EDUCATION: CHILD WELFARE, STATE CARE OF CHILDREN, SPECIAL SCHOOLS, AND INFANT-LIFE PROTECTION. [In continuation of E.-4, 1930.]

Appendix to the Journals of the House of Representatives, 1931 Session I-II, E-04

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1931. NEW ZEALAND.

EDUCATION: CHILD WELFARE, STATE CARE OF CHILDREN, SPECIAL SCHOOLS, AND INFANT-LIFE PROTECTION. [In continuation of E.-4, 1930.]

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

No. I.—EXTEACT FROM THE FIFTY-FOURTH ANNUAL REPORT OF THE MINISTER OF EDUCATION. CHILD WELFARE. Number op Children under Supervision. The total number of children under supervision of the Child Welfare Branch as at 31st March, 1931, was 7,255, classed under the following headings :— State wards— In foster-homes, hostels, and with friends .. .. .. 3 099 In situations .. .. . . .. ~ _ qqq In Government institutions, receiving-homes, &c. .. .. .. 290 In private institutions .. .... .. 214 Inmates in special schools for the mentally backward . 269 In hospitals, convalescent homes, &c. .. .. .. ~ 40 4,902 Young persons supervised in their own homes by Child Welfare Officers, by Order of Court .. .. . . .. .. _ _ 952 Infants supervised, in foster-homes registered under the Infants Act . . 1,280 Pupils at School for the Deaf, Sumner (eight of these being State wards) . . ' 121 7,255 The number of children committed to the care of the Superintendent during the year ended 31st March, 1931, was 603, classified according to reason for committal as follows: Indigent, 266; delinquent, 27; detrimental environments, 84; not under proper control, 116 ; accused or guilty of punishable offence, 87 ; neglected, 23; and, in addition, 28 were admitted by private arrangement (section 12, Child Welfare Act), while 75 were temporarily admitted, making the total number of admissions for the year, 706. Of the children committed, 58 had been dealt with previously by the Courts for other offences for which they had received terms of supervision. Classified according to the age at the time of admission, the numbers, including those admitted under section 12, Child Welfare Act, are as follows : Under six months, 68 ; over six months and under one year, 28 ; from one to five years, 118 ; from five to ten years, 123 ; from ten to fourteen years, 133 ; over fourteen years' 161. The children temporarily admitted (75) ranged in ages between four days and twenty years. The length of period of residence for these children was from one day to seven weeks. Of the children in foster-homes, 220 are over the age of fourteen years, of whom 138 are still attending primary schools, and 82 are receiving higher education. In addition, there are 16 residing in hostels and receiving secondary education. Furthermore, 23 children under the age of fourteen years are receiving higher education.

