EDUCATION: CHILD WELFARE, STATE CARE OF CHILDREN, SPECIAL SCHOOLS, AND INFANT-LIFE PROTECTION. [In continuation of E.-4, 1925.]

Appendix to the Journals of the House of Representatives, 1926 Session I, E-04

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1926. NEW ZEALAND.

EDUCATION: CHILD WELFARE, STATE CARE OF CHILDREN, SPECIAL SCHOOLS, AND INFANT-LIFE PROTECTION. [In continuation of E.-4, 1925.]

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

No. I.— EXTRACT FROM THE FORTY-NINTH ANNUAL REPORT OF THE MINISTER OF EDUCATION. Child Welfare. During last session the Child Welfare Act was passed by the Legislature. The Act provides for the creation of a special branch of the Education Department to be known as the Child Welfare Branch, and is designed to make better provision with respect to the maintenance, care, and control of children who are specially under the protection of the State, and to provide generally for the protection and training of indigent, neglected, or delinquent children. An important section of the Act provides for the establishment of Children's Courts, to be presided over by Stipendiary Magistrates or Justices specially authorized to exercise jurisdiction in these Courts. Provision is made for the appointment of honorary associates of either sex, whose function it will be to consider all the facts concerning children brought before the Courts and to advise the presiding Magistrate or Justice as to what action should be taken. The appointment of Child Welfare Officers for the investigation of all cases coming before the Courts has also been provided for. The functions of such officers will be carried out mainly by the regular officers already employed by the Department, but in outlying districts it is hoped to utilize the services of voluntary social service agents for this important work. The principle of dealing with children in the privacy of the Magistrate's room has been followed for many years past throughout the Dominion, and the Child Welfare Act was designed to give legality to such a practice. In addition, the Act gives very wide discretionary powers to the Magistrates of these special Courts in dealing with children. The ordinary procedure of requiring the child to plead, of taking evidence on oath, and, in fact, of hearing the particular charge may be dispensed with altogether. Wherever practicable the Children's Court is to be held in premises apart from the ordinary Police Court, and no newspaper is permitted to publish either the names of children appearing before these Courts or any particulars that are likely to identify the child.

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Another important provision contained in the Act authorizes the Children's Court to exercise jurisdiction over any young person under eighteen years of age charged with any offence. Such cases would be referred, of course, by a Stipendiary Magistrate or Judge of the Supreme Court. In order to provide for the greater protection of infants of unmarried mothers and for the assistance and guidance of the mothers themselves, there is provision for Child Welfare Officers, on being notified of such births, to investigate each case and to render such assistance as is required, either in placing the child in a suitable foster-home or in advising the mother in the matter of affiliation proceedings, or in assisting her in obtaining employment, &c. In addition to the work in connection with the maintenance and education of destitute, neglected, and delinquent children committed by the Courts, the Child Welfare Branch (1) supervises all infants and young children under the age of six years who are living apart from their parents ; (2) makes inquiry through its field officers, for the information of Magistrates, of all applications for the adoption of children and for widows pensions ; (3) supervises all children and young persons placed under the field officers by order of the Court; and (4) provides for the maintenance, education, and training of all afflicted children who are deaf, blind, feeble-minded, or have speech-defects. The total number of children under the supervision of the State in 1925-26 was 5,352, classed under the following headings : — Boarded out, industrial schools, receiving-homes, &c. .. .. .. 3,859 Juvenile probation .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 323 Infant-life protection .. .. .. .. .. .. 771 Deaf children .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 116 Feeble-minded children .. .. .. .. .. .. 283 Total .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 5,352 The number of children committed to the care of the State during the year ending 31st March, 1926, was 440, classified according to reason for committal, as follows : Destitution, 160 ; vagrancy, 8 ; associating with disreputable persons, 9 ; not under proper control, 179 ; uncontrollable (complaint by parents), 6 ; transferred from gaol, 4 ; accused or guilty of punishable offences, 72 ; section 47 of the Infants Act, 2 ; and, in addition, 63 were admitted by private arrangement. Classified according to age at the time of admission the numbers are as follows: Under six months, 42 ; over six months and under one year, 18 ; from one to five years, 100 ; from five to ten years, 100 ; from ten to fourteen years, 109 ; and over fourteen years, 71. Numbers under Control. At the end of the year there were 3,859 children under control (excluding those mentioned under separate headings below), and of these 214 were in residence at Government receiving-homes, probation homes, training-farms, and training institutions, and 76 in private industrial schools ; 1,819 children were boarded out in foster-homes, 838 were in situations, and 541 residing under license with relatives and friends. The remainder were in various homes or institutions. Of the boarded-out children 95 are over the age of fourteen years and are still attending primary schools, 45 are receiving higher education (30 technical and 15 secondary), and a number are apprentices partly maintained by the State. The children over school age in employment number 751 males and 342 females (included in the total of 3,859). Of the males 517 are farm workers, 73 are apprentices, and 161 others are employed in various trades. Of the girls there are 288 domestic workers, 37 factory employees, and 17 engaged in various employments such as shop-assistants, nurses, dressmakers, typists, &c. System op Supervision by Child Welfare Officers. The Child Welfare Act authorizes Children's Courts to place children under the supervision of Child Welfare Officers in cases where it appears undesirable or unnecessary to remove them from their own homes, and generally in all cases where

