EDUCATION: CHILD WELFARE, STATE CARE OF CHILDREN, SPECIAL SCHOOLS, AND INFANT-LIFE PROTECTION [In continuation of E.-4, 1944]

Appendix to the Journals of the House of Representatives, 1945 Session I, E-04

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1945 NEW ZEALAND

EDUCATION: CHILD WELFARE, STATE CARE OF CHILDREN, SPECIAL SCHOOLS, AND INFANT-LIFE PROTECTION [In continuation of E.-4, 1944]

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

18th June, 1945. Sir — I have the honour to present my report on the work of the Child Welfare Branch for the year ended 31st March, 1945. The main activities of the Branch are briefly as follows : — (1) Supervision and general placement and care of all children committed to the care of the Department through the Children's Courts : (2) Administration of State institutions for children and young people who cannot be placed in the community, including institutions for handicapped children : (3) Visiting and oversight of all children placed by the Courts under the legal supervision of Child Welfare Officers : (4) Investigation and reporting on all cases coming before Children's Courts : (5) Preventive work—that is, the inquiry in the early stages into cases of difficulty with children or of bad adjustment in the home, with a view to applying remedial measures or to arranging for assistance in cases of need : (6) Inquiries into cases of illegitimate births to ensure that proper provision is being made for each child, and for the mother where necessary : (7) Administration of the Infants Act (Part V), licensing of foster-parents, and supervision of infants placed in their homes : (8) Inquiry into and reporting to Courts on applications for adoption of children : (9) Registration and inspection of private institutions and children's homes. Staffing It is with regret that I have to record the death, after a brief illness, of Mr. J. Lock, District Child Welfare Officer, Dunedin. The Woman Inspector (Mrs. Hamilton) and the Principal of the Girls' Training Centre, Burwood, Christchurch (Mrs. Findlay), retired during the year after long periods of service. An appointment to the vacant position of Boys' Welfare Officer, Head Office, has been made, and this officer is to take up his duties shortly. To meet the increased activities of the field work of the Branch the appointment of additional Child Welfare Officers was approved, and appointments are being made as circumstances permit. We are, however, still understaffed on the male side. Most of the new appointees during the year had prior experience in the nursing or teaching professions or in some branch of social work among children and young people. As stated in my previous reports, there have not yet been established courses at the University colleges which would cater especially for those desirous of taking up social service work, and also provide a field from which suitable applicants could be selected. The time has arrived, however, for the recognition of a minimum standard of qualifications for the appointment of Child Welfare Officers to this Branch. It is pleasing to note that in recent years an increasing number of newly appointed officers are taking courses at the University to improve their qualifications for the work. Officers are encouraged to continue their study of current literature concerning child welfare, and the Department is extending its library facilities for this purpose.

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Honorary Child Welfare Officers During the year 255 men and women appointed by the Minister of Education continued their very material help to the Branch in carrying out its work. These officers assist in dealing with local cases and in the supervision of children who appear before Courts and in whose interests continued supervision is both desirable and necessary. Their activities are particularly valuable in connection with supervision in country districts, where it would be difficult for permanent officials of the Department to make that regular personal contact which is so necessary in remedial work with children. Child Welfare Institutions Although the general policy of the Department is to deal with the child in the community and to exhaust every other means of adjustment before admitting him to an institution, nevertheless the institution plays an important part in the general child welfare scheme. For a number of reasons, including the difficulty of finding suitable foster-homes for certain children, the institutions in general were kept fairly full during the year. At 31st March there were 284 children in residence, as against 261 at 31st March of the previous year. Brief notes regarding the various institutions are as follows :— Receiving Homes. —The Department has receiving homes at Auckland, Wellington, Christchurch, Dunedin, Hamilton, and Napier. These homes are in the nature of clearing houses, and children are not as a rule detained there for lengthy periods. They provide for very young children of both sexes and for older girls who are admitted preparatory to placement or transfer to foster-homes or for brief periods of training. Boys' Homes. —At each of the four main centres the Department has boys' homes which provide generally for boys of school age who attend the ordinary schools in the community. Boys may be kept there for a few months' training. At times a Magistrate may order a period of supervision by a Child Welfare Officer and, say, three to six months' training in one of these homes. Boys who do not adjust themselves to placement in private foster-homes are also admitted to these homes for a period. Provision is made mra Housemaster to assist in the training of the boys and in particular to organize their out-of-scfiool activities. Hostels. —The boys' hostel at Auckland provides for certain of the working boys in that area. There were 13 in residence at the 31st March, and all were doing well. The girls hostel in Wellington provides for certain of the girls in the city who are employed in factories, offices, &c. There were 14 girls in residence at 31st March ; 20 were admitted during the year and 19 girls left. The hostel was also used for the temporary accommodation of 39 children passing through Wellington. The Matron reports that, in addition to the usual recreational activities, the girls continue their interest in play readings and in hobbies such, as sewing, knitting, fancywork, and handcraft generally. The health of the girls was excellent during the year. Girls Training Centre (Bunoood), Christchurch. —This residential institution for the training of older girls had 64 in residence at 31st March (including 13 in the junior section) and 2in hospital. An extract from the Principal's report is as follows : "At the end of 1944 arrangements wore made with Dr. H. E. Field to attend twice monthly at the Centre for the purpose of interviewing particularly difficult girls and advising regarding treatment. This advice is proving of great value to the girls and also to the staff. The Centre has been visited regularly by the school Inspectors, who have expressed themselves pleased with the progress maintained." A comprehensive recreational and educational programme of activities is provided for all the girls in residence at the Centre, and we are indebted to many interested private persons for their generous assistance in carrying it out. This includes physical education, hand-work, music and drama, dancing, organized games, singing, and first-aid classes. Day-school instruction is provided at the institution for pupils in the junior section. It is hoped that a commencement will be made shortly with the erection of the hostel to provide more suitable accommodation for the girls who go to day work in the city, and for the staff. Boys Training Centre, Levin. —This residential institution provides for the training of older boys who have failed to adjust themselves to life in the community. During the twelve months ended 31st March, 67 boys were admitted and 43 were placed out. Of the latter, 20 returned to their relatives or friends, 18 were placed in employment, 4 were transferred to Borstal, and 1 was admitted to a mental hospital. At 31st March there were 52 boys in residence. The scheme of training includes farming in various branches, woodwork instruction, and a certain amount of instruction in mechanics. A well-planned programme of leisure-time occupations, including cultural and recreational activities, is directed towards the social readjustment of the individual boy. At institutions of this kind, here as well as abroad, there is always a certain amount of absconding to be contended with. This is countered at the Training Centre, as far as practicable, by increased supervision and by the form of training provided. During the past few years the number of absconders has not been excessive. Absconding, however, is inclined to occur in waves, and after a fairly quiet period we had rather more than usual during the early part of this year. Persistent absconders are transferred to Borstal. The training at this Centre is along positive lines and the results obtained during recent years have been good. There are always, however, a few who do not respond, and their presence is detrimental to the successful functioning of the institution as a whole. Consideration is being given to the erection of a further institution to provide for the more difficult cases, and action is now being taken to obtain a suitable site for the purpose. Hokio Training School. —A few miles distant from the main institution at Levin a residential school was reopened during the year for boys of primary-school age who proved too difficult for Continued residence in or admission to a boys' home. Under the House Manager and the male teacher a good