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No. 2.—STATEMENT OF THE SUPEKINTENDENT OF THE CHILD WELFARE BRANCH FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31st MARCH, 1931. Investigation and Supbbvision of Cases appearing before Children's Courts. The number of cases dealt with by the Children's Courts last year was 2,373, and of these 642 were placed under the supervision of Child Welfare Officers. Of the children placed under supervision, 28 were subsequently committed. The number actually admitted to institutions such as receiving homes, special schools, training-farms, &c, was 603 ; but all of these, with the exception of 140 who required further training, were suitably provided for in the community before the close of the year. The other children appearing before the Courts were dealt with in a summary manner not calling for supervision by a Child Welfare Officer. At the 31st March, 1931, there was a total number of 952 children under the supervision of Child Welfare Officers by Order of the Courts. Of the number, 642, placed under supervision this year, 53 had previously been dealt with by the Courts. The Magistrate had also ordered 7 children to spend a period in institutions. The following statement indicates the numbers (other than those placed under supervision or committed) appearing before all such Courts and the methods of disposal: Admonished and discharged, 683 ; withdrawn, 3 ; returned to institutions, 34 ; dismissed, 44 ; adjourned, 42 ; committed to Supreme Court for sentence, 2 ; committed to borstal, 30 ; convicted and discharged, 2 ; convicted and birched, 1 ; convicted and fined, 38 ; convicted and probation, 10 ; convicted and ordered to come up for sentence, 2 ; committed to mental hospital, 1. By-law cases : Dismissed, 5 ; convicted and fined, 76 ; convicted and costs, 31 ; admonished and discharged, 122 ; adjourned, 2. Total, 1,128. Of the above, 268 were charged with theft; 151, wilful damage ; 22, false pretences ; 2, loitering ; 15, trespassing; 10, cruelty to animals; 2, attempted suicide ; 2, indecency; 9, smoking; 88, mischief; 3, forgery ; 24, stone-throwing ; 38, possessing firearms ; 17, disorderly conduct; 7, obscene language ; 13, assault; 48, breaking and. entering ; 14, not under proper control; 36, conversion ; 9, receiving ; 16, discharging firearms ; 4, vagrancy ; 7, indecent assault; 10, carnal knowledge ; 4, detrimental environments ; 1, breach of Defence Act; 34, breach of Motor-vehicles Act; 11, breach of Railway Act; 3, breach of Acclimatization Act; 4, breach of Post and Telegraph Act; 1, breach of the Gaming Act; 1, breach of Pure Food Act; 1, breach of Marriage Act; 13, breach of Licensing Act; 1, breach of Public Works Act; 3, breach of Arms Act; and 236, breach of by-laws. In addition to the above, there were 79 cases dealt with by Magistrates under the provisions of section 17 of the Amendment Act, 1927, and the information dismissed as trivial, while there were also 110 cases in which, as the result of consultation between the Child Welfare Officer and the police, the informations were regarded as of insufficient importance to warrant Court action—the children concerned being adequately dealt with otherwise, usually by being regarded as preventive cases under the supervision of a Child Welfare Officer for a period. Children under the Guardianship of the Superintendent of the Child Welfare Branch. At the end of the year there were 4,910 children under control (excluding those mentioned under separate headings below), and of these 290 were in residence at Government receiving-homes, &c. (many of these, of course, only temporarily), training-farm and training institutions, 269 in special schools for mentally backward children, 87 in the four private Roman Catholic schools recognized under the Child Welfare Act; 2,365 children were boarded out in foster-homes, 990 were in situations, and 671 residing under license with relatives and friends. The remainder were in various private institutions. Young persons over school age in employment number 858 males and 498 females (a number of whom are residing with friends), included in the total of 4,910. Of the males, 634 are farm workers (279 skilled in dairy work and cheesemaking, and 355 competent to milk and carry out general farm work), 46 are apprentices (of which number some are receiving assistance), and 178 others are employed in various trades. A number of these are also receiving assistance. Of the girls, 369 are domestic workers, 69 factory employees, and 60 engaged in various employments, such as shopassistants, nurses, dressmakers, &c. A number of the girls are also receiving assistance. Child-placing System. Assisted Service, Higher Education, and Employment of State Children over School Age. At the end of the year 138 State wards over fourteen years of age were in attendance at primary schools and maintained by the Department, 67 were attending secondary schools, and 31 technical schools. Of the State wards in employment, 132, mainly apprentices, were being partly maintained by the Department. Infant-life Protection (Infants Act, 1908). At the end of the year 1,280 infants and young children were supervised in 1,032 licensed fosterhomes. Of these, 854 homes had one child each, 132 had two children each, 29 had three children each, 12 had four children each, 4 had five children each, and ] home had seven children. Adoptions. By an arrangement with the Department of Justice, applications for adoptions are investigated by Child Welfare Officers before being dealt with by a Magistrate. During the year, 371 children were adopted, and in 21 of these cases premiums were received by the Department's agents, and paid out

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usually at the rate of 15s. per week for each child concerned. Of the total number of children adopted, 82 were under the age of six months, 41 between the age of six and twelve months, 162 between the age of one and five years, 53 between the age of five and ten years, and 33 between the age of ten and fifteen years.

Table 1. —Status of Children and Young Persons under the Guardianship of the Superintendent at 31st March, 1931.