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friendly contact with the parents as well as the children is sufficient to bring about a readjustment of the home conditions or the correction of incipient anti-social traits in the children. In this important work the Department has had valuable assistance from certain of the private social service organizations, notably the Y.M.C.A. through its Big Brother movement commenced in Auckland a few years ago, and now extended to most of the centres of population throughout the Dominion. The number of cases dealt with by the Courts last year was 1,316, and of these 323 were placed under supervision and dealt with as indicated in the foregoing paragraph. The number actually admitted to institutions, such as receiving homes, special schools, training-farm, &c., was 423, but all these, with the exception of 85 who required long periods of training or were regarded as unfit for placing-out, were suitably provided for in the community before the close of the year. The remainder of the children were dealt with in a summary manner not calling for supervision by a Child Welfare Officer. Infant-life Protection and Adoption of Children (Infants Act, 1908). At the end of the year there were 771 children being maintained in 630 licensed foster-homes. Of these, 518 homes each had one child, 88 had two children each, 19 homes had three each, and 5 homes had four each. The payments by relatives for the maintenance of each child ranged from ss. to £l 10s. a week, the average rate of payment being approximately 15s. Bd. a week. Adoptions. During the year 382 children were adopted, and in 38 of these cases premiums were received by the Department's agents and paid out at the rate of 15s. a week for each child concerned. Of the total number of children adopted, 86 were under the age of six months, 41 between the age of six and twelve months, and 161 between the age of one and six years. Care and Training of Afflicted Children. Deaf Children, Children with Defective Speech, and Mentally Backward Children. The pupils under instruction at the School for the Deaf, Sumner, during the year numbered 136 and of these 14 were day pupils and 122 boarders. The special day classes in Auckland, Wellington, and Dunedin for partially deaf children and for children with speech defects were continued with highly successful results. Provision has also been made in these centres and in Christchurch for night classes for the instruction of the adult deaf. Special Schools for the Feeble-minded. There are two such special schools —one at Richmond (near Nelson) for girls, and one at Otekaike (near Oamaru) for boys. The number of girls in residence at Richmond at the end of the year was 76 and the number of boys at Otekaike 196. These institutions are for children who are educable to a certain degree but not at the ordinary public school.

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No. 2.—CHILD WELFARE BRANCH. Sir, — I have the honour to submit the following report on the work of the Child Welfare Branch for last year : —• The Child Welfare Act passed last year removes much of the legal machinery enacted some fortythree years ago which through the effluxion of time had been found inadequate for dealing with the various classes of children who require either protection or correction or maintenance at the hands of the State. Under the Industrial Schools Act, now repealed, it was necessary for a child to be committed to an industrial school before the Department could assume control or assist in any way. Now the Child Welfare Act provides simpler methods for accomplishing this object, and, in addition, has special clauses that legalize the informal system of probation or supervision—a system that has grown up under the working of the juvenile probation system. Previously there was no provision for the State to assume control of young persons over sixteen years of age except by transfer from gaol to an industrial school. This, of course, is entirely a wrong procedure, which has been rectified in the new Act by the provision whereby any young person charged with an offence against the law may be referred to the Children's Court to be dealt with as in the case of a child under sixteen years of age. As stated in the report of the Minister, the most important provision in the Child Welfare Act is for the establishment of Children's Courts, presided over by Special Magistrates or Justices authorized to exercise jurisdiction in these Courts. The personnel of the Courts may include honorary associates of either sex whose function it would be to act as the children's friend and generally to advise the presiding Magistrates. In addition, there is provision for the appointment of Child Welfare Officers who will investigate each case from a social welfare standpoint, and will furnish the Court with particulars as to family history, conduct, progress at school, degree of mentality, &c. As a rule the Child Welfare Officers will be identical with the regular field officers of the Branch, but in outlying towns and in smaller centres it is proposed to utilize the services of local voluntary social-service workers. By this means it is hoped to enlist the sympathies and services of local organizations with the object of dealing with the various classes of children in their own districts and by private effort directed from the nearest child-welfare centre. The Child Welfare Officers are now authorized to lay informations and to bring children before the Courts. Formerly the police were the only officers authorized to perform this important duty. For some years past the Department has been much concerned at the high death-rate among illegitimate infants, in comparison with infants born in wedlock. The provision in the Child Welfare Act for all such cases to be inquired into by Child Welfare Officers and to be supervised where necessary is a step in the right direction, although it is felt by the majority of the field officers that there should be provision for earlier registration. The experience during this year should indicate whether the existing provision is sufficiently far-reaching or not. Provision is made in the new Act for regulations governing the employment of children in street trading and places of public entertainment, and also regulating and restricting the attendance of children at places of entertainment. It is regretted that special provision was not made in the Act for the inspection of private institutions for children and for the co-ordination of all private social-service effort with that of the Child Welfare Branch of the Department. At present there is much overlapping, and not only wasted energy, but in many cases assistance that is given direct with the best of intentions is probably not appreciated and would have produced better results if given in another manner. I think it may be freely admitted that the denominational organizations engaged in social-service work are sincere in their desire to do what is best for the children under their charge and for that section of the community that requires assistance, but probably very few of the church social-workers have had any former experience or training in constructive social-service work. There is very great need for co-ordination and for the adoption of 'modern standards in providing for the housing, feeding, classification, and training of children who through misfortune or improvidence on the part of their parents are dependent upon charitable organizations for subsistence. The Branch carries out the following phases of social-welfare work : — (1.) Maintenance, supervision, and training of all destitute, dependent, and delinquent children committed to the care of the State. (2.) Supervision of children and juvenile offenders placed on probation by the Courts. (3.) Supervision of all infants under six years of age maintained for payment apart from their parents or guardians. (4.) Supervision of children in cases where widows' pensions are paid by the State. (5.) Supervision of all illegitimate births, with provision for assisting mother and child where necessary. (6.) Education and training of afflicted children over the age of six years. The definition, " afflicted " includes deaf, blind, or improvable feeble-minded children, and children partially deaf or suffering from defective speech, and stammers.

