in 1917, classified according to Number in Residence at 31st December, 1917.

rovo: rnineut Schools Private Schools. All Kchoi ils. Admitted as tuoca I II Sis - a I TO frf ' >><s ! P3 la il si «!> K CI & ■3 9 11 EH . 'm 3 O e3 i <o a 1 1- * |l s CD O CD CD M I EH CD . ss oca a ffi >.2 eO M a I 3 m a c3 1 o i -a o <j TO* 02 Ah ■£ ■ ■■ a.5 ho ■a 3? S * 3 ,3 en . co 5; c3 5 3 3% CD iO a.to'S ®~i& o a o a « a • S Q. j B. B. G. G. B. G. B. B. G. B. G. B. G. iA >, o M tS EH 3 I'.. G. B. B. ii. B. G. I Destitute Vagrant In disreputable associations Not under proper control (complaint by police) Uncontrollable (complaint by parents) Accused or guilty of punishable offences! By private arrangement Transferred from gaol 6 12 i 3 27 1 5 20 i 5 2 .. 3 .. 3 4 i '5 i 3 5 3 1 1 52 5 9 42 94 5 10 9 18 42 5 9 3 i i i i .. 10 8 19 10 6 ! 9 3 i a 2 1 11 4 2 I 66 30 96 30 4 I .. .. ' 3 1. 5 23 5 4 7 1 1 1 18 3 55 3 .. 16 1 1 .. 12 1 1 1 .. 4 .. 89 9 98 1 4 .. 5 5 1 4 9 10 4 ! 14 Totals 24 27 86 48 31 | 33 5 9 11 11 21 17 4 7 5 .. 10 ! 3 2 254 104 358 4 1 I

i I 2, § ll r ail! ill Hi oO P, CD >• I >\£ 51 °| 111 rj ill M ■a 111 r 9 1 * Total, both Sexes. i Status at 81st December, 11)17. i B. G. B. a. B. G. B. G. B. G. , B. G. B. B. G. B. „ Both u - Sexes. In resideneo Boarded out At service With friends Under guardianship In hospital In refuges or orphanages At, Special School, Richmond Missing Died Order cancelled 7 38 27 I ■ 2 2 2 3 3 3 1 1 2 6 23* 30 3 7 1 1 8 17 3 1 6 .. 7 4 1 .. 2 .. 1 | .. 39 4 : 10 21 13 5 2 2 5 8 i ■1 4 87* 89 I 18 ] 35 15 2 2 28 I 57 6 4 116 146 24 39t L5 3 8 1 2 2 358 3 i 2 1 1 1 '.'. ' i 1 6 1 i I '' i ' ' I ! "i i 1! 2 i .. ! 1 I i Total 52 42 30 18 5 89 9 5 4 254 104 5 n 8 9 67 10 * Plus 1 nominal!; adi litted. including 6 on pn ibatioi

Go' it Si ihools. Pi ■ivate Schools. All Schools. irnmi Particulars of Children in Residence on Illst December, 1017. eS •as 2 I . rf S o ™ s ° «! fl M B. G. B. II. I Is Las fj i.a~ .9 .a £ - n « B. G. B. ! bo - .5 o ia I B a 1 o CD EH If 3 S if SB a H 1 C3 O ■PS || en 4 CD TJ ,"" . B >, C CD „r Co 1 %S GO CO B, G. G. T, .. .. 1.. Totals of all Schools. S o H X, ,, Both B - 9 ' Sexes. B. A G. B. G. "I G. B. B. G. B. I G. B. G. (j. B. I Destitute Vagrant Disreputable associations .. Not under control (complaint by police) Uncontrollable (complaint by parent) Accused or guilty of punishable offences Admitted by private arrangement Transferred from gaol Totals .. 4 .. .. 1 .. '.'.{'.'. '2 i .'. ..: .. 1 i .. . . .. 11 I .. .... 3 I .. ] .... 18 4 4 1 .. '.'. i 4 1 1 1 3 1 22 4 2 5 7 7 14 I 2 3 3 2 5 23 8 31 7 ' 1 3 23 20 i ..! 1 4 1 .. .... 3 2 !! '2 i .. .. 20 4 5 .. .. .. : 6 .. 6 6 25 1 3 39 I ..I 4 39 5 44 39 5 4 ' *i .. 1 5 8 4 82 12 4| 10 1 2 .. 8 4 12 87 28 115 4 28 I 52 8 8 .. 2 4 87

15

E.—4

Table I8.—Admissions in 1917, classified according to Parents' Circumstances and Character.

