E.—4

1930. NEW ZEALAND.

EDUCATION: CHILD WELFARE, STATE CARE OF CHILDREN, SPECIAL SCHOOLS, AND INFANT-LIFE PROTECTION. [In continuation of E.-4, 1929.]

Presented to both Houses of the General Assembly by Command of His Excellency.

No. I.—EXTRACT FROM THE FIFTY-THIRD ANNUAL REPORT OF THE MINISTER OF EDUCATION. CHILD WELFARE. Number op Children under Supervision. The total number of children under supervision of the Child Welfare Branch as at 31st March, 1930, was 7,006, classed under the following headings : — State wards— In foster-homes, hostels, and with friends .. .. .. 2,939 In situations . . .. .. .. .. . . 1,032 In Government institutions, receiving-homes, &c. .. .. .. 288 In private institutions .. .. .. .. .. . . 292 Inmates in special schools for the mentally backward .. .. 267 4,818 Young persons supervised in their own homes by Child Welfare Officers, by Order of Court .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 870 Infants supervised in foster-homes registered under the Infants Act .. 1,204 Pupils at School for the Deaf, Sumner .. .. .. .. 114 7,006 The extent to which the activities of the Child Welfare Branch have developed in the past five years is to some extent indicated by the following table, which shows the number of children under the supervision of the Branch in each year of the period : —

1926. 1927 1928. 1929. 1930. 3oarded out, at service, in receiving-homes, &c.. . Jnder supervision of Child Welfare Officers infant-life protection Deaf children feeble-minded children 3,859 323 771 116 283 i 3,908 412 878 121 273 4,014 493 902 122 285 4.287 678 1,007 117 275 4,551 870 1,204 114 267 Total 5,352 5,592 5,816 6,364 7,006 J_