E.—4

11

In connection with the foregoing table it should be borne in mind that there are really only two residential institutions in our industrial-schools system—the Boys' Training-farm, Weraroa, for boys, and a section of the Caversham Industrial School for girls. The receiving-homes and probation homes are regarded as clearing-houses, where children are, admitted for short periods for observation and treatment, if necessary, prior to being placed in ordinary homes in the community or in situations. - These homes arc also ntilizod — (I.) For housing children who for various reasons are changing from one home or situation to another, or who are sent in from country districts for medical or dental treatment, &c.; (2.) For children and young persons passing through from either centres or districts ; and (3.) For girls and young women in situations who'-epend their weekly hall-holiday and occasional week-end days with the Matron of the home. The average numbor of children in residence at these homes is comparatively small, but an approximation of the work of the homes is given in the following return : —

Average Cost of maintaining Industrial-school Inmates for Year ending 31st March, 1924. £ s. d. Gross oost of maintaining industrial-school inmates .. .. .. .. 117,117 7 8 Plus excess of liabilities, 31st March, 1924, over those of 31st March, 1923 .. .. 2,080 811 119,197 16 7 Less— £ s. d. Direct expenditure on service inmates . . .. ... .. 1,284 3 7 Issues from institutions and stores .. .. .. . . 4,440 5 1 Salaries of Probation Officers, Infant-life Protection Agents, Caversham Factory, and proportion of Managers and office staffs of institutions .. .. .. .. .. .. 9,344 14 10 Travelling-expenses of Probation Officers, Infant-life Protection Agents, &c. (estimated at two-thirds of expenditure, £6,046 lis.) 4,031 0 8 Refund of inmates' earnings .. .. .. .. .. 132 5 6 Rents, office requisites, &c. (two-thirds of expenditure £1,222 14s. 2d.) 815 2 9 Law-costs .. .. .. ~ ~ .. .. 64 16 8 Grant to residential nursery .. .. .. ~ .. 200 0 0 20,312 9 1 Gross cost of inmates a charge on the State .. .. £98,885 7 6 Number of inmates maintained (including inmates in residence at Government Schools, boarded out, hospitals, convalescent homes, &c.) .. 2,169 Average cost per week per inmate — £ s. d. Gross .. .. .. .. .. .. ..0176 Recoveries .. .. .. ... .. .. ..0411 Net .. .. .. .. .. .. ..£0127 The net cost to the State of maintaining children under the industrial-schools system is therefore 12s. 7d. per head per week.

Name of School. Avcrl Average Numbor in Residence. Number of Children actually passing through. Auckland Receiving-home Auckland Probation Home Tamilton Receiving-home Vangaruii Reoesivitig-home Napier Receiving-home .. .. .. .. .. Wellington Receiving-home Wellington Probation Home : Nelson Receiving-home Christchurch Receiving-home christchurch Probation Home )unedin Probation Home 16-29 1.4-44 8-25 JO-17 6-45 14-46 1.1-24 5-50 19-81 12-93 10-76 .182 119 254 53 72 213 95 56 312 133 61 1,550 * This homo was closed in October, 1923.