The numbers of children admitted were From Auckland, 78 ; from Wellington, 78; from Christchurch, 42; from Dunedin, 38 ; from Napier, 6 ; from Blenheim, 2 ; from Wanganui, 9 ; while in no case were more than 8 sent from any other town in the Dominion. The records show that, of the total number of children admitted, 23 per cent, were known to be illegitimate. When children are before the Courts the Magistrates, after hearing evidence, direct in what religious denomination they are to be brought up. The orders made in 1917 show the denominations to be as follows : Anglican, 167 ; Roman Catholic, 89 ; Presbyterian, 59 ; Methodist, 33 ; Salvation Army, 6; Baptist, 2; Congregational, 1; Hebrew, 1, The number of inmates over whom the control of the schools terminated during the year was 390. Of this number, 271 were then of good character, 3 fair, 9 bad; 3 were married, 1 were weak-minded, 40 were discharged under the age of fifteen years (7 of whom were legally adopted). In 44 cases information as to character cannot be given, the whereabouts of the inmates (who were absent without leave) being unknown at the time of termination of the period of control. The number of inmates missing at the end of the year was 35 —32 boys and 3 girls. There were 16 deaths, particulars of which appear in the following table : —

Table I9.—Deaths, 1917.

Precedent Condition of Ch in of Children admitted in 1917. Fathers described as Mothers described as ij CD S \ Q o s a o« rt CD C* O "^2 £ u : 5 » B ." Cj Cm a a &cm EM'S t> a t» a 5 s m cd n * ■a o ja Q > a- go* g* ! o; +s P« a & ■■ °£ i § d i M A o O <! O O j f I "Si I 4 . a : . CD CD c" £ ira a ■a.* ■=« a" 1 ■si S: S --is 0t3 3-=* ,5® pa I gg < t O cDa, u 9. \ < £ a o c IM ll 09 | M EH Total. Dead Dead Mentally unlit Deserter .. ... Good .. .. : Questionable Bad Dead Mentally unfit Good Questionable Bad Unknown Dead Good Questionable Bad Unknown Dead .. Good Questionable Bad Deserter Dead Mentally unfit Good Questionable Bad Desorter Unknown 1 .. .. 2" 1 1 5 3 .. .. 1 4 .. 2 2 .. I I .. 4 1 1 .. .. 1 .. 13 3 .. 23 10 1 .. .. 7^6 11 I 9 2 4 I 5 .. .. 4 19 I 7 14 9.. 1 15 2 1.. 1 2 .... 3 3 .... 2 1 1 2 1 4 5 .. .. 5 12 .. 1 2 | 1 3 .. 2 .. 1 2 I .. ' 5 .. 94 10 18 96 I 23 1. 2 1.. 6 1 Good '.'. Questionable " *7 :: :: ! :: 1 3 ; .. 10 55 6 2 2 1 I I I 7 5 1 1 2 I 8 1 1 I 14 5 9 11 2 112 18 12 2 18 17 34 15 I 5 10 8 4 1 3 4 12 1.7 6 1 10 Bad 2 4 '.'. 2 .. ! I Deserter Unknown .'■' i •1 .. .. I i I 2 t .. i 1 2 i — Totals 23 98 ! 5 14 358