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programme of out-of-school activities is provided. There were 16 boys in residence at this school at 31st March. The situation of this school is hardly the best, but the present buildings were available and the Department hopes as soon as circumstances permit to secure more suitable premises in another locality. Fareham House, Fealherston. —This institution was opened during the year to provide for older Maori girls who require a period of institutional training prior to placement. Considerable alterations are required to the building, and in the meantime the number which can be accommodated is limited. Since the opening of this institution in August last 18 girls have been admitted. After a period of training, depending upon the capabilities and response of the individual girls, they are placed in suitable situations where their supervision is continued under the local Child Welfare Officers. The programme includes domestic work in all its branches, in-door crafts, gardening, and small farming. New Institutions ' ; Fareham House, for Maori girls, was opened during the year. ■ It is hoped that the new receiving home in Palmerston North will be opened shortly. Hokio Beach School, referred to previously, was reopened during the year. Inquiries are being continued with a view to establishing a hostel for working girls in Auckland, and also another institution to make possible the better classification of older delinquent boys. Placement in Fostek-homes It has been the policy of the Department for well over half a century to place children in selected private homes in the community where removal from their homes is necessary. As stated elsewhere, only a very few of the children under the Department's care require institutional training. Owing to social conditions arising out of the war, difficulties have been experienced in securing a sufficient number of suitable homes. It is hoped, however, that with the return to normal this condition will no longer obtain. It is essential to have an adequate choice of suitable homes so that the right one may be available for each individual child. This is one of the most urgent needs of the Branch, and cannot be emphasized too strongly. The children so placed attend the ordinary schools and enter into the life of the community in the same way as other children living in their own homes. The Department owes a debt of gratitude to the many foster-parents who over a long period of years have continued to provide homes for our.State wards. The teachers of both primary and post-primary schools, the Church organizations, honorary Child Welfare Officers, and many private organizations and individuals lend their aid in furthering the interests of these young people. The children are visited regularly by the Child Welfare Officers to ensure that conditions are satisfactory. Careful inquiry is made before any child is placed in a foster-home, but, even so, there must be some failures, and it is by frequent contacts with the home and the child that the Department endeavours to maintain a high standard of fosterhome placement. It is satisfactory to record that only in rare instances is it found necessary to remove a child from a foster-home which has deteriorated or has otherwise become unsuitable for the particular child placed therein. With a greater choice of foster-homes, much more could be done towards attaining the ideal of having each child placed in the home most suited to his particular needs. I sincerely trust that those parents who can provide suitably for another child in their homes will do so and thus perform one of the finest services which they can render to society. There were 1,976 children placed in foster-homes at 31st March. Education With the exception of a small number of children whose education is provided for at institutions, State wards attend the ordinary schools in the community. Children who show ability are given the opportunity of receiving post-primary and higher education. At 31st March, 280 of the children placed in foster-homes were receiving post-primary education and 8 Maori children were residential pupils at Maori colleges. Placement in Employment With the few exceptions of those who are not capable physically or mentally of competing on equal terms with their fellows, all receive standard rates of wages. In the few cases where they do not, the Child Welfare Officers obtain under-rate workers' permits through the local officers of the Labour Department. A portion of the child's wages is banked to his credit and he is provided with pocket-money, which is increased from time to time until eventually before his discharge he is receiving the whole of his wages personally. I wish,to thank the Vocational Guidance Officers for the valuable assistance which they gave in certain cases in helping to place children suitably. Included in the children placed in employment arc a number who are handicapped in one way or another, and the Department appreciates the interest and kindly treatment accorded by the employers to these young people. Nature op Employment At the 31st March, 1945, there were 1,152 State wards (727 boys and 425 girls) in employment. Of these, 77 (65 boys and 12 girls) were apprenticed to various trades, and of the total number 348 (192 boys and 156 girls) were receiving assistance from the Department. Boys were employed as follows : farm hands, 393 ; factory employees, 102 ; shop assistants, 35 ; labourers, 35 ; carpenters, 28 ; clerks, 14 ; and the remainder—l2o—in various other occupations. Girls were employed as follows : domestics, 181 ; factory hands, 90 ; shop assistants, 36 ; clerks, 26 ; typists, 17 ; nurses, 9 ; and the remainder—66 —in various other occupations.