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The following figures show the number of children dealt with under the foregoing headings Nos. (1), (2), (3), and (6) Special schools and receiving-homes .. .. .. .. 3,859 Under supervision of Child Welfare Officers .. .. .. <. 323 Infants supervised in licensed foster-homes . . . . . . . . 771 Afflicted children — Deaf .. .. .. .. .. 116 Feeble-minded . . . . . . . . . . .. .. 283 5,352 Boarding-oot SYSTEiM. The majority of the children committed to the care of the State are not detained in institutions, but are boarded out in foster-homes situated mainly in suburban areas and in districts in close proximity to the smaller centres of population. At the end of the year there were 1,819 children boarded out —1,776 from Government receiving-homes and 43 from private industrial schools (Roman Catholic). Arranged according to the ages of the children the numbers at 31st March, 1926, are as follows : Under five years, 339 ; from five to ten years, 657 ; from ten to twelve years, 362 ; from twelve to thirteen years, 199 ; from thirteen to fourteen years, 187 ; and over fourteen years, 95. The rate paid to the foster-parents for the maintenance of each child is 15s. a week, but for infants under twelve months 17s. 6d. a week is paid. Each child is provided with a very complete initial outfit, the foster-parents being required to . maintain the clothing at this standard. Medical attendance, medicines, and dentistry are provided by the .Department, as also are school-books and school stationery. Upon Boarding-out Officers and Managers of Receiving-homes rests the responsibility of selecting proper homes .and of .supervising the inmates in these homes. No hard-and-fast rules can be laid down as to the type of home to be selected, or the number of times a home should be visited, or the methods of supervision. Much depends upon the personality, ability, and intuition of the officer concerned. Frequent visiting is advocated in the interests of the children, and as a general rule this is carried out; but the Department arranges a further safeguard by obtaining confidential reports every quarter from the headmasters or class-teachers of the schools which the children attend. Wherever possible, arrangements are also made for local honorary Lady Visitors to visit the foster-homes monthly, or more frequently if necessary, and generally keep a friendly eye on the children concerned. The numbers dealt with by the Juvenile Probation Officers in the main centres during the year ending 31st March, 1926, totalled 1,316, and were dealt with as shown in the following table : —

Assisted Service, Higher Education, and Employment of State Children over School Age. At the 31st March, 1926, there were 40 inmates at service receiving assistance (assisted service in most cases refers to apprenticeship). There were 45 children receiving post-primary education— 30 secondary and 15 technical. In addition, there were 51 children over the age of fourteen years still attending the public schools and being maintained by the Department. Nature of Employment at 31st March, 1926, of Boys having left School. At the 31st March, 1926, 517 boys were at service as farm workers. There were 73 boys apprenticed as follows : 10 cabinetmakers, 7 carpenters, 5 bakers, 5 motor mechanics, 5 bootmakers, 4 ironmoulders, 4 tinsmiths, 3 electrical engineers, 3 coachbuilders, 2 general engineers, 2 blacksmiths, 2 upholsterers, 2 electricians, 2 plumbers, 2 painters and paperhangers, 2 plasterers, 2 wickerworkers,

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fc) .2 "S © LS S , > I '43 <5 .23 ll £ -g 3 I S~ 5 ~ I 1 «■ 1 ■s $ ■§ S £ § £ Ss a I 3 « LSfi'S a PN w o . "2 T3 = T3 i -° J i « T3 Q « TJ+S District. a § « § 3 2« | «-2 i 3 * S3 ¥• • P f| S SJ ® "O . « •O'O TS V, ® 2 £ ! SI a s ! n ® n'~ •9'S 'S * ■e §> "° '2? s |g I Is 5 lSIo'allssi§. e =s's| e 2 I " % I. £& ■3 .2.2 .2 .2 g .2 -2 °S 8 2 S,n « ! S a = oft §3 £ ■a .3 •« o, .2 a -2 c, ,;, | §.S P > >.S s BaS '23 .9, ■"■= g.a o ■£ S Ss g.2 i 0 13 I § > § §3 § § Soc 8 S" I"" § 3 J* ' £ 3 S I" I 2 = o CP OO O MjO «2 < 23 ■<{ QjQ Eh North Auckland.. 18 .. .. 1 .. 3 26 21 69 Auckland .. 125 .. 6 2 3 5 8 2 55 77 10 .. 3 3 1 4 304 South Auckland 38 2 1 1 1 I 2 1 3 13 25 9 .. 5 2 104 Wanganui ..13 5 2 4.. 13 .. 1 1 7 4 9..2 61 Hawke's Bay .. 25 .. .. 1 11 3 .. .. 3 7 .. 14 20 1 1 .. 86 Palmerston North 16 3 11 2 9 .. 10 13 4 1 60 Wellington .. 42 . . 4 3 .. 3 .. 1 3 5 1 59 27 .. 1 4 ... . 5 158 Nelson .. 22 1 .. 1 5 4 1 ..4 38 West Coast .. 11 .. 3 .. .. 5 13 I . . 1 34 North Canterbury 37 .. 7 1 .. 2 5 .. 31 40 1 2 4 .. 6 26 162 South Canterbury 16 4 1 1 .. 32 14 1 ,.2 71 Otago .. ..32 I 1 7 30 33 .. 5 9 .. 1 .. 119 Southland .. 28 19 3 50 Totals .. 423 8 26 14 19 25 1 3 17 38 13 306 294 37 9 34 3 0 37 1,316