\gc at Death. Status at Death. Certified Cause of Death. School to which belonging. Yrs. mos. j 0 3 j In residence 1 1 At board 2 9 5 3 9 9 In hospital 12 1 15 6 15 11 16 0 In residence 16 5 ; In hospital 17 6 Expeditionary Force 18 6 Tn hospital 18 0 Expeditionary Force 19 1 Missing 19 5 Expeditionary Eorce 20 0 Castro-enteritis Bronchial pneumonia Killed ; laceration of the brain Gastric and intestinal irritation; convulsions.. Diphtheria Phthisis Accidentally shot in the knee; gangrene followed Congenital disease of the heart Heart-disease Mediastinal adenitis ; tracheostenosis Died of wounds in France Tubercular peritonitis Died of wounds Accidentally killed Killod in action St. Mary's, Auckland. Wellington Receiving-home. Christchurch Receiving-home. Caversham. St. Mary's, Nelson. Boys' Training-farm. Nelson. Auckland. St. Mary's, Auckland. Auckland. Christohuroh Receiving-home. Te Oranga Home. Boys' Training-farm, Weraroa. Burnham. Boys' Training-farm, Weraroa. Wellington Receiving-home. it

E.—4

16

Table I10.-Inmates Discharged during 1917.

Under the provisions of the industrial Schools Act, 1909, power is given for the detention beyond the age of twenty-one years of any inmate who, upon application being made to a Magistrate by the Manager of the school at the direction of the Minister of Education, is found to be morally degenerate or otherwise not (in the public interest) a fit person to be free from control. In the seven years since this Act came into operation there have been 68 orders issued extending the period of control, 48 of the inmates concerned being girls. The Act provides for extension for four years, and gives power to the Court on similar procedure to renew the order from time to time for a period of four years. It is expected that the number of those over whom authority beyond twenty-one years will be needed will always be small in proportion to the whole number of inmates ; but the value of such an enactment in respect of the remainder who have to be detained is obvious, both in their own interest and in that of the community at large.

No. 3,-COSTLEY TRAINING INSTIT U T I 0 N. Balance-sheet for Year ending 31st December, 1917. Liabilities £ s. d. | Assets. £ s. d. Costley bequest .. .. .. 12,150 0 0 Mortgages .. .. .. .. 19,370 0 0 Hodge bequest .. .. .. 742 3 9 Accrued interest .. .. . . 403 4 1 Jackson and Russell .. .. .. 479 0 1 War-loan stock .. .. 1,000 0 0 Revenue Account .. .. .. 6,473 10 0 Bank of New Zealand (overdraft) .. 928 4 3 £20,773 4 1 | £20,773 4 1 Revenue Account. Or. £ s. d Dr. £ s. d. By Balance, Ist January, 1917 .. 5,527 511 To Expenses .. .. .. 46 1 6 Interest.. .. .. .. 1,086 5 7 Maintenance Account .. .. 94 0 0 Balance carried forward .. .. 6,473 10 0 £6,613 11 6 £6,613 11 6

83 M v CO Particulars of Discharges, 9 >. nA Ac., during 1917. * £ I I ' 3 1 = H -A to o M o H -6 i 8 3 o 9 T3 0! p no" 3 m i <& 9 o "3 & ■-- n % o m § P If a © si ■3.9 'A> CD iys. as SD . S c p o PQ d I la "I 1 i a 51 CO efl — p 5 PQ 1 IS p, Pi top : 1 I 1 Discharge by warrant.. 306 266 2 Death '.. .. 16 10 i .. Reached 21 years of age 63 11 Married .. .. 3 Cancellation of orders of 2 2 admission Totals .. 390 289 2 13 55 I 2 14 57 19 1 2 1 50 I 1 52 I 14 91 2 1 6 1 16 99 21 2 2 I 25 23 Girls. d o % 'A ea £ a p h CD O 13 > CO Particulars of Discharges, Ac, X (luring 1.917. g "a o H i u P 3 af-g' d g I « "| IS) 5 9 2 I 1 4 4 7 o as Si ■3.5 'AX. CD fl CD 5 ■§ S « P § «■> 5 'St Discharge by warrant .. .. 40 Death . . .. .. .. 6 Reached 21 years of age . . .. 52 Married .. .. . . .. 3 7 2 2 I I 1 1 8 1 15 7 3 6 I 8 4 Totals .. .. ..101 i 11 io 13 io 3 20 ; 15 14 5

17

E.—4.