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Discharges from Control A total of 596 children were discharged during the year, the average age at discharge being fifteen years and eleven months. They had either reached an age when they could fend for themselves or were no longer in need of care or oversight by the Department. Many of them while still quite young returned to their relatives or friends. In special cases where the young person may need continued help from the Department, control is retained up to the age of twenty or twenty-one years. These are cases of mental or physical handicap or cases in which the individual requires assistance with his training course. Maori Children In districts where the Maori population is substantial enough to enable comparisons to be made between delinquency figures for European and Maori children, Maori children still tend to appear in an unfavourable light. This is especially so in respect of theft, which always is the commonest juvenile offence. Against that we must remember that the traditional communal habits of the Maori people are based on a rather different attitude towards property from that of the European. In consequence, theft by a Maori child is not always considered as serious as theft by a European child ; similarly, unlawful conversion of, say, a horse has been more correctly described as " borrowing without permission." Despite this charitable interpretation of certain breaches of the law by Maori children, the incidence of delinquency among them still gives cause for concern to those who have the welfare and future of the Maori race at heart. Many Maori youths who have left school find themselves unable to enter the skilled trades and other avenues of congenial employment. Yet those idle youths who have understandably drifted into trouble have subsequently responded remarkably when placed in suitable employment at standard rates of pay. This adds emphasis to the view held by many of our officers that the Maori delinquency problem is largely a vocational one. The Department has worked on the lines of removing delinquent and potentially delinquent Maori youths from detrimental environments and placing them in jobs in other districts, and it is pleasing to report that this policy has proved successful in the great majority of cases. The enlistment of support for our work from the Maori people themselves proceeds apace, and during the year several new appointments of Maori honorary Child Welfare Officers were made. In many cases these appointments were based on recommendations from tribal or local committees. The appointees thus have the backing of their own people as well as the authority of their office. In all Maori districts the Department has endeavoured to work in co-operation with other Government Departments and with other interested agencies and persons in furthering the welfare of our Maori children. Committals and Admissions The number of committals by Courts was 46 less than the previous year—s4o, as against 586. Private admissions by arrangement with parents were also slightly less —142, as against 160. Infant-life Protection The Infants Act, 1908, Part V, provides for the licensing of foster-parents in whose homes children up to six years of age are maintained apart from their parents. A license is issued after the home is inspected and found suitable, and later when children are placed therein by the parents the home is subject to regular inspection in the interests of the infants concerned. The relatives make their own arrangements for the maintenance of the child under an agreement which, however, must have the approval of the Superintendent or his authorized officer. The Child Welfare Amendment Act of 1927 makes provision for these agreements to be if necessary, at a Magistrate's Court, and they thus become, in effect, maintenance orders enforceable under the Destitute Persons Act, 1910. At 31st March, 1945, there were 675 licensed foster-homes and the number of infants placed in them was 799. Many of these children return later to their relatives. Some remain in their foster-homes after attaining the age of six years. In a number of cases the child is adopted by its foster-parents. Adoptions Legal adoption in New Zealand is provided for under Part HI of the Infants Act, 1908. Child Welfare Officers report to the Courts on all applications for adoption, and the responsibility for making an order of adoption rests with the Magistrate. The majority of the children adopted during the year 1944 were under five years of age. Children may be legally adopted up to the age of twentyone years, but there is usually some special reason for such a step being taken with those Hearing that age. Generally speaking, the Department is of the opinion that adoption at a very early is age is best for all concerned. I mentioned in previous reports the noteworthy yearly increase in the number of legal adoptions in New Zealand in recent years. The number of adoptions during 1944 shows a substantial increase over that for the previous year —1,065, as against 854. It is interesting to note that the number of adoptions for last year is more than double that for the year 1938, when 516 orders were made. There is evidence that many adoptions eventuated because (a) the parents had no children of their own, (b) they wished to have a companion for their only child, (c) the mother of an illegitimate child adopted her own child upon subsequent marriage, and (d) increased publicity was given in the press during recent years to the legal adoption of children. Although there is provision in the Act for premiums to pass at adoption, it is rarely that any such consideration passes. There were only five such cases during the past year.

