E.—l.

In residence — In Government industrial schools (other than reformatories) .. .. 423 At private (Roman Catholic) industrial schools .. .. .. 335 Total .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 758 At reformatories (boys) .. .. .. .. .. .. 153 (girls) 69 Total .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 222 In situations .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 543 With friends on probation .. .. .. .. .. .. 222 Under private guardianship .. .. .. .. .. .. 75 Committed, but on probation.. .. .. .. .. .. 9 In hospitals, private institutions, absent without leave, in prison, &c. .. 203 Grand total .. .. .. .. .. ... 3,166 In the total number on the books are included twenty-seven young women and five young men who are more than twenty-one years of age*; and control of them is maintained under the law that provides for detention beyond that age of any young person who is shown, to the satisfaction of a Magistrate, to be morally degenerate or otherwise, in the public interest, unfitted to be free from guidance. These cases will be reviewed every four years, and by like procedure detention may be indefinitely prolonged. The power of placing out applies as though the inmate were under twenty-one. At each hearing counsel is provided at Government expense for the person concerned. By similar provisions in the Education Act young people of feeble mind may be detained under the guidance of special schools. In this way lifelong control will be retained in case of necessity, and thus the public interest and that of young people who, without support, must surely fail signally in life are effectively safeguarded. The number of children maintained at the public cost was 2,140. The parental contributions under orders of Court, agreements, &c, amounted to £9,535, being at the rate of £4 9s. Id. per head of those maintained. This is an increase of 15s. 4d. per head over the rate for the preceding year. The net expenditure for the last financial year on account of industrial-school children, exclusive of capital charges for additional buildings, works, and purchase of property (£41,948), shows a decrease of £2,728, although 148 more children Were maintained, jj Tables II and 12 of E.-4 give particulars of the expenditure during the year; the following is a summary for the last two financial years :— Year 1914-15. Year 1915-10. Payments by Charitable Aid Boards for maintenance of children who came into Government schools owing to indigence (included in the total sum recovered) .. £11,383 £12,810 Number of children at the end of the year belonging to Government schools who were so paid for .. .. 769 855 Number maintained at the expense of Charitable Aid Boards at private industrial schools .. .. .. 164 167 The amount paid by the Charitable Aid Boards on account of children sent to the four private industrial schools as indigent is not stated here, as the managers of these schools make their claims upon the Boards without reference to the Education Department. Moneys are on deposit at interest in the Post Office Savings-bank that were earned by young people who are, or while under control were, in situations, or who, though it is advisable to have them in residence, are able to do work of more value than the cost of their keep. The disposal of these moneys is by law at the discretion of the Minister of Education, who may direct that payment be made either to the earner or to the Public Account. In practice payment is made to an applicant who, after the control of the school has ceased, shows evidence of good character, and that the proposed investment of the money is likely to be to his lasting advantage. At the end of the year the total amount deposited in the Post Office Savingsbank on account of the earnings of young people who are now or were formerly under the control of industrial schools was £40,173, the Government schools accounts having £36,017 to credit, and the private (Roman Catholic) schools £4,156. The withdrawals from these accounts during the year were £3,275 and £335 respectively.

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