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1 butcher, 1 printer and bookbinder, 1 monumental mason, 1 sheet-metal worker, 1 wireworker, 1 glass-beveller, 1 motor-car painter, 1 range-maker, 1 nurseryman, 1 typewriter mechanic, and 1 bricklayer. Boys otherwise employed (not apprenticed) totalled 161, as follows : 33 labourers, 30 factory hands, 30 shop-assistants, 15 telegraph messengers, 13 clerks, 4 message-boys, 3 seamen, 3 orchardists, 2 fishermen, 2 butchers, 2 drivers, 2 H.M. Navy, 2 waiters, 2 electrical engineers, 2 schoolteachers, 2 porters, 2 motor mechanics, 1 baker, 1 motor-panneller, 1 electrician, 1 saddler, 1 tailor, 1 plasterer, 1 circus hand, 1 woodworker, 1 painter, 1 window-dresser, 1 civil engineer, and 1 railway fireman. Nature of Employment at 31st March, 1926, of Girls having left School. There were 288 domestics, 37 factory employees, 8 apprentices (4 dressmakers, 3 tailoresses, and 1 bookbinder), and 9 in other employment, as follows : 3 shop-assistants, 2 typists, 2 waitresses, 1 clerk, and 1 bookbinder. This gives a total of 342 girls in employment. Preventive Work. The following table shows the number of preventive cases notified by officers in the various districts during the year ended 31st March, 1926 : —- Number of Number of Dlatnot ' Families. Children. North Auckland .. .. .. .. 3 18 Auckland .. ~ ~. .. 23 33 South Auckland .. .. .. .. 15 30 Wanganui .... .. .. .. .. 1 1 Hawke's Bay .. .. .. .. .. 10 20 Palmerston North .. .. .. .. .. 9 13 Wellington ~ ~ .. .. .. 19 23 Nelson .. .. .. .. ..34 37 West Coast . . . . .. . . . . 7 15 Canterbury .. .. .. .. .. 42 79 South Canterbury .. .. .. .. 3 3 Otago .. .. ~ .. .. 21 33 Southland .. .. .. ~ .. 34 93 Totals .. .. .. .. 221 398 Admissions classified according to Age at Admission. The following table shows the new admissions according to age : — Boys. Girls. Total.' Under six months .. .•• .. .. 23 19 42 Over six months and under one year .. .. 9 9 18 One year to five years .. .. .. 55 45 100 Five years to ten years .. .» .. 55 45 100 Ten years to fourteen years .. .. .. 84 25 109 Over fourteen years .. .. .. 40 31 71 Totals .. .. .. ..266 174 440 Table I 4 attached to this report shows the new admissions classified according to the causes of admission. Of the total number (440), 160 were destitute, 202 not under proper control, and 72 had been charged with punishable offences. Of the children admitted under these headings all except 83 were placed out in foster-homes before the 31st March. The following figures show (1) the number of children of drunken parents, and (2) the number of children of feeble-minded parents Admission of Children on account of the Drinking Habits of one or both Parents. Drunken mother .. .. .. .. .. 4 Drunken father .. .. .. .. .. .. 26 Both parents drunkards .. .. .. .. 5 35 Admission of Children on account of the Mental Deficiency of one or both Parents. Mentally deficient mother .. .. .. .. 20 Mentally deficient father .. .. .. .. ~ Both parents defective mentally .. .. .. .. 1 21 For purposes of comparison three tables have been prepared showing—(l) Children admitted on account of destitution ; (2) children found to be not under proper control, or reported as uncontrollable by the parents ; and (3) children charged with offences against the law. In each case the

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parents have been divided into the following groups : (1) Dead, deserter, or unknown ; (2) good character ; (3) bad or questionable character, including drunkards, feeble-minded, or physically unfit. Particulars of Parentage : 1925 Admissions. 160 destitute children representing 105 families. Character of parents described as —•

w- i —i 183 uncontrollable children representing 117 families. Character of parents described as —■

76 children accused or guilty of offences, representing 73 families. Character of parents described as —

Schools for the Feeble-minded. Numbers at 31st March, 1926.

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Bad, Questionable, Dead, Deserter, or „ , Drunkards, FeebleUnknown. 00 ' minded, and Physically Unfit. Father ........ 31 12 22 Mother ........ 7 21 33 Both parents ...... 8 15 9

Bad, Questionable, Dead, Deserter, or p , Drunkards, FeebleUnknown. *°° ' minded, and Physically Unfit. Father ........ 20 17 36 Mother ........ 22 24 27 Both parents ...... 7 27 7

Bad, Questionable, Dead, Deserter, or Priori Drunkards, FeebleUnknown. | T ' minded, and Physically Unfit. Father .. . . . . 6 9 13 Mother .. .. . . .. 11 j 11 6 Both parents ...... 2 j 36 4

Richmond. Otekaike. .... . (Girls.) (Boys.) l0ta1 ' In residence .. .. .. . . .. 76 196 272 On vacation .. .. .. .. .. 1 1 2 In situations under supervision .. . . . . . . 4 4 In boys' receiving-homes . . . . . . . . 4 4 With friends .. .. .. .. 1 ] Totals .. .. .. 77 206 283 I have, &c., J. Beck, The Director of Education. Superintendent of Child Welfare.

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No. 3.-STATISTICS: INDUSTRIAL SCHOOL AND PROBATION SYSTEM, AND SPECIAL SCHOOLS. Table I.—Expenditure on Industrial Schools and Probation System, 1925-26.