No. 4.—INFANT-LIFE PROTECTION STATISTICS.

Particulars of Children admitted to and removed from Licensed Foster-homes during 1917.

Foster-homes. The 841 infants in foster-homes at the end of the year were distributed as follows : — In 491 homes each having one .. .. .. .. .. 491 In 104 „ two .. .. .. .. .. 208 In 28 ~. three .. ... .. ..84 In 11 ~ four .. .. .. .. 44 In 1 ~ six .. .. .. .. .. 6 In 1 ~ eight.. .. .. .. .. 8 636 841 Twenty-three of the homes were those in which children under six were boarded out by Charitable Aid Boards. The total number of licensed homes was 940, so that at the end of the year there were 304 licensed homes in which for the time being no infants were boarded. Hates op Payment to Foster-parents by Parents or Guardians. An account.of the rates paid is given in the following statement:— 1 at the rate of 2s. 6d. per week. 4 at the rate of 10s. 6d. per week. 12 „ ss. „ 12 „ lis. 2 „ ss. 3d. „ 53 „ 12s. 4 „ 6s. „ 93 „ 12s. 6d. 4 „ 7s. ~ 5 „ 14s. 39 „ 7s. 6d. „ 32 „ 15s. 1 „ 7s. 7d. „ 1 „ 17s. 19 „ Bs. „ 2 „ 17s. 6d. 6 „ Bs. 6d. „ 1 „ 19s. 3d. 6 „ 9s. „ 7 „ 20s. 532 ~ 10s. ~ 3 adopted, with premium (10s. per week) 2 „ 10s. 3d. The following comparison of the rates paid during the last five years shows that the usual payment is about 10s. per week : — 1913. 1914. 1915. 1916. 1917. Under 7s. per week ... ... 24 29 22 31 19 7s. and under 10s. per week ... 161 163 153 128 75 10s. per week ... ... ... 482 596 566 539 532 Over 10s. per week ... ... 91 120 137 143 215

3—E. 4.

I -(J a & CD 3 60 CO *") fa M-( OJ o T3 iS ll CD ) W CM 'T! CD c ao CD f fl s gg S>H PQ CO I ■* CD 13 O cm a 6b Cc3 «eq ccj <} (M 4, CO HH a ° c ° C M © ■'" cd *h fi H IO S W) « <j ■* mh a ° CD co CD ll 11 "<d> pq a so IO *H d ° CD W CD t-t & 1 S>H M (73 i rH So fa CD O > O "3 -^ o Eh I 'laced in licensed homes during the year Withdrawn from homes— Removed by parents or guardians Deaths Adoptions without premiums In homes to which exemption was granted Brought under the operation of the Industrial Schools Act Written off the books for various causes 206 58 88 62 28 18 20 I 1 481 ! I I 34 56 80 72 35 31 20 7 335 8 2 2 2 2 1 3 1 3 3 1 *2 1 1 1 1 12 26 11 4 8 6 1 2 1 2 24 8 17 11 9 3 5 59 112 _| i. Totals .. 46 76 120 93 49 39 27 70 520 »n the books at 31st December, 1917 98 92 153 144 119 98 83 54 841

E.—4

18

Exempted Institutions. From the provision that " it shall not be lawful for any person in consideration of any payment or reward to receive or retain in his care or charge any infant for the purpose of nursing or maintaining it apart from its parents or guardians for a longer period than seven consecutive days unless such person is licensed as a foster-parent " the Minister may grant certain exemptions, and under this authority exemption has been granted to the institutions set forth in the following list, which, shows also the numbers dealt with and the deaths. The conditions of the exemptions provide for inspection, and for removal of the infants only with due formality.

