E.—4

Particulars showing the occupations of these young people at the 31st March last are shown under the heading " Nature of Employment " further on in this report. When a child first goes to service, he (or she) is allowed a portion of his wages for pocket-money ; the balance is banked by the Department and drawn out as required for clothing, dentistry, &c. Later he is allowed an increasing portion personally, so that he learns to handle his own money and purchase his own clothing under supervision. As a prelude to final discharge, he is placed for six months or so, on service agreement. This means that he receives all his wages and can choose his own situations, excepting that the latter must be approved by his supervising officer. The money banked may be paid out at any time, and the Department, as trustee, endeavours to guide these young people in investing or expending their money to the best advantage. This is especially essential in those cases where the young people concerned may be mentally retarded and require friendly supervision for a longer period than is necessary with the ordinary normal youth. Applications for assistance with board and clothing, &c., are always promptly attended to, and no reasonable application is refused. The money is also paid over when the applicant is between twentyone and twenty-five years of age and is of good character, even though he or she has no particular enterprise in view at the moment. During the year under review, a total sum of £19,219 16s. 7d. was paid out to young people in this regard. Pbimary Education. The following table shows position regarding children attending primary schools classified according to ages (in years) in each class as at Ist July, 1936, and a comparison with State wards included therein and attending the same schools. It may be stated that the proportion of State wards to other pupils at that date was approximately 1 to 118.

Higher Education. State boys and girls have the same opportunity as other children for secondary or technical education. Usually these young people remain on in their old foster-homes and attend the nearest educational institution. In addition, there is in Auckland a hostel to accommodate 15 boys, which is carried on with assistance from the Costley Trustees and the Y.M.C.A. Deserving pupils who show special aptitudes are helped by the Department to the University. Reports to Children's Courts. At the end of each year the Child Welfare Officers submit to the Courts and to the Department a report on the oases dealt with during that year —the causes of each appearance, the numbers under supervision and the general results of supervision, the number of second offenders, and generally the position so far as the Court work in each district is concerned. It is hoped that such reports will become increasingly valuable as a measure of the success or otherwise in adopting this or that method of dealing with certain offences or types of anti-social conduct. Particularly is this so with regard to the placing of children legally under the supervision of Child Welfare Officers—a phase of the work which is engaging the Department's earnest attention. It need hardly be stressed that the Department regards the " preventive " work as of first importance, for when a child does come before the Court for an offence or is not under proper control, it is desirable in accordance with the general policy of treating children in their own homes, or at least in the locality in which they live, to adopt the best methods to secure their earliest return to the ordered life of the normal child. The second offender, too, is a case for close study, although, as one officer points out, a number of those may be accounted for by the fact that, even after one or two minor offences, the boy is still left in his home under supervision, and committal and removal is only resorted to when all other methods have failed. Tables showing the numbers dealt with are included in this report. A few extracts from, the reports of some of the larger centres are attached : — 1. Auckland District. —Of the total (339) appearing before the Courts, 157 were admonished and discharged, 93 were placed under supervision of Child Welfare Officers, and 56 were committed to the care of the Department. 2. Hamilton District-It is interesting to note that from 1931, probably the peak year, when 245 cases appeared before the Courts, there was a gradual decline to 167 cases in 1933. Last year the number was 180, compared with 206 for this year. Cases of theft showed a reduction of 33, but sexual cases and cases of mischief and wilful damage showed an increase of 37. There was a reduction in the number of those appearing a second time for an offence from 19 to 17.

5

Glass P. S. I. S. II. S. III. S. IV. F. I (S. V). F. II (S. VI). Boys. Girls. Boys, Girls. Boys. Girls. Boys. Girls. Boys. Girls. Boys. Girls. Boys. Girls. Primary schools 6-79 6-71 8-71 8-51 9-69 9-4910-6510-4211 -5611 -3312-5212-3113-3613-15 State wards .. 6-99 7-00 8-63 8-73 9-87 9-7911 -0910-8312-0512-0312-8612-8613-9913-35