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Medicine, Deduct r TTw»riatnfl<! Clothing and Fuel, Light, Farm and Attendance Household Sundries Total Add Stocks, Totai Troup* «xs I ! Net Institution. Foodstuffs Boots and Water. Garden. Attendance, Requisite. | Sundries. iotal. i 31/3/1 925. loUl ' Issues to Issues tc Stocks, Expenditure. Dentistry. | ! | *•»>- pToTa'SeL 31/3/1926. _ _ _ . ; Receiving-homes — £ s. d. £ s. d. £ s. d. £ s. d. j £ s. d. £ s. d. £ s. d. £ s. d. £ s. d. £ s. d. £ s. d. £ s. d. £ s. d. £ s. d. £ s. d. Auckland .. 328 16 5 251 4 6 79 12 0 .. 33 13 9 47 19 5 | 33 1 9 774 7 10 .. 774 7 10 16 3 11 14 4 8 1 3 8 .. 742 15 7 Hamilton 171 15 5 553* 2 7 37 15 3 .. 1 4 5 0 12 1 4 i 68 3 7 847 3 2 1,002 4 9 1,849 7 11 297 15 11 430 7 6 2 18 5 685 0 4 433 5 9 Napier .. 213 17 2 189 3 11 52 0 5 .. 1 1 7 0 10 12 1 26 16 11 493 17 6 1,464 4 11 1,958 2 5 151 11 1 222 1 5 .. 1,127 11 6 456 18 5 Wanganui .. 167 18 6 73 10 4 50 4 6 .. j 1 15 1 5 11 3 17 6 9 169 5 9 493 1 4 662 7 1 86 2 3 126 11 8 ... 241 6 1 208 7 1 Wellington . 312 3 8 125 7 6 95 15 11 .. 8 6 3 54 5 9 41 13 1 386 17 2 1,458 10 6 1,845 7 8 381 16 11 29 3 10 .. 709 13 1 724 13 10 Christchurch .. 341 7 1 300 18 7 102 2 10 | 23 10 2 35 9 10 72 6 2 875 14 8 1,709 12 9 2,585 7 5 651 16 0 91 18 0 .. 1,085 1 9 756 11 8 Probation Homes — Auckland 324 8 9 62 18 0 71 2 9 .. j 24 18 1 41 15 1 61 14 8 586 17 4 .. 586 17 4 .. .. .. .. 586 17 4 Wellington 315 1 8 37 2 0 53 5 2 .. 3 13 3 5 17 0 49 10 10 464 9 11 .. 464 9 11 .. .. .. .. 464 9 11 Christchurch .. 200 10 8 370 15 11 52 9 6 .. 4 19 7 30 3 5 93 12 7 752 11 8 342 10 1 1,095 1 9 162 0 1 306 2 5 .. 170 19 1 456 0 2 Dunedin 209 4 6 4 16 3 40 0 10 .. 12 8 6 14 19 5 81 19 3 353 8 9 .. 353 8 9 .. .. .. .. • 353 8 9 Boys' Training- 724 14 5 1,265 10 5 238 13 11 1,239 2 11 ; 79 8 4 32 6 5 128 1 1 3,707 17 6 1,833 8 11 5,541 6 5 81 7 6 1,072 17 10 .. 4,790 4 9 403 3 8 farm, Weraroa Boarding-out Offices ! Nelson .. .. 686 7 8 .. .. 0 3 0 1 17 3 6 14 10 691 2 3 1,308 5 5 617 3 2 44 2 1 158 8 11 .. .. 414 12 2 Palmerston North .. 0 11 11 .. .. .. 0 11 11 .. 0 11 11 .. .. .. 0 11 11 Timaru .. .. •• -• ..j.. .. 190 190 .. 190 .. .. .. .. 190 Invercargill .. .. •• .. 427 427 .. 427 .. .. .. .. 427 Industrial School, 518 15 2 419 3 6 202 1 6 .. j 21 6 11 42 18 1 76 2 10 1,280 8 0 2,753 17 7 4,034 5 7 518 4 11 381 6 3 .. 1,799 8 10 1,335 5 7 Caversham Children's Home, ■. • • 700 .. I .. .. .. 700 .. 700 .. .. . ; . .. 700 Miramar Te Oranga Home .. 5 14 11 .. 4 7 6 j .. 39 5 1 41 2 6 .. 41 2 6 .. .. .. .. 41 2 6 Totals .. .. •• -- •• •• •• •• 9,972 14 2 12,365 16 3 22,338 10 5 2,391 0 8 2,833 2 6 4 2 1 10,609 5 5 6,500 19 9 Repairs to buildings .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 1,607 1 2 Salaries of staffs of homes, Managers, Probation Officers, visiting nurses, &c. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 21,231 16 4 Boarding-out of children — Payments to foster-parents .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 65,237 1 0 Payments to Postal Department as commission .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 607 15 6 Issues of clothing, &c. : From insitutions, £2,391 0s. 8d. + £16 lis. ; from central stores, £728 2s. 5d. -f £736 16s. 6d. .. .. .. .. .. .. 3,872 10 7 Medicine, medical attendance, dentistry, &c. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 2,489 17 4 72,207 4 5 Inmates at service — Issues of clothing, &c. : From institutions, £2,837 4s. 7d. + £37 19s. 3d. ; from central stores, £605 13s. 7d. + £789 10s. 5d. .. .. .. .. 4,270 7 10 Miscellaneous payments .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 1,927 1 1 6,197 8 11 Refund of maintenance payments .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 191 14 4 Refund of inmates' earnings .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 81 6 5 Rent, office requisites, &c. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 1,935 1 3 Travelling-expenses .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 5,77947 Wages of inmates .. .. .. .. .. _ .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 61 9 8 Law-costs .. .. .. .. .. • • • • • • .. . • • • • • .. • • .. .. .. .. .. 66 14 8 Libraries .. .. .. . ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ • ■ • ■ ■ ■ - • • • - - • • - • • • • • • • .. .. .. 0 16 5 Transfer and removal expenses .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 38 1 1 10 Contingencies .. .. .. •. .. •. • • . • .. .. .. . • • • . • .... .. .. .. 164 Less recoveries — 115,900 16 1 Parents and others .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 23,416 2 10 Sales of farm produce .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 2,098 13 8 Inmates earnings for clothing, &c. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 7,278 10 0 Miscellaneous .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 3,19758 . 35,990 12 2 £79,910 3 11

