19

E.—4

Under the provisions of the Industrial Schools Act, 1909, power is given for the detention beyond the age of twenty-one years of any inmate who, upon application being made to a Magistrate by the Manager of the school at the direction of the Minister of Education, is found to be morally degenerate or otherwise not (in the public interest) a fit person to be free from control. In the fifteen years since this Act came into operation there have been ninety-five orders issued exending the period of control, sixty-nine of the inmates concerned being girls. The Act provides for extension for four years, and gives power to the Court on similar procedure to renew the order from time to time for a period of four years. It is expected that the number of those over whom authority beyond twentyone years will be needed will always be small in proportion to the whole number of inmates ; but the value of such an enactment in respect of the remainder who have to be detained is obvious, both in their own interests and in that of the community at large.

No. S.—INFANT-LIFE-PROTECTION STATISTICS.

Particulars of Children admitted to and removed from Licensed Foster-homes during 1924.

Rates of Payments by Parents or Guardians. An account of the rates paid is given in the following statement: — 2at the rate of ss. per week. 2at the rate of 225. 6d. per week. 7 „ 7s. 6d. „ 15 „ 255. „ 48 „ 10s. „ 1 „ 30s. 7 ~ 10s. 6d. ~ 1 adopted with premium disbursed at 1 „ lis. ~ the rate of ss. per week. 3 ~ 12s. ~ 1 adopted with premium disbursed at 75 ~ 12s. 6d. ~ the rate of 10s. per week. 1 ~ 13s. ~ 1 adopted with premium disbursed at 1 ~ 13s. 6d. ~ the rate of 10s. 4d. per week. 1 ~ 14s. „ 12 adopted with premium disbursed at 308 „ 15s. „ rate of 15s. per week. 9 „ 15s. 6d. „ 1 adopted with premium disbursed at 2 ~ 16s. ~ rate of 20s. per week. 1 „ 16s. 6d. ~ 1 where only occasional payments are 47 ~ 17s. 6d. ~ being made. 1 ~ 18s. ~ 8 for whom no payment is being made. 147 „ 20s. The following is a comparison of the rates paid during the last six years :— 1919. 1920. 1921. 1922. 1923. 1924. Under 7s. per week .. 7 2 2 4 3 2 7s. and under 10s. per week 53 22 11 5 1 7 10s. per week .. ' .. .. 368 240 133 105 65 48 Over 10s. per week .. ~ 376 531 508 579 580 615

4—E. 4.

« | lO | O ~§ , ""3® ® ® ® ! T3 ® 2 fl o *2 £ bp C W) S bio c M ! fl bfi § ® § ® * <1 <1 =8 <1 «8 <j =« <1 « C5 bO bH <N M«h «m Och K-fbD <D fl ° S3 ° C ° fl ° ■ fl ° <0 s-s ® 8| s e § s s § : 8 s s-g » ■5° fe§ i* g M fegiSg §° « 3 Id pH "S >SH IdkH Id >X ! ~CD t 5 "* O o P pg M ffl j M ffl | PQ H On the books at 31st December, 78 88 169 118 83 85 63 .. 6841923 Placed in licensed homes or trans- 186 82 92 56 46 40 25 2 529 ferred from other districts during 1924 — Totals .. .. 264 170 261 174 129 125 88 2 1,213 Withdrawn from homes — Removed by parents or guar- 35 51 87 59 46 37 35 16 366 dians Deaths .. .. .. 2 1 1 . . 1 .. . . . . 5 Adoptions without premium.. 3 4 13 7 4 5 2 .. 38 In homes to which exemption .. .. .. .. .. 1 1 .. 2 was granted during 1924 Brought under the operation of 2 2 5 4 2.1 2 1 19 the Industrial Schools Act Written of£ the books for vari- 2 1 11 6 8 5 2 44 79 ous causes (including those who attained the age of 6 years Total withdrawals .. 44 59 117 76 61 49 42 61 509 On the books at 31st December, 70 96 143 115 103 96 59 22 704 _ _ '