E.—4.

Table 1. —Preventive Cases. The following table shows the number of preventive cases notified by Child Welfare Officers during the year ended 31st March, 1935 : —

Children under the Guardianship op the Superintendent op the Child Welfare Branch. At the 31st March, 1935, there were 4,283 .children under control (excluding those mentioned under separate heading below), and of these 240 were in residence at Government receiving-homes (many of these only temporarily), training-farms, and training institutions, 282 in special schools for mentally backward children, 81 in the four private Roman Catholic schools recognized under the Child Welfare Act, 2,043 children were boarded out in foster-homes, 898 were in situations, and 555 residing under license with relatives and friends. The remainder were in various private institutions. Young persons over school age in employment number 778 males and 416 females (a number of whom are residing with friends) included in the total of 4,283. Of the males 594 were farm workers (198 skilled in dairy work and cheesemaking and 396.competent to milk and carry out general farm work), 48 were apprentices, and 136 others were employed in various trades. Of the girls 340 were domestic workers, 47 factory employees, and 29 engaged in various 'employments, such as shop and office assistants, probationary nurses, dressmakers, &c. Of these boys and girls 130 (including some apprentices) were being partly maintained by the State. Blind children : Where necessary the Department arranges with the New Zealand Institute for the Blind for the admission of pupils. At the 31st March, 1935, 19 such pupils were maintained as Government pupils. Infant-life Protection (Infants Act, 1908). At the end of the year 816 infants and young children were supervised in 746 licensed fosterhomes. Of these homes, 685 had one child each, 53 had 2 children each, 7 had 3 children each, and 1 had 4 children. Payments for maintenance, which were made by the relatives, ranged from ss. to 255. per week for each child. Out of the 1,351 infants who were residing in licensed homes throughout the year there were five deaths.

Table 2.—Particulars of Children admitted to and removed from Licensed Foster-homes during Year ended 31st December, 1934.

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District. Number of Families. Number of Children. North Auckland .. .. .. .. .. .. 23 73 Auckland .. .. .. .. .. .. 27 46 Hamilton .. .. .. .. .. . . 6 15 Gisborne .. .. .. .. .. ., 5 5 Hawke's Bay .. .. .. .. .. .. 8 26 Hawera .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 9 14 Wanganui Palmerston North Wellington .. .. .. .. .. .. 52 122 Nelson and Marlborough .. .. .. .. .. 17 43 West Coast (South Island).. .. .. .. .. 2 7 North Canterbury .. .. .. .. .. 35 50 South Canterbury .. .. .. .. .. 15 37 Otago .. .. .. .. .. .. 15 37 Southland .. .. .. .. .. .. 14 17 Totals _228_ 492

ui u o . -3* -3* -2 • S ' pāeō ■+=> co m m ® 5° Under 6 %£ g U g 3 § 3 § 3 § 3 Over 6 T , , TIT At. S .© $ L 1 © «S L ® <§ l© $ k © \7 lotals. Months, ,© &h ,© !>< Years. C*° £*" On the books at 31st December, 1933 90 69 132 144 145 136 117 90 923 Placed in foster-homes or transferred 161 89 63 40 34 22 15 4 428 from other districts during 1934 •—-— Totals .. .. 251 158 195 184 179 158 132. 94 1,351 Removed from homes — By parents or guardians .. 23 35 55 37 28 24 27 22 251 Deaths .. .. •• 1 1 1 1 1 5 Adopted without premium .. 10 16 17 9 10 5 3 .. 70 In homes to which exemption 6 2 2.. 3.. 1 14 was granted during 1934 Brought under operation of 5 513 5 4 1 7 2 42 Child Welfare Act during 1934 Written ofl books during 1934 3 6 12 4 4 5 6 113 153 for various other reasons Total withdrawals .. 48 65 99 56 49 36 44 138 535 On the books at 31st December, 1934 79 74 123 103 121 115 112 i 89 816