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In connection with the foregoing table it should be borne in mind that there are really only two residential institutions in our industrial-schools system- —the Boys' Training-farm, Weraroa, for boys, and a section of the Cavers ham Industrial School for girls. The receiving-homes and probation homes are regarded as clearing-houses, where children are admitted for short periods for observation and treatment, if necessary, prior to being placed in ordinary homes in the community or in situations. These homes are also utilized— (1.) For housing children who for various reasons are changing from one home or situation to another, or who are sent in from country districts for medical or dental treatment, &c. ; (2.) For children and young persons passing through from other centres or districts ; and (3.) For girls and young women in situations who spend their weekly half-holiday and occasional week-end days with the Matron of the home. The average number of children in residence at these homes is comparatively small, but an approximation of the work of the homes is given in the following return

Average Cost of maintaining Industrial-school Inmates for Year ending 31st March, 1926. £ s. d. Gross cost of maintaining industrial-school inmates .. .. .. .. 115,900 16 1 Plus excess of liabilities, 31st March, 1926, over those of 31st March, 1925 .. 375 18 1 116,276 14 2 Less. £s. d. Direct expenditure on service inmates . ■ • • ■ • 1,927 1 1 Issues from institutions and stores .. •• •• 4,270 710 Salaries of Probation Officers, Infant-life Protection Agents, and proportion of Managers and office staffs of institutions .. 10,615 18 2 Travelling-expenses of Probation Officers, Infant-life Protection Agents, &c. (estimated at two-thirds of expenditure, £5,779 4s. 7d.) .. •• •• 3,852 16 4 Refund of inmates' earnings . • • • • • • • 81 6 5 Rent, office requisites, &c. (two-thirds of expenditure, £1,935 Is. 3d.) 1,290 010 Law-costs • • • • • • • ■ • • • • 66 14 8 22,104 5 4 Gross cost of inmates a charge on the State .. .. £94,172 810 Number of inmates maintained (including inmates in residence at Government schools, boarded out, hospitals, convalescent homes, &c.) .. 2,175 Average cost per week per inmate — £ s. d. Gross .. • • • • ■ • • • • • • ■ ..0168 Recoveries •• •• •• •• • • ..051 Net • • • • ..0117 The net cost to the State of maintaining children under the industrial-schools system is therefore lis. 7d. per head per week.

2—E. 4.

9

, fl , . Average Number in Number of Children Name of School. Residence. actu ( a "y , passing through. Girls' Receiving-home, Auckland .. .. .. 19-3 152 Boys' Receiving-home, Auckland .. .. • • 17-8 215 Girls' Receiving-home, Hamilton .. .. .. 8-92 243 Girls'Receiving-home, Wanganui .. .. .. 10-69 127 Girls' Receiving-home, Napier .. .. .. . • 8-08 81 Girls' Receiving-home, Wellington .. .. .. 13-18 164 Boys' Receiving-home, Wellington .. .. .. 12-04 184 Girls' Receiving-home, Christchurch .. .. .. 17-31 210 Boys' Christchurch . .. .. 11-95 141 Boys' Receiving-home, Dunedin .. .. .. . • 10-44 99 1,616

E.—4.

Table I la.—Government Expenditure on Private (Roman Catholic) Schools, 1925-26. £ s. d. St. Mary's, Auckland .. .. .. .. .. .. 531 8 1 St. Joseph's, Upper Hutt .. .. .. .. .. 528 17 7 St. Mary's, Nelson .. .. .. .. .. .. 391 6 1 St. Vincent de Paul's, Dunedin .. .. .. .. .. 241 17 5 £1,693 9 2 Table I Ib.—Government Expenditure on the Maintenance of Inmates sent to other Institutions, 1925-26. £ s d Salvation Army Home, Grey Lynn .. .. . .. 26 10 0 Institute Notre des Missions, Christchurch .. .. .. .. 46 3 6 £72 13 6 Table I 2. —Gross Recoveries from Parents and others. 1924-25. 1925-26. £ s. d. £ s. d. Industrial schools .. .. . 22,072 14 8 22,825 3 6Special schools .. .. .. 4,633 19 9 2,194 13 1 Charitable Aid Boards (special schools) 2,163 17 1 1,587 16 11 £28,870 11 6 £26,607 13 6

10

E.— 4

Table I 3.—Numbers under Control at 31st March, 1926.

3—E. 4.

11

Government Schools. II l |i I, !l u I! i It ill j j l jL I. if jj -ceg > fl _ ,§•§ £3 - •§ q S . •§ § £ o 2 U . £ c - ~s * Particulars of Children belonging to the Schools. ®° § 2g Its || 11| 2« Iff 2£ I &•§, ||l lt§ §=1 Iff -|gl a* 111 2 s . 3"a «1. ®>1 2* <=>§ 3V- =>-£ ag ass §§e «=(! ga? w*? lis g§ IU 1 1« *1 1" F ®1 !* %m I| I a 1* I s * |* fg |I i§ a 3 i§ a «§ a g° *g j g H a * * i° B. G. B. B. G. B. B. G. B. B. G. B. B. G. j B. B. G. B. B. B. G. B. B. G. B. In residence.. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 4 18 5 3 7 .. 5 5 .. 4 2 .. .... .. 69 5 12 2 Boarded out .. .. .. .. 46 30 .. 189 147 13 75 51 .. 35 30 1 56 48 .. 72 44 .. ..163 105 2 26 32 At service .. .. .. .. .. .. 9 23 .. 22 53 .. 13 70 .. 17 40 .. 9 49 .. 10 95 2 .. 45 40 .. 11 27 With friends .. .. .. .. 8 24 16 26 40 24 7 16 7 10 12 16 15 15 26 10 9 16 1 14 32 29 2 4 5 Under guardianship .. .. .. 1 1 1 .. .. •• •• 1 .. .. .. 3 1 In hospitals, convalescent homes, &c. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 1 .. .. •• •• •• 2 .. .. 2 .. 2 4 .. In mental hospitals .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 1 .. .. .. . • •• •• •• 2 1 In refuges or cognate institutions .. .. .. 1 .. .. 4 1 1 • • • • 1 In orphanages, cottage homes, &c. .. 2 .. 1 .. 1 4 .. .. .. .. .. 5 5 3 1 In probation homes .. .. .. .. 12 .. .. .. .. • • • • • • • • .. 1 3 Absent without leave .. .. .. 1 3 4 .. .. 6 .. .. 8 .. .. 8 2 .. 1 1 At Special School, Otekaike .. .. .. .. .. .. 18 .. 11 1 .. 1 .. .. 1 4 .. 1 3 .. .. 21 17 .. 7 4 .. 3 At Special School, Richmond .. .. .. 13 .. .. .. • • 2 .. .. 3 7 .. .. 8 Temporary Girls' Receiving-home, Napier 2 Under arrest .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. . • • • 3 At School for the Deaf, Sumner .. .. Totals .. .. .. 55 64 39 250 250 107 86 87 83 50 65 65 80 81 91 85 67 121 96 211 216 85 33 56 35

