15

E.—3

5. The Government will also be prepared to consider proposals for the transference of the guardianship of a child from the manager to an elder brother or sister, or other relative of the child, or to a friend of the family, or to a foster-parent with whom the child may have been placed under section 55 of the Act, when it appears that such transference is likely to prove of undoubted advantage to the child. The new guardianship thus created will remain until the child reaches the age of twenty-one years, subject to the power given to the Governor to discharge the child at any time previously. The legal adoption of the child by the guardian, under the provisions of " The Adoption of Children Act, 1881," would, as a matter of course, render the case a proper one for a discharge ; other circumstances of a nature satisfactory to the Governor and to the guardian might arise that would render a discharge advisable. It may be assumed, however, that in other cases the necessity for exercising the power of discharging a child will very rarely, if ever, arise, as the very greatest care will be taken that no transference of guardianship is made unless in the fullest assurance that the arrangement will never have to be disturbed so long as the relations between the parties themselves continue to be of a satisfactory character. 6. The Governor will in no case be advised to comply with an application for a discharge or for a transference of guardianship until after the most thorough and satisfactory inquiry has been made respecting the character and fitness of the person with whom the child is proposed to be connected. In every ease it must be clear that the application is made from right and proper motives. 7. The Minister directs that the contents of this circular be made known to official correspondents, local visitors, the parents and friends of the children, and other persons who are likely to take an interest in the matter. 8. You will notice that this circular has reference only to the discharge or the transference of the guardianship of committed children. A former circular, dated 24th September, 1884, deals with the question of placing out children under license with their own parents or other relatives, with friends of the family, or with foster-parents. John Hislop. Education Department, Wellington, 22nd October, 1884.

Memoeandum for Managees of Industeial Schools. (No. 1-85.) (Supervision of Licensed-out Children.) I send you a supply of two forms to be used by you in connection with committed children who are licensed to friends or to service. Whenever an "inmate" is licensed to friends or to service you are to send a copy of the " notification " to the officer of police in charge of the district in which the " inmate " is to reside. A number of cases have occurred that show the necessity for a very careful watch being maintained over all the children under legal control who have been placed out with friends or employers. It is believed this can be done best by means of the proposed half-yearly return. In the course of February and August in each year you will therefore send the form for the half-yearly return to the several officers in charge of the districts in which your licensed-out inmates are resident; and you will forward the replies to this office along with your March and September monthly returns. Should any of the replies not reach you in time to be forwarded as herein required, you should remind the officer of his failure to send his report, and ask him to let you have it. The forms are so printed as to serve for all classes of " inmates " licensed out, excepting those placed with foster-parents. When the "inmate" is not required to attend school, you should draw your pen through the words relating to school attendance before you send out the forms. Some "inmates" may be so much under your own eye that you need not trouble the police about them; but in all such cases you are to send the half-yearly reports filled up by yourself. John .Hislop. Education Department, Wellington, 3rd February, 1885.

[Enclosures.] Notification of an " Inmate " having been licensed. Industrial School, , 188 The Officer in Charge of Police, , aged years, was licensed to , of ,on the Will you please take a kindly interest in the child's welfare. You will be asked half-yearly for a specific report upon the case ; meanwhile, should any misconduct on the part of the child, or of the person to whom he is licensed, come to your knowledge, I trust you will let me know as soon as you can. The child ought to attend school regularly. By direction of the Education Department. ■ Manager. Halp-yeaely Bepobt. Industrial School, , 188 . The Officer in Charge of Police, , who is an " inmate " of this school, is licensed to reside with , of I am instructed by the Education Department to ask you to be so good as to make inquiries, and report as soon as you can, in the form below, as to the conduct of the " inmate " and the sufficiency of the care and control exercised by the person to whom he is licensed. Manager.