Deaths in Foster-homes. Of the 1,361 infants that were at one time or another on the books as being in foster-homes during 1917, twelve died; of these nine died in the foster-homes and three in hospitals or nursing-homes to which they had been removed for treatment, so that the deaths in foster-homes represented 066 per cent, of the total number dealt with. Ten of the twelve were under the ; age of twelve months, and nine were of illegitimate birth. The following is a statement of the number of deaths during the time that the infant-life-protection system has been in the Department's charge:— 1908 .. .. .. .. 26 deaths out of 1,017 infants = 2-56 per cent. 1909 .. .. .. ..25 „ 1,181 „ =2-11 1910 .. .. .'. ..26 „ 1,183 „ =2-19 1911 .. .. .. ..13 „ 1,183 „ =1-09 1912 .. .. .. ..12 „ 1,228 „ =0-98 1913 .. .. .. ..13 „ 1,330 „ =0-98 1914 .. .. .. ..20 „ 1,423 „ =1-40 1915 .. .. .. ..14 „ 1,440 „ =0-98 1916 .. .. .. ..17 „ 1,250 „ =1-36 1917 .. .. .. ..12 „ 1,361 „ =0-88

Ad Imissio 1917. cq " 13 GC C-< <0*0 9 <* fa A3 O CDw (2.) ins; Deaths. On the Books at 31st Dece tuber,19J7. BQ a , Name of Institution. a §d 13 a & (l.) to CD to < am (3.) in 3 a ° CD 3 m go 13 a & (4) m a a ° CD 3 M s° -a a & (4) 2} . i » * £,"> ta Jfsr (5.) (6.) « 3 ■ » ,!. S3 -13 M . 2 6 a in - » a a «=o gotm< a a, -"JO'S fe o cu« I 3 cd ■3 So 5"£ a cdw o a tJ CQ rf C-, '3 (7.) (8.) (9.) Salvation Army Boys' Home, Russell St. Mary's Industrial School (Girls' Branch), Auckland St. Joseph's Orphanage, Takapuna, Auckland .. Mission House of the Order of the Good Shepherd, Auckland .. 10 Orphan Home, Papatoetoe, Auckland .. .. .. \ Children's Home, Ponsonby, Auckland .•. .. .. j .. Methodist Orphanago, Mount Albert, Auckland .. .... Leslie Orphanago, Remucra, Auckland .. .. .. ] .. Manurewa Children's Home, Auckland .. .. St. Mary's Home, Otahuhu, Auckland .. .. .. I 36 Salvation Army Orphanage, " The Grange," Heme Bay, Auckland Salvation Army Maternity Home, Auckland Cook County Women's Guild Creche, Gisborne Salvation Army Samaritan Home, Gisborne.. .. .. j 2 Children's Home, Palmerston North Salvation Army Bethany Home, Napier .. .. .. 4 Wanganui Orphanage, Gonville, Wanganui Salvation Army Boys' Home, Eltham, Taranaki .. Presbyterian Orphanage, Berhampore, Wellington Levin Memorial Homo, Wellington.. St. Joseph's Orphanage, Upper Hutt, Wellington .. .. Home of Compassion, Island Bay, Wellington .. .. 19 Salvation Army Girls' Home, Owen Street, Wellington. Salvation Army Boys' Home, Island Bay, Wellington St. Mary's Orphanage, Nelson .. .. .. .. i 3 Nazareth House, Christohurch .. .. .. .... Sacred Heart Orphanage, Mount Magdala, Christchurch St. Saviour's Homo, Shirley, Christohurch Methodist Orphanage, Papanui, Christohurch Salvation Army Maternity Home, Christchurch .. ., 1 Presbyterian Orphanage, Papanui, Christohuroh .. .. j Children's Convalescent Cottage, New Brighton, Christchurch j Children's Creche, Timaru.. ... .. .. .... St. Saviour's Orphanage for Boys, Otipua Road, Timaru Salvation Army Boys' Home, Temuka, Canterbury .. St. Mary's Orphanage, Mornington, Dunedin .. St. Vincent de Paul's Orphanage, South Dunedin .. .. ; Glendining Home, Anderson's Bay, Dunedin .. .. j Salvation Army Home, 15 Dumblane Street, Roslyn, Dunedin Salvation Army Home, Middlemarch, Otago .. .. .. Presbyterian Orphanage, Gordon Street, Invercargill Victoria Memorial Home, Inveroargill .. .. .. 7 11 6 1 1 38 9 22 2 2 5 45 7 i 1 9 18 13 39 13 15 2 5 16 20 7 50 6 .. 9 *4 4 42 147 10 2 6 7 2 4 1 21 53 3 4 5 24 9 : 10 4 1 4 78 3 3 16 10 1 1 2 5 4 .. 4 4 2 5 1 39 67 8 5 1 2 14 34 16 20 4 1 1 9 10 3 2 2 "i i 1 i 3 ' .. i 22 5 6 9 : 14 3 2 7 9 22 6 17 3 20 15 5 2 7 1 .. 2 1 i 2 Totals for 1917 .. .. 82 30 647 10 2 15 27 14 558 Totals for 1916 .. '.. .. 54 14 453 3 1 9 18 11 489