Table 2.—Committals and Admissions by Private Arrangement during the Year ended 31st March, 1931. The following table shows the admissions according to age : —

N.B. —In addition to the above, 52 boys and 23 girls were temporarily admitted for short periods. Table 3 below shows the admissions classified according to the causes of admission. Of the total number, 706, 266 were destitute or indigent, 116 not under proper control, 87 charged with punishable offences, 27 delinquent, 84 detrimental environments, 23 neglected. Of the children admitted under these headings, 463 were placed out in the community before the 31st March, 1931.

Table 3. —Committals and Admissions during the Year ended 31st March, 1931, classified according to causes of Admission.

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Status. Boys. Girls. Total. In residence 162 128 290 Boarded out 1,355 1,010 2,365 At service .. .. 665 325 990 With friends .. .. .. .. .. 346 325 671 In hospitals, convalescent homes, &c. .. .. 15 13 28 In refuges or cognate institutions .. .. .. 15 90 105 In orphanages .. .. . . .. .. 9 13 22 Absent without leave .. .. .. .. 25 4 29 In Borstal institutions .. .. .. .. 2 .. 2 Y.M.C.A. Hostel, Auckland .. .. .. ! 14 .. 14 Institute for the Blind .. .. .. .. .. 1 1 At colleges .. .. .. .. .. 1 1 Girls' Hostel, Wellington .. .. .. .. . . 17 17 In residence, Eoman Catholic schools .. .. 34 53 87 In schools for mentally backward . . .. .. 191 78 269 In School for Deaf, Sumner ...... 2 6 8 In mental hospitals .. .. .. .. 4 6 10 Totals .. .. .. .. 2,840 2,070 4,910

Boys. Girls. Totals. j Under six months .. .. .. .. 35 33 68 Over six months and under one year .... 18 10 28 One year to five years .. .. .. .. 64 54 118 Five years to ten years .. .. .. .. 81 42 123 Ten years to fourteen years . . .. .. 87 _ 46 133 Over fourteen years .. .. .. . . 92 69 161 Totals .. .. .. .. 377 254 631 I

Taken charge of as Boys. Girls. Totals. Indigent .. .. .. . . .. 152 114 266 Not under proper control .. .. .. .'. 62 54 116 Delinquent .. .. .. .. .. 22 5 27 Detrimental environments .. .. .. .. 33 51 84 Accused or guilty of punishable offence .... 73 14 87 Admission by private arrangement (section 12, Child 18 10 28 Welfare Act) Neglected 17 6 23 Temporary arrangement .. .. .. .. 52 23 75 Totals .. .. .. .. 429 277 706

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Table 4.—lnmates discharged from Control during Year ended 31st March, 1931. Boys. Girls. Totals. Discharged (Child Welfare Act, section 23) .. 256 100 356 Attained the age of twenty-one years .. 17 32 49 Adopted ... .. .. .. ..17 19 36 Written off books .. .. .. 64 33 97 By death .. ~ .. .. 10 5 15 By marriage .. .. .. .. .... 21 21 Totals .. .. ..364 210 574 Table s.—lnstitutions for Backward Children : Numbers at 31st March, 1931. Richmond. Otekaike. m , , (Girls.) (Boys.) Totals ' In residence .. .. .. ... 78 191 269 On vacation .. .. .. .. ..4 2 6 At service . . . . . , . . .... 5 5 Day pupils .. . . . . . . .. 2 .. 2 Hospital .. .. .. .. .... 22 Totals .. .. ..84 200 284

Table 6. —Particulars of Expenditure for Year ended 31st March, 1931.

School fob Deaf, Sumnee. The number of children on the roll at Sumner at 31st March, 1931, was 62 boys and 59 girls ; 4 pupils were on vacation ; 10 pupils left, and 21 were admitted during the year. Table 7. —Expenditure on School for the Deaf, 1930-31. £ s. d. £ s. d. Salaries .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 6,344 6 4 Advertising, &c. . . . . . . .. . . . . 23 3 1 Maintenance of pupils and sundry expenses .. .. .. .. 2,043 6 1 Travelling-expenses .. . . .. 330 11 2 Maintenance of buildings, furnishings, &c. .. ~ . . .. 268 10 3 Contingencies, &c. .. .. .. .. .. 10 6 2 9,020 13 1 Less— Parental contributions and amount received from Hospital and Charitable Aid Boards .. .. .. .. ■ • 2,304 8 7 Board of staff . . . . . . . . ~ 405 0 0 National endowment . . .. . . ~ . , 220 0 0 2,929 8 7 £6,091 4 6 Net expenditure for year ended 31st March, 1930, was £5,798 11s. 4d.

