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Special Schools for the Feeble-mvmled. There are two such special schools—one at Richmond for girls, and one at Otekaike, near Oamaru, for boys. The number of girls in residence at Richmond at the end of the year was 64, and the number of boys at Otekaike 152.

No. 2. —REPORT OV THE OFFICER IN CHARGE, INDUSTRIAL AND SPECIAL SCHOOLS- BRANCH (INCLUDING AFFLICTED CHILDREN AND INFANT-LIFE PROTECTION). Silt, — I have the honour to submit the following report on the work of the Industrial anel Special Solioeils Branch for last ye:ar : — The Branch carries out the following phases of social-welfare: work : — (I.) Maintenance, supervision, and training of all destitute, dependent, anil delinquent children committed to the care of the State:. (2.) Supervision of children and juvenile; offenders placed em probation by the. Courts. (3.) Supervision of all infants under six years of age: maintained for payment apart from - their parents or guardians. (4.) Supervision of children in case;s where willows' pensions are paiel by the State:. (5.) Education and training of afflicted children over the ago of six years. The definition "afflicted" inoludes deaf, blind, or improvable: feeble-minded children, and children partially deaf or suffering from defective speech, and stammerers. The following figures show the number of children dealt with under the foregoing headings Nos. (1), (2), (3), and (5) :— £ Industrial schools, receiving-homes, and probation homes .. .. 3,692 Juvenile probation •. •. •. • ■ .. .. .. 227 Infant-life protection .. .. .. .. .. .. 684 Afflicted children — Deaf .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 106 Feeble-minded .. .. .. ... .. .. .. 217 4,926 BOARDING-OUT SYSTEM. The majority of the children oommitted to the care of the State' are not detained in institutions, but are beiarded out in foster-homes situated mainly in suburban areas and. in districts in close; proximity to the smaller centres of population. At the: end of the year there we:re 1,868 ohildren boardeel out—l,Bll from Government receiving-homes and 57 from private industrial schools (Roman Catholic). Arranged according to the; ages of the children the numbers at 31st December, 1923, are as follows : Under five years, 341 ; from five" to ten years, 705 ; from ten to twelve years, 342 ; from twelve to thirteen years, 184 ; from thirteen to fourteen years, 174 ; and over fourteen years, 122. These: numbers include nearly 400 epidemic orphans of all ages, who are placed mainly with relatives. it is pleasing to note that the authorities of private industrial schools (especially St. Mary's, Auckland) have adopted the boarding-out system to a limited extent for tho purpose of providing for the children belonging to these schools. Tho rate paid to the foster-parents for the maintenance of each child is 15s. a week, but for infants under twelve months 17s. 6d. a week is paid. Each child is provided with a very complete initial outfit, the foster-parents being required to maintain the: clothing at this staneiard. Medieial attendance, medicines, and dentistry are provided by the Department, as also arc school-books and school stationery. Upon Boarding-eiut Officers and Managers of Receiving-homes rests the responsibility of selecting proper homes and of supervising the inmates in these homes. No hard-and-fast rules can bo laid down as to the type of home to be selected, or the number of times a home shoulel be: visited, or the methods of supervision. Much depends upon the personality, ability, and intuition of the officer concerned. Frequent visiting is aelvocated in the interests of the children, and as a general rule this is carried out; but the Department arranges a further safeguard by obtaining confidential reports every quarter from the headmasters or class-teachers of the: schools which the ohildren attenel. Wherever possible, arrangements are also made for Ideal.honorary Lady Visitors to visit the foster-homes monthly, eir more frequently if necessary, and generally keep a friendly eye on the children concerned. For certain types of dependent children there is no question that the boarding-out system is superior to all other systems of dealing with them. The fact that under the boarding-out system children have the opportunity of growing up as ordinary members of the community under decent conditions is in itself sufficient to commend tho system apart from any other consideration in its favour.