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As a rule, the applications to adopt infant girls predominate. The figures for last year, however, show that 533 girls and 532 boys were adopted. This is probably explained by the numbers and sex of children available for adoption. On the 1,056 cases where full details are to hand, 903 children (464 boys and 439 girls) were illegitimate. Registered Children's Homes Eighty-two children's homes are conducted by private organizations registered under the provisions of the Child Welfare Amendment Act, 1927. These homes are subject to inspection by officers of the Child Welfare Branch. At the end of last year there were, according to their returns, a total of 2,790 children in residence, as against 2,928 the previous year. It was reported that in the case of 153 children both parents were deceased, in 242 cases the fathers were deceased, and in 550 cases the mothers wore deceased. It is understood that in many other cases the parents were separated or were missing. In some of the homes necessary improvements to buildings have been held over owing to war conditions. The authorities are, however, fully alive to the position and intend to proceed as soon as circumstances permit. Officers of the Health Department gave valuable assistance in many cases with recommendations regarding dietary and other matters affecting the. health and general welfare of the children. Temporary Care of Children During the year certain private organizations continued their most useful service to the community by providing facilities for the more or less temporary care of children whose mothers were at work during the day or in hospital. Illegitimate Births All illegitimate births are notified confidentially to certain officers of the Child Welfare Branch, and it is their duty to inquire into each case with a view to ensuring that the infant and its mother are suitably provided for. Often no further action is required beyond this initial inquiry, since in the majority of the cases either the mother or other relatives make suitable arrangements*. An endeavour is made to keep the child and its mother together or to have the infant so placed that the mother can continue her interest in her baby. In only a small proportion of the cases is it necessary for the infant to be committed to the care of the State. A large number of illegitimate children are adopted. During the year ended 31st March a total of 1,767 illegitimate births were notified to the Child Welfare Officers. Of these infants, 820 were residing with their mothers and 42 with other relatives, 62 were committed to the care of the State, 280 were in registered foster-homes or nursing homes,' and 356 were adopted. In a number of cases inquiries were not completed or the child died. During the last year there was a considerable increase in the number of illegitimate births as recorded by the Registrar-General over the period Ist January to 31st December, 1944 —2,020 for 1944, as against 1,467 for 1943. The difference between our total and that supplied by the RegistrarGeneral— l,767, as against 2,020—is no doubt due in part to the different periods represented and also perhaps to the time lag between recording and notification. It is a matter for concern to the whole community that there should be this increase. I have referred elsewhere to the increased work which fell upon this Branch arising out of war conditions. There seems no doubt that to these conditions can be ascribed the major part of the increase in the illegitimacy rate. Edward Costley Trust, Auckland During the year the trustees financially assisted 71 children in the Auckland District with educational courses, apprenticeships, &c. This assistance took the form of grants for books, school uniforms, foes, travelling-expenses, and clothing, and was granted upon favourable recommendations being received from the District Child Welfare Officer, who makes careful inquiry into each application. The majority of the children helped were fatherless or the parents were not in a position at the time to provide the necessary help. The assistance given was highly appreciated by the parents and the children themselves, and is looked upon by this Department as a most valuable adjunct to child welfare service in the community. Special Schools Schools for Backward Children.— At the Special School for Boys at Otekaike, near Oamaru, there were 122 inmates in residence at 31st March, 92 of whom were in the day-school section and 30 in the industrial section. There were 35 new pupils admitted during the year and 25 left the institution. Of these, 21 returned to ordinary life in the community and 4 were found to be unsuitable for specialschool training. Owing to the impossibility of securing domestic staff, one of the cottages remained closed during the year and the Department was thereby unable to arrange for the admission of a number of approved cases. The Manager reports that, despite shortages of staff, the training and recreational activities have proceeded much as usual. At the Special School for Girls at Richmond, near Nelson, there were 63 girls in residence at 31st March. During the year 18 new pupils were admitted and 19 left. Of these, 5 older girls were placed in employment, 7 pupils were returned to their relatives, and 7 were transferred o to other institutions.