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Item. Otekaike. Richmond. Total. £ b. d. £ s. d. £ s. d. Salaries .. .. .. .. 7,451 1 7 2,04-5 15 0 9,496 16 7 Advertising .. .. .. . . 24 3 0 6 12 11 30 15 11 Maintenance of buildings .. . . . . 203 11 2 644 2 2 847 13 4 Maintenance of institutions .. ... 4,300 11 9 1,636 5 4 5,936 17 1 16,312 2 11 Travelling-expenses .. . . .. | .. 294 9 0 16,606 11 11 Less — Board of staff .. .. .. 1,080 0 0 260 0 0 i, _________ , ) £ s. d. 1,340 0 0 Recoveries (parental contributions and j 2,476 6 7 revenue from farms, sale of articles manufactured, &c.) National-endowment revenue .. . . 374 0 0 4 )190 6 7 12,416 5 4

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Table 8. £ Net expenditure on upkeep of child-welfare institutions .. .. .. .. 17,296 New buildings .. .. . . .. .. .. .. .. . ■ 1,660 Salaries of staffs of homes, Child Welfare Officers, visiting nurses, &c. .. .. .. 34,904 Boarding-out of children — £ Payments to foster-parents .. .. .. .. .. .. 88,486 Payments to Postal Department as commission .. ~ .. .. 790 Issues of clothings, &c. — £ From institutions .. .. .. .. .. 1,009 From central and branch stores .. .. .. .. 1,916 2,925 Medicine, medical attendance, dentistry, clothing, &c. .. .. .. 3,814 96,015 Inmates at service— Issues of clothing, &c. — From institutions .. .. .. .. ... .. 1,502 From central and branch stores .. .. .. .. 1,531 3,033 Miscellaneous payments (clothing, medicine, &c.) .. .. .. .. 4,325 ■ 7,358 Refund of maintenance payments .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 241 Refund of inmates' earnings .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 58 Maintenance of inmates sent to other institutions .. .. .. .. .. 254 Rent, office requisites, &c. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .• 2,150 Maintenance of inmates sent to private institutions . . .. •.. . . .. 1,936 Travelling-expenses .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 8,030 Wages of inmates .. .. .. .. . . .. .. .. .. 244 Legal expenses .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 50 Transfer and removal expenses .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 11 Contingencies .. .. . - .. .. .. .. .. .. 26 *170,233 Less recoveries— Board of staff .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 1,826 Parents and others .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 22,329 Sale of farm-produce .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 2,137 Inmates' earnings for clothing, &c. .. .. .. .. .. 8,116 Miscellaneous .. .. .. .. ... .. .. 1,114 National endowment .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 3,940 39,462 £140,771 * £169,182 + £1,051 (decrease in stocks). Table 9. —Government Expenditure on Private (Roman Catholic) Schools, 1930-31. For the maintenance of State wards who are inmates of the four private institutions recognized under the Child Welfare Act, 1925, the Department pays capitation at the rate of 10s. a week each. The following table indicates the expenditure under this heading :— £ s. d. St. Mary's, Auckland .. .. .. .. .. 462 5 7 St. Joseph's, Upper Hutt .. .. .. .. .. 1,00119 5 St. Mary's, Nelson .. .. .. .. .. .. 224 7 4 St. Vincent de Paul's, Dunedin .. .. .. .. 246 17 10 £1,935 10 2 Approximate Cost of Paper. —Preparation, not given; printing (925 copies), £7.

By Authority: W. A. G. Skinnbr, Government Printer, Wellington.--1931. Price 6dA

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