E.—4

19

Deaths in Exempted Institutions. These, with other particulars, are shown in the foregoing table relating to exempted institutions. The following is a statement of the deaths during the five years in which a record of the deaths has been kept:— 1911 .. . . 47 deaths out of 899 infants dealt with = 5-23 per cent. 1912 ..■ ..36 „ 911 „ =3-95 „ 1913 .. .. 18 „ 984 „ = 1-82 1914 .. ..37 „ 944 „ =3-91 1915 .. ..11 ,„ 1,026 „ =1-08 1916 .. ...9 „ 939 „ =0-96 1917 .. ... ' 15 „ 1,136 „ =1-32 Adoptions during the Year 1917. During the year 264 orders of adoption were made. Eighteen of the adoption orders provided 'for premiums, and 246 were without monetary consideration. The following shows the ages of the adopted children:—

Illegitimacy.

Approximate Cost of Paper. —Preparation, not given; printing (1,300 copies), £32.

Authority : Marcus F. Marks, Government Printer, Wellington.—l9lB.

Price 9d.~]

Age. ■ I With Pre With Premium. cmium. ' ! Without Pi ; Without Premium. 'remiuE Total. fader 6 months .. .. .. .. 7 between 6 months and 12 months .. .. 4 ,, 1 and 2 years .. .. .. .. 5 2 „ 3 „ .. 3 „ 4 „ .. „ ■ 4 „ 5 „ .. 5 „ 6 „ .. .. .. .. 1 6 „ 7 „ .. 7 „ 8 „ .. „ 8 „ 9 „ .. .. .. .. 1 9 „ 10 „ „ 10 „ 11 „ .. „ 11 „ 12 „ .. „ 12 „ 13 „ .. „ 13 „ 14 „ .. „ 14 „ 15 „ .. 7 4 5 i J t L I 48 27 33 25 24 16 15 10 10 6 5 5 7 7 5 3 48 27 33 25 24 16 15 10 10 6 5 5 7 7 5 3 55 31 38 25 24 16 16 10 10 7 5 5 7 7 5 3 i 18 The adopting persons were — ' Husband and wife jointly Husband alone .. .. .. .. , Widow Wife alone Spinster 18 I 246 246 264 247 4 4 6 3 264 The amount of the premiums ranged from £5 10s. to £100.

Provincial Distriots. Illegitimate Births registered during 1917. Number of Illegitimate Children aged Twelvo Months or less brought under the Act during 1917. Auckland .. Taranaki . . Hawke's Bay Wellington Marlborough Nelson Westland .. Canterbury Otago 359 45 58 322 10 30 10 161 163 40 ! 64 | 52 48 Totals for 1917 1,158 207 Totals for 1916 1,146 217