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Both of these special schools provide for those children who for various reasons cannot be catered for at special classes attached- to public schools. A full programme of educational and recreational activities is provided for the inmates of each school. The health of the children was good. Schools for the Deaf. —There are two residential schools —one at Sumner, near Christchurch, and one at Titirangi, near Auckland. The latter school was opened during the war period in temporary premises which were the most suitable of those available at the time. It is hoped that the erection of a new school to make better provision for these children will be proceeded with in the near future. The roll numbers at these schools have risen considerably during the last year or so, 215 being on the rolls at 31st March, 1945, as against 175 in March, 1944. There were 53 new admissions during last year, 11 pupils left, and 2 died. Of the 215 pupils, 118 are boys and 97 girls. Of the 53 new admissions, 44 were congenitally deaf. The average age on admission was 5-57 years. During the year 6 students were selected for the specialist course at the Auckland Teachers' Training College in education of the deaf. The Principal reports that the health of the children at both schools was fairly satisfactory, although at the Auckland school minor ailments had occurred rather more frequently than is usual. Blind Children. —Blind children in New Zealand are provided for at the New Zealand Institute for the Blind, situated at Auckland. It is administered by a Board of Trustees on which the Government is represented. Certain children not admitted by private arrangement are admitted as Government pupils. At 31st March there were 20 such pupils in residence. This institution, besides providing for the residential care and instruction of younger children, also provides a training programme for adults. Children's Courts When the Child Welfare Act, 1925, was passed in New Zealand, the Department had already in its Child Welfare Branch an organization for carrying on its welfare work, including that involved by the establishment of special Courts. The establishment of Children's Courts in New Zealand was an important progressive step in dealing with juvenile offenders and other children in need of care by the State. At the same time, the Children's Court system is not looked upon as other than one of the means of coping with the many problems of child welfare. I am convinced that the ideal should be concentration on the " preventive " side of the work. The Courts continued to use the power to place certain children under the supervision of Child Welfare Officers for periods usually of one or two years. The number of such orders last year was 855, and this method of dealing with cases continues to produce satisfactory results. (1) Total Appearances. —Table 2 shows a substantial decrease of 547 in the total number of appearances of children before the Courts for the year ended 31st March, .1945—2,529, as against 3,076 last year, representing a reduction of approximately 18 per cent. (2) Analysis of Total Appearances. — (a) Complaints under the Child Welfare Act : Children appearing under this section were indigent, not under proper control, living in a detrimental environment, or neglected. There were 517 cases, as against 583 for the previous year. This represents a reduction of approximately 11 per cent, compared with 1943-44 figure, and a reduction of approximately 17 per cent, compared with 1942-43 figures. Further analysis shows that this reduction lies in the " not under proper control " and " living in a detrimental environment " groupings. (b) Offences : The total number of appearances before the Courts for all offences, including breaches of special Acts, regulations, and by-laws, over the past three years are respectively as follows : 1942-43, 2,446 ; 1943-44, 2,493; and 1944-45, 2,012. These numbers show reductions of 19 per cent, and 18 per cent, when comparing 1945 with 1944 and 1943 respectively. The figures for offences against morality and the person show no appreciable change, while those for theft, conversions, delinquency, and miscellaneous show marked decreases. The total of appearances for breaches of special Acts, traffic regulations, and by-laws is 281, as against 406 in the 1943-44 period. This is a reduction of approximately 31 per cent. Keasons for such a decrease are difficult to find, but it appears that there have been during the year an increased number of minor offences dealt with by the Welfare Officers, the police, and local authorities without recourse to Court action. (3) District Court Appearances. —All child welfare districts show a decrease for total Court appearances with the exception of Hamilton-Botorua and Masterton areas, which show increases of 7 and 2 respectively. Marked decreases in the other districts range from approximately 20 per cent, to over 50 per cent. For offences, Hamilton-Botorua, Palmerston North, Greymouth, and Timaru show slight but insignificant increases, all other centres showing a decrease, slight in some cases but marked in others. (4) Possible Reasons for Decrease. —Since many factors are involved, some of them obscure, it is not an easy task to explain the decrease. There are several possibilities which may help to account for the present position. There has been a lessening of war tension and an increase in the number of fathers returned to their homes ; visiting teachers have been working in seven centres in co-operation with the schools and the Child Welfare Branch for about two years ; in addition, the preventive work of the Branch has been broadened and intensified. The figures over the years 1940-44 do not show any marked variation in the total number of offences. This year's figures indicate, I trust, a returning to more normal conditions. (5) Repeaters. —At present the term " repeater " is given a very wide interpretation for the purpose of our statistical returns, there being no time limit set between the child's first and second or subsequent Court appearances for offences. The question of a more useful definition is therefore receiving attention in order to place this aspect of our statistical work on a more stable basis. In the meantime, retaining the extremely wide definition used in all previous reports, the figures for the last three years as supplied by district offices are 364, 368, and 302 respectively.