E.—4

Table I 3.—Numbers under Control at 31st March, 1926— continued.

12

I Government Schools. Private Schools. 25 ® - 2 2®,-! O 9 .C ~ ,C 2 — S "o ~ 2 ® -i — m -fi "d "o pf .-M --§1 |ld £l |*B - gel fetfl W§ fcrfg Wd Totals oi a. Schools. Particulars of Children belonging to the Schools. ,2©S 2 J £ a® .2 © 1 ,S©§ £.§3 §2 M a x 1 C5>« CQ>M -5.S 2 .Ss-s :q*> £ 2 = 0 £ S ® Q, . «£ r- w 3 ga2 O |*E w -g-g Sgn 5s gap -so =£> o°> . M g g°°fc >3Q ® ©rh o© ® ° jR r ® © ©S3 q, © r ® ® 5 ©tS y £-) fer ° ©Ofe> ~ -7* © XiP* _ I B. G. B. B. j G. B. B. G. B. B. G. I B. B. G. B. | B. G. G. B. G. G. I Boys. Girls, g^j , , _ . . . . In residence .. .. .. .. 2 16 5 1 45 4. 1 12 17 18 7 9 13 128 162 290 Boarded out .. .. .. .. .. 16 16 .. 153 114 3 27 42 ..105 67 .. 35 33 .. 20 21 2 1,037 782 1,819 At service .. .. .. .. 4 .. 55 75 2 32 .. 38 31; .. 12 21 2 20 7 1 1 2 565 273 838 With friends .. .. .. .. .. 2 5 4 7 20 17 5 11 .6 4 11 10 I 3 7 11 8 17 4 1 4 309 232 541 Under guardianship .. .. .. .. .. .. .. ..; 2 6 .J .. .. .. .. 1 .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 10 7 17 In hospitals, convalescent homes, &c. .. .. 1 7 2 3 2 1 .. 1 13 15 28 In mental hospitals .. .. .. 2 1 1 2 .. ; i 6 4 10 In refuges or cognate institutions .. .. .. .. .. .. 6 .. .. .. .. .. 15 .. i .. .. .. 6 7 .. 1 2 .. 45 45 In orphanages, cottage homes, &c. .. .. .. .. .. 1 3 .. .. .. 3 .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 11 18 29 In probation homes .. .. .. 1 .. 5 .. 22 .. 22 Absent without leave .. .. .. .. . . .. .. .. 1 31 4 35 At Special School, Otekaike .. .. .. .. .. 8 .. 9 2 .2 5 .. 10 3 .. .. 4 .. .. .. .. .. 135 .. 135 At Special School, Richmond .. .. 4 .. .. 2 .. .. 4 .. j 43 43 Temporary Girls' Receiving-home, Napier 2 .. 2 Under arrest .. .. .. .. 3 .. 3 At School for the Deaf, Sumner .. 2 .. i .. .. ( 2 2 Totals .. .. .. 19 21 8 174 228 115 34 57 40 123 190 58 42 52 33 . 46 82 36 8 12 23 ;2,272 1,587 3,859

8.—4.

Table I 4. —Admissions during the Year ended 31st March, 1926, classified according to Causes of Admission.

Table I 5.—Admissions classified according to Status at 31st March, 1926.

Table I 6.- Deaths during the Year ending 31st March, 1926.

Deaths in Foster-homes and Exempted Institutions. Of the 1,301 infants who were at one time or another on the books as being in foster-homes during 1925, 5 died, 1 in a foster-home and 4 in hospitals to which they had been removed for treatment. One of the five was under twelve months of age, and three were of illegitimate birth.

13

• • , , "-T hr-d 6OT5 © of ® BDO sT . 8 O a ec d o P is a a . a -Sp a a# a.d al "a «a 2 . •g« f,3 5 a" o'S § eg o . •§» og M •g'g •§« .£ a •£ m . & o . J=i a . J3 u -38 H a -a 3 . a 3 -55 S o § •£ 8 ® s S § gp tJoij 42 wd «s ~j gc-2 jh ® g 0=3 ~j bcj= £ .g -gs g 3 m ~ Totals |«4 «<1 -III sll s|« gg g|l tfj Mfi P5« Wg of all Schools. Admitted as - | - R g- | M •§£ | g - . || " Rtf ||j gj •£ o ° o <2 2Z 3 oh oS °6 O o 6S g «| « «| f J B. G. B. B. G. B. G. B. G. B. B. G. B. J B. G. B. B. j G. B. B. G. B. G. g ®°^ Destitute.. .. 5 2.. 8 6 6 8 .. 3 .. 27 19 .. 1318 .. 28 17 87 73 160 Vagrant .. 1 .. 1 2 .. 3 1 6 2 8 In disreputable 13 3 1 1 4 5 9 associations Not under proper 49 46 7 8 10 6 2 4 3 354.. 871 29122 96 83 179 oontrol (complaint by police) Unoontrollable (com- ..1 3 1 1 * ""! ® plaint by parents) Accused or guilty of 5 3 13 3.. 5 1 1 1 19 112 4.. 3 622.... 64 8 72 punishable offences Transferred from gaol 3 1 4.. 4 Seotion 47, Infants 1 1 1 1 2 Act Totals .. 60 55 21 19 17 20 12 14 9 26 33 25 2 25 26 5 36 28 3 2 2 266174 440 ( 1

