17

E.—4

Deaths in Fostek-homes. Of the 1,318 infants that were at one time or another on the books as being in foster-homes during 1921, six died ; all of these died in hospitals to which they had been removed for treatment. Three of the six were under twelve months, and five were of illegitimate birth. The following is a statement of the number of deaths during the time that the infant-life-protection system has been iti the Department's charge :— 1908 .. .. .. 26 deaths out of 1,017 infants = 2-56 per cent. 1913 .. .. .. ..13 „ 1,330 „ =0-98 1918 .. .. .. .. 6 „ 1,341 „ = 0-44-1919 .. .. .. .. 10 „ 1,403 „ = 0-71 1920 .. .. .. .. 14 „ 1,306 „ = 1-07 1921 .. .. .. .. 6 „ 1,318 „ = 0-47

Deaths in Exempted Institutions. These, with other particulars, are shown in the foregoing table relating to exempted institutions. The following is a statement of the deaths since 1911, when a record of the deaths was first kept:— 1911 .. 47 deaths out of 899 infants dealt with = 5-23 per cent. 1916 .. .. 9 „ 939 „ = 0-96 1918 .. .. 15 „ 955 „ = 1-57 1920 .. .. 19 „ 1,002 „ = 1-89 1921 .. .. 17 „ 1,210 „ = 140

Adoptions during the Year 1921. During the year 420 orders of adoption were made; 34 of the adoption orders provided for premiums, and 386 were without monetary consideration. The following shows the ages of the adopted children : —

The amount of the premiums ranged from £20 to £450.

Age. i With Premium. WithoutPremium. Total. | Under 6 months .. .. .. .. 9 64 73 Between 6 months and 12 months .... 11 42 53 „ 1 and 2 years .. .. .. .. 6 51 57 2 „ 3 „ 2 40 42 3 „ 4 „ .. .. .. .. .. 31 31 4 „ 5 „ 3 21 24 5 „ 6 „ 2 26 28 6 „ 7 „ .. .. .. .. .. 24 24 7 „ 8 „ .. .. .. .. .. 18 18 8 „ 9 „ .. .. .. .. 1 12 13 9 „ 10 „ .. .. .. .. .. 9 9 10 ,,11 .. •• .. 7 7 „ 11 „ 12 „ .. .. .. .. .. 8 8 12 „ 13 .. .. .. .. 3 3 13 „ 14 „ .. .. .. .. 14 14 14 „ 15 .. .. 16 16 34 386 420 The adopting parents were— Husband and wife jointly .. .. .. .. .. .. 385 Widow .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 19 Spinster .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 3 Batchelor .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 3 Wife only .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 6 Husband only .. .. .. .. .. ' .. .. 4 _ _ 420