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(6) Trend, over Recent Years. —The only reliable guide we have at present to show the trend over recent years is the number of Court appearances for offences which are quoted each year in this report. On the basis of these figures the position over the last eight years is as follows : 1938, 2,447 ; 1939, ; 2,248 ; 1940, 2,464 ; 1941,2,424; 1942,2,421; 1943,2,446; 1944,2,493; 1945,2,012. Expressed in rates per 10,000 of the juvenile population (aged seven to seventeen years), the position is : 1938 : 85 ; 1939, 79; 1940, 87 ; 1941, 87 ; 1942, 88 ; 1943, 90 ; 1944, 93 ; 1945, 75. It would not be possible with the present information available to state the position in respect to what might be called the more serious offences. However, our statistical methods are undergoing revision and it is anticipated that later it will be, possible to make pertinent observations in this regard. For instance, some children appearing before the Court on a complaint as " Not under proper control" have committed a minor offence, but no specific - charge has been made. Also, a number appearing under the heading " Miscellaneous " offences have committed what could be regarded as minor breaches of the law. To attempt to select the serious cases from among the total of offences would involve subjective interpretation, and the results obtained would consequently be unreliable. On the other hand, the selection of particular groups from the table as representative of the more serious cases is purely arbitrary and different investigators might well favour different groupings. If, however, for purposes of comparison we omit offences under miscellaneous, breaches of special Acts, regulations, and by-laws, and take the offences in Table 2 under the first six headings (offences against morality, the person, theft, conversions, and delinquent) we find the position over the last eight years as follows : 1938, 1,313 ; 1939, 1,245 ; 1940, 1,507 ; 1941, 1,437 ; 1942, 1,469 ; 1943, 1,593 ; 1944, 1,614 ; 1945, 1,402. Expressed in rates per 10,000 of the juvenile population (ages seven to seventeen years), the position is : 1938, 46 ; 1939, 44 ; 1940, 53 ; 1941, 51 ; 1942, 53 ; 1943, 59 ; 1944, 60 ; 1945, 52. The above and preceding tables indicate the trend over the past eight years, but to draw any precise conclusions from these figures would be unwise in view of all the possibilities of variation both in methods in use in the various districts and in the interpreting and recording of the actual reasons for a child's appearance at Court. Preventive Work This is without doubt regarded as the most important aspect of the Child Welfare programme. For the sake of convenience it may be divided into (a) the psychological approach, and (b) the social approach. (a) Psychological. —Here the approach is concerned mainly with the individual child or the family unit, and the co-operation of numerous outside agencies is utilized in an endeavour to bring about a satisfactory adjustment. It is very often possible to keep the child from committing offences, and in this way the need for Court appearances is avoided. The number of children being dealt with under preventive supervision in the current year was 1,905. With the Department's policy for the development of preventive work, including the gradual expansion of the service of clinics throughout the country, the number of children appearing before the Courts should steadily decrease. At present the services of qualified persons attached to University colleges and of psychiatrists attached to the Mental Hospitals Departments are available and freely utilized in both our preventive and our Court work. There is, perhaps, a tendency to regard the psychological method as symptomatic of a " sentimental " approach to the problem of the " bad " boy. Far from this being the case, such methods have proved their worth in New Zealand and elsewhere and have led to better co-operation on the part of parents, and subsequently to their better understanding of the real needs of their children. (b) Social. —Experience and experiment have provided ample evidence that there is a close relationship between delinquency and social conditions. It is important, therefore, that in attacking the problem attention should be concentrated on improving unsatisfactory social conditions where they exist. The provision of funds by the Government in recent years to enable the Branch to carry out more effectively the " preventive " section of its activities has been of vital importance in this social constructive work. Practical assistance given at the time when it is most needed is of first importance in dealing with families who through misfortune or sickness or other sufficient cause are in need of material help. The effects of this policy are far-reaching, as improved conditions tend not only to preserve the family unit, but to eliminate those factors in the home which may easily lead to disruption and eventually to child delinquency. In its preventive programme the Department works in co-operation with other Government Departments and with numerous private organizations. With the development of greater co-operation among those immediately concerned with the welfare of children — e.g., the home, the school, the Church, and ourselves —much valuable preventive work will be done in the important early formative years of the child's life, and the growth of parent-teacher associations is a healthy sign. Too much stress cannot be placed on the needs for parents and teachers to recognize the symptoms of incipient maladjustment in any child under their care. British Children in New Zealand On 31st March, 1945, there were 191 British children still in New Zealand, 12 of the older boys and girls having returned to the United Kingdom. One youth who left with the R.N.Z.A.F. for service in the United Kingdom has since transferred to the Fleet Air Arm and his brother also returned Home in order to sit for the special entry to the Royal Navy. Another boy worked his passage Home and is serving in the Merchant Navy. Early this year five others returned, four of whom were to join the Forces. Three of the older girls returned for special reasons. The health of the children has been excellent on the whole, but it is with regret that I have to report the death of one girl aged sixteen years.

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At the end of last year 9 passed the School Certificate Examination and 8 obtained a partial pass, 7of these qualifying for University Entrance. This brings the total who have passed University Entrance to 32. Seventy-one children are attending post-primary schools —16 in Form 111, 17 in Form IV, 26 in Form V, and 12 in Form VI. Only 38 children are left at primary schools—l 4 in Form 11, 7in Form I, J1 in Standard 4, 4in Standard 3, and 2in Standard 2. Generally, all obtained good reports from their schools and have made very satisfactory progress. Of the 191 children, 82 have left school and arc either working or taking special courses of study—B are taking full-time University courses, 2 are serving in the Royal New Zealand Navy, 7 are training-college students (3 of whom are now probationary assistants), 14 boys are farming, 3 girls are working in banks, 7 girls and 1 boy in general office work, 1 boy is in an accountant's office, 3 girls and 2 boys are in insurance offices, 2 girls and 3 boys are in the Public Service, 10 boys are working in various branches of engineering, 1 boy and 1 girl arc working as shop assistants, 2 girls are dressmaking, 6 girls are doing various kinds of domestic work, 7 girls are nursing (3 as trainees and 4 as nursing aids), 1 boy is signwriting, and lis awaiting placement in the Government Service. Quite a number of those who are working attend night classes in various subjects and 8 attend University as part-time students. A number of the parents have expressed the wish to come to New Zealand and have requested that the children should be allowed to remain in the Dominion pending their arrival. Arrangements will probably be made for a few of the girls and boys to remain temporarily in New Zealand to complete courses of training. The children made full use of the monthly free cable service kindly provided by Cable and Wireless, Ltd., of Auckland, and they have, with the co-operation of their foster-parents, maintained their correspondence with their parents or relatives in the United Kingdom. Miss K. Page, the local representative of the Children's Overseas Reception Board in London, visited many of the foster-homes during the year. It is a pleasure to me to record another fine year of achievements and happy progress by these young people, who have been with us since September-October, 1940. The foster-parents who have these young people will, I know, not like parting with them now, but, at the same time, they fully appreciate the desire of the parents to be re-united with their children as soon as this may be possible to arrange after the war. J. R. MoClune, Superintendent. The Director of Education, Wellington, New Zealand.