— — CD eaoS a % 9 B a III 8|s £ s ■so ~t s Ss - s *-•&? m"S2 *s»m ® »>* Totals. (D . «§ «g O- •— ,Q "JS M OQ M -f( i i ii hi §n in & i I i< tsl SIS gl-s is O JZ5 P - <J H <£ B. G. B. j G. | B. G. B. G. B. G. B. G. B. B. G. B. G. In residence .. .. .. 13 8 1 1 .... 19 11 2 1 21 6 56 27 83 Boarded out .. .. .. 70 62 3 1 3 5 57 48 1 1 16 1 150 118 268 At service .. .. .. 1 7 5 .... 15 .. 1 .... 24 5 j 29 With friends .. .. .. 1 3 .. .. 1 .. 1 7 1 .. 5 .. 1 .... 10 10 20 In refuges or cognate institutions 5 .51 5 Adopted .. .. j • 1 1 1 In hospitals, convalescent homes, &c. .. 1 .. j 2 2 3 2 5 At Special School, Otekaike .. .. 1 .. 1 9 5..1 .... 17 .. 17 Absent without leave .. 1 1 .... 2 3 1 4 Mental hospitals .. .. 1 i 1 Discharged by warrant .. 2 1 .... 1 2 3 Written off the books .. 1 1 1 1 2 Died .. .. .. .. 1 1 1 1 2 Totals .. .. .. 87 73 6 2 4 5 96| 83 4 2 64 8. 4 1 1266 174 440

Age. Status at Death. Certified Cause of Death. Y. M. 3 0 In hospital .. Osteo-myelitis of the humerous, cardiac failure. 4 3 „ • • Cerebro-spinal meningitis, cardiac failure. 4 6 „ • • Acute pulmonary tuberculosis. 6 8 „ • • Pyaemia, empyema. 10 4 „ .. Varicose aneurism, haemorrhage, and cardiac failure. 10 8 „ • • Streptococcal pericarditis. 11 g „ .. Acute appendicitis, toxaemia, heart-failure. 12 2 „ • • Rheumatic endocarditis, cardiac failure. 12 6 „ • • Typhoid fever. 13 3 .. Osteo-myelitis of right oscalcis, complicated eypyaemia, and broncho-pneumonia. 18 2 ,, • • Septic arthritis, septicaemia.

E.—4

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 : —

Deaths amongst Illegitimate Children under One Year of Age during 1925. District. No. Distriot. No. North Auckland .. .. .. 2 Nelson .. .. .. 2 Auckland .. . . 23 West Coast .. .. .. 2 South Auckland .. .. 6 North Canterbury .. .. .. 10 Wanganui and Taranaki .. .. 4 South Canterbury . . .. 2 Gisborne .. .. .. .... Otago . . .. .. .. 4 Hawke's Bay .. .. .. 1 Southland .. .. .. 2 Palmerston North ........ — Wellington .. .. .. ..11 Total .. .. .. 69 In addition, 8 infants of unknown birth were found dead.

No. 4. —COSTLEY TRAINING INSTITUTION. Balance-sheet fob Year ending 31st December, 1925. Liabilities. £ s. d. Assets. £ s. d. Costley bequest .. .. •• 12,150 0 0 War-loan stock .. .. .. 1,500 0 0 Hodge bequest .. .. .. 742 3 9 Accrued interest .. .. .. 918 1 Accrued Revenue Account— £ s. d. Mortgages .. .. .. .. 23,890 0 0 Balance at Ist January, Bank of New Zealand .. .. .. 14 14 10 1925 .. .. 12,294 19 1 Less deficit for year .. 3 113 12,291 7 10 Jackson, Russel), Tunks, and West .. 312 11 4 £25,496 2 11 £25,496 2 11 Revenue Account for Year ending 31st December, 1925. D r , £ s. d. Cr. £ s. d. To Maintenance Account .. .. 1,550 911 By Interest .. .. .. .. 1,652 12 8 Expenses .. .. .. • • 105 14 0 Balance —Deficit to Accrued Revenue Account .. .. .. 3 113 £1,656 3 11 £1,656 3 11

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14

Foster-homes. Exempted Institutions. Number of Number of Percentage of Number of Number of J Percentage of Deaths. Infants. Deaths Deaths. Infants. j Deaths. 1908 .. .. 26 1.017 2-56 .. No records 1909 .. .. 25 1,181 2-11 1910 .. .. 26 1,183 2-19 1911 .. .. 13 1,183 1-09 47 899 5-23 1912 .. .. 12 1,228 0-98 36 911 3-95 1913 .. .. 13 1,330 0-98 18 984 1-82 1914 .. .. 20 1,423 1-40 37 944 3-91 1915 .. .. 14 1,440 0-98 11 1,026 1-08 1916 17 1,250 1-36 9 939 0-96 1917 .. .. 12 1,361 0-88 15 1,136 1-32 1918 .. .. 6 1,341 0-44 15 955 1-57 1919 .. .. 10 1,403 0-71 13 1,050 1-24 1920 .. .. 14 1,306 1-07 19 1,002 1-89 1921 .. .. 6 1,318 0-47 17 1,118 1-52 1922 .. .. 10 1,243 0-80 16 887 1-08 1923 .. .. 6 1,243 0-48 20 1,076 1-86 1924 .. .. 5 1,213 0-41 21 1,175 1-78 1925 .. .. 5 1,301 0-38 12 1,638 0*73