E.—6a,

2

the Neglected and Criminal Children Act, and the Naval Training Schools Act, against the parents of committed children. A memorandum and circular on this subject constitute Enclosure Ato this memorandum. Already the results have been satisfactory, as the following statement of recoveries shows:—

Not only have the measures taken been the means of largely increasing the amount of recoveries from parents ; but, as another result, the master of the Caversham School reports a perceptible falling off in the number of committals of children belonging to the class most nearly affected by such proceedings. Assistance kendehed by the Police Department. It is due to Colonel Header and members of the Police Department to acknowledge the great assistance rendered by them in connection with the administration of the Neglected and Criminal Children Act and the Naval Training Schools Act. Not only as regards the recovery of moneys due by parents but also in other ways are their services readily given. For example, the masters of the industrial schools have permission to hold direct communication with the officers in charge of the different police districts with reference to the children resident within their bounds. There is no police surveillance in the ordinary sense, but by the means adopted a kindly and quiet watch is kept over a considerable number of the children who are placed out at service, or entrusted to the charge of friends and relatives, and any circumstances of an unsatisfactory character are at once reported to the masters of the schools. There is frequent correspondence between the masters and the officers of police, and the latter have ever shown themselves most willing to render all the assistance in their power.* Reasons of Committal to the Schools. The returns for last year supply, with more or less fulness, information with regard to the reasons for which the children were committed to the several schools, and the character and circumstances of the parents. The fullest information on these points is contained in the returns from Caversham and Burnham Schools. The following table, compiled from these returns, shows the reasons of committal to these two schools. The defective character of the information respecting the circumstances of the children committed to the other schools renders any summary statement in their case of little or no value.

The following are the particulars respecting the fifteen children committed as uncontrollable: One boy, "mother a widow, with a large family —very poor —boy quite uncontrollable;" two boys, " mother a widow, unable to control;" four boys, " parents of good character;" one boy, " father express-driver, mother dead, quite uncontrollable;" one boy, " father moderately steady, giving way at times to drink, mother very bad ;" one boy, " father a stonebreaker, parents unable to control him;" one boy, no information ; one girl, "father deserted wife and family, mother in lunatic asylum ; residing with friends, but became quite uncontrollable ;" one girl, " father labourer, mother dead, she has been allowed to run wild from infancy;" one girl, " both parents dead, residing with friends, but became unmanageable;" one girl, " mother in service, father dead."

* We agree with the master in thinking that it is most desirable to bring up the children in the institution as free as possible from the feeling thai they are in any way different from other children, and to carry out the idea that the master and matron are to be looked upon in the character of parents, and the institution a home. We think it would he antagonistic to this idea if they were to be placed directly under police surveillance. The present practice of the master is to encourage a correspondence between the children licensed-out and himself, and, when this correspondence is not regularly kept up, he asks the assistance of the police to make inquiry as to the satisfactory condition of the children or otherwise. This assistance has always been freely given. We find that this system has hitherto worked very satisfactorily, and should not at present be disturbed, particularly as we think it would tend to diminish the interest it is evident the master takes in the children licensed-out as well as those in the institution. The fact that there have been several instances of children licensed-out coming to the master and asking to be taken back to the school is the strongest evidence of the feeling existing between master and children. It would be advisable, with the view of facilitating the correspondence with the children and police, which, considering the number of children, is no easy task, that lithographed forms be supplied to the master; this would also enable the register of the correspondence which is kept to be more easily so kept. —Report of Commission appointed to inquire into the working and management of the Caversham Industrial School. (See Appendix, Journal of the House of Representatives, H.-Ih., 1880, page 3,)

Name of School. 1880 September Quarter. 1880 December Quarter. 1881. March Quarter. 1881. June Quarter. Totals. Surnham Industrial School Javersham Industrial School f aval Training School £ a. d. 18 3 0 30 7 0 13 15 6 £ s. d. 68 16 0 45 8 6 41 15 6 £ s. d. 67 2 6 72 0 0 30 5 0 £ s. d. 122 15 7 54 8 11 26 19 0 £ s. d. 276 17 1 202 4 5 112 15 0 Totals ... 62 5 6 156 0 0 169 7 6 204 3 6 591 16 6

Cara 'sham Sci 100I. ! Bun iliam School. Total. Reasons of Committal. Boys. Girls. 175 Total, i Boys. Girls. I Total. I 30 I 99 Boys. Girls. Total. feglected. —Under varied circumstances ... „ Found in a brothel, or living with mother known to be a prostitute ... Iharged with, larceny Incontrollable... Jamaging property 109 66 69 178 96 274 23 20 2 34 5 3 57 25 5 18 16 9 3 20 38 5 21 1 : 10 ... j 3 41 36 11 3 54 10 4 95 46 15 3 Total number of inmates on December 31,1880... 154 ... | 262 i 115 56 ! 171 269 164 108 433