Table 1. —Number op Children under Control and Supervision The total number of children under the supervision of the Child Welfare Branch as at 31st March, 1945, was 8,307, classified under the following headings, the corresponding number for the previous year being also given : —

Children in Mental Hospitals. —During the year ended 31st March, 1945, 31 State wards were admitted to mental hospitals. At that date there were a total of 147 wards in these institutions, as against 144 at the 31st March, 1944. In accordance with an arrangement with the Mental Hospitals Department, these children are not discharged from our legal control, as in the event of their return to the community the Department is enabled to resume control and assist where required.

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1943-44. 1944-45. 1943-44. 1944-45. Slate Wards —■ ! Other than State Wards — In foster-homes and with friends .. 2,477 2,502 Young persons supervised by Child Wei- 1,375 1,063 In situations (includes 9 absent without 1,048 1,022 fare Officers in their own homes, with leave at the 31st March, 1944, and 6 at relatives, or friends, pursuant to orders the 31st March, 1945) of Courts In Government institutions, receiving- 261 285 Infants supervised in foster-homes regis- 698 799 homes &c. tered under the Infants Act In private institutions .. .. 121 108 Pupils at Schools for Deaf, Sumner and 175 215 In Roman Catholic institutions recognized 98 90 Titirangi under Child Welfare Act Pupils at schools for mentally backward 38 47 In special schools for mentally backward 142 139 (Otekaike and Richmond), (see also children (see also pupils under " Other under " State Wards ") than State wards") Children supervised as preventive cases 1,954 1,905 In refuges or cognate institutions .. 63 59 Children in New Zealand Institute for 24 20 In hospital, convalescent homes, &c. • .. 47 36 Blind for whom Department makes In residential colleges, &c. .. .. 10 17 payment 4,267 4,258 . 4,264 4,049 Total .. .. .. 8,531 8,307 British children in New Zealand .. .. 203 191

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Table 2. —Number of Children appearing before Children's Courts

Table 3.—Comparative Statement showing the Action taken in respect of Children who appeared before children's courts

2—E. 4

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(Classified according to complaints or charges laid) 1942-43. 1943-44. 1944-45. Complaints under Child Welfare Act— Indigent.. .. .. .. .. .. .. 159 145 168 Not under proper control .. .. .. .. .. 314 280 238 Living in a detrimental environment .. .. .. 106 106 52 Neglected .. .. .. .. .. .. 46 52 59 625 583 517 Offences— (1) Against morality .. .. .. .. .. 11 10 9 (2) Against the person .. .. ... .. .. 63 61 69 (3) Theft .. .. .. .. .. .. 1,127 1,132 - 993 (4) Conversion of motor-vehicles .. .. .. .. 61 65 49 (5) Other conversions .. .. .. .. .. 85 79 48 (6) Delinquent . . .. .. .. .. .. 246 267 234 (7) Miscellaneous (chiefly mischief) .. .. .. .. 396 449 316 (8) Breaches of Court supervision order .. .. .. 20 24 13 (9) Breaches of special Acts and regulations— (a) Railways .. .. .. .. .. 10 6 14 (b) Fire brigade .. .. .. .. .. 12 4 4 (c) Acclimatization .. .. .. .. .. 4 4 9 (d) Licensing .. .. .. .. .. 39 29 12 (e) Arms .. .. .. .. .. .. 34 50 37 (/) Post and Telegraph .. .. .. .. 86 122 67 (g) Shipping .. .. .. .. .. 11 1 6 (h) Emergency war regulations .. .. .. 10 4 (i) Man-power regulations .. .. .. .. .. 3 1 (j) Venereal disease regulations .. .. .. .. 4 1 (10) Breaches of traffic regulations — (a) Cycles .. .. .. .. .. .. 89 47 49 (b) Motor-vehicles .. .. .. .. .. .. 1 12 (c) Other .. .. .. .. .. .. 70 52 15 (11) Breaches of city or borough by-laws— (a) Cycle .. .. .. .. .. .. 62 69 46 (b) Other than cycling .. .. .. .. 10 10 8 2,446 2,493 2,012 Total .. .. .. .. .. 3,071 3,076 2,529

Table 2.—Number of Children appearing before Children's Courts (Classified according to complaints or charges laid) 1942-43. 1943-44. 1944-45. Complaints under Child Welfare Act— Indigent.. .. .. .. .. .. .. 159 145 168 Not under proper control .. .. .. .. .. 314 280 238 Living in a detrimental environment .. .. .. 106 106 52 Neglected .. .. .. .. .. .. 46 52 59 625 583 517 Offences— (1) Against morality .. .. .. .. .. 11 10 9 (2) Against the person .. .. ... .. .. 63 61 69 (3) Theft .. .. .. .. .. .. 1,127 1,132 - 993 (4) Conversion of motor-vehicles .. .. .. .. 61 65 49 (5) Other conversions .. .. .. .. .. 85 79 48 (6) Delinquent . . .. .. .. .. .. 246 267 234 (7) Miscellaneous (chiefly mischief) .. .. .. .. 396 449 316 (8) Breaches of Court supervision order .. .. .. 20 24 13 (9) Breaches of special Acts and regulations— (a) Railways .. .. .. .. .. 10 6 14 (b) Fire brigade .. .. .. .. .. 12 4 4 (c) Acclimatization .. .. .. .. .. 4 4 9 (d) Licensing .. .. .. .. .. 39 29 12 (e) Arms .. .. .. .. .. .. 34 50 37 (/) Post and Telegraph .. .. .. .. 86 122 67 (g) Shipping .. .. .. .. .. 11 1 6 (h) Emergency war regulations .. .. .. 10 4 (i) Man-power regulations .. .. .. .. .. 3 1 (j) Venereal disease regulations .. .. .. .. 4 1 (10) Breaches of traffic regulations — (a) Cycles .. .. .. .. .. .. 89 47 49 (b) Motor-vehicles .. .. .. .. .. .. 1 12 (c) Other .. .. .. .. .. .. 70 52 15 (11) Breaches of city or borough by-laws — (a) Cycle .. ...... .. .. 62 69 46 (b) Other than cycling .. .. .. .. 10 10 8 2,446 2,493 2,012 Total .. .. .. .. .. 3,071 3,076 2,529 Table 3. —Comparative Statement showing the Action taken in respeot of Children who APPEARED BEFORE CHILDREN'S COURTS 1942-43. 1943-44. 1944-45. Committed to the care of the Superintendent .. .. .. .. .. 596 586 540 Placed under supervision .. .. .. .. . • .. . . 991 993 812 Supervision extended .. .. .. .. . • .. .. 26 34 28 Supervision with residence .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 29 15 15 Admonished and discharged .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 665 677 547 Admonished, discharged, and ordered to make restitution .. .. .. 264 242 183 Admonished and ordered to pay costs .. .. .. .. .. .. 17 13 4 Admonished and fined .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 45 20 26 Adjourned .. .. .. . . .. .. .. .. .. 90 86 78 Adjourned sine die .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 18 33 36 Dismissed .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 59 71 28 Committed to Borstal .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 42 42 32 Convicted and fined .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 7 5 6 Convicted and discharged .. .. .. .. .. .. .. I 4 2 Convicted and ordered to come up for sentence .. .. .. .. .. 1 Returned to the care of the Superintendent .. .. .. .. .. 42 83 64 Withdrawn.. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 15 12 13 Ordered to come up for sentence .. .. .. .. .. .. 5 3 4 Probation .. .. ' .. .. .. .. .. •. • • 21 21 15 Referred to Magistrate's Court .. .. .. •• •• •• 1 2 1 Fined .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 66 58 42 Licenses cancelled .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 1 .. Restitution order cancelled .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 2 1 Committed to Supreme Court for sentence .. .. .. .. •. .. 1 1 Committed to prison .. .. .. .. . ■ .. .. .. .. 1 By-law cases— Admonished and discharged .. .... .. .. .. 26 34 25 Admonished and ordered to pay costs .. .. .. .. .. 4 Fined and ordered to pay costs or ordered to pay costs .. .. .. 39 38 25 3,071 3,076 2,529 2—E. 4

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Table 4.—Children placed under Supervision of Child Welfare Officers by Courts during Years ended 31st March, 1944 and 1945

Table 5. —Causes of Committal and Admission, 1944-45

Approximate CoH of Paper. —Preparation, not given; printing (1,198 copies), £27 10s.

By Authority: E. V. Paul, Government Printer, Wellington.—l94s. Price (id.']

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(Classified according to reasons for appearance) Boys. Girls. Totals. 1043-44. | 11)44-45. 1043-44. | 1944-45. 1943-44. j 1944-45. Charges with an offence .. .. .. 653 576 56 57 709 633 Delinquent .. .. .. .. 162 118 27 26 189 144 Not under proper control .. .. .. 55 39 33 31 88 70 In detrimental environment .. .. 15 3 22 2 37 5 Indigent .. .. .. .... 3 2 1 2 4 Neglected ........ 5 2 6 3 11 5 890 741 146 120 1,036 861 Note. —Table regarding Court records shows 812 placed under supervision. The difference is accounted for by the number of adjourned cases for the previous year being dealt with during 1944-45.

Boys. Girls. Totals. 1943-44. 1944-45. 1943-44. 1944-45. 1943-44. 1944-45. Indigent .. .. .. .. 72 74 67 74 .139 148 Not under proper control .. .. .. 83 68 85 82 J 68 150 Delinquent .. .. .. .. 36 34 15 19 51 53 Charged with an offence .. .. .. 102 91 17 10 119 101 Living in a detrimental environment .. 30 12 43 18 73 30 Neglected .. .. .. .. 19 27 18 33 37 60 Breach of supervision order .... 2 1 8 2 10' 3 Supervision with residence .. .. 12 9 7 7 19 16 356 316 260 245 616 561 Admitted under section 12, Child Welfare 9 10 4 4 13 14 Act, 1925 Admitted on warrant ...... 27 26 27 23 54 49 Admitted under section 127 of the Education 53 49 40 30 93 79 Act 89 85 71 57 160 142 445 401 331 302 776 703 Notb.—Of the above, 178, or 25'32 per cent., were illegitimate. In addition, there were 22 (14 boys and 8 girls) temporarily admitted to child welfare institutions, as against 28 (15 boys and 13 girls) for the preceding year.