E.—l.

36. CHILD WELFARE. The total number of children under supervision of the Child Welfare Branch as at the 31st March, 1938, was 7,403, classified under the following headings State wards— In foster-Homes, hostels, and with friends .. .. .. .. 2,673 In situations (includes 14 absent without leave) .. .. .. 855 In Government institutions, receiving-homes, &c. .. .. .. 235 In private institutions .. .. .. .. •• •• 193 Inmates in special schools for backward children .. .. .. 221 In hospitals, convalescent homes, &c. .. .. . . .. 29 In School for Deaf, Sumner .. .. .. • ■ • • 7 4,213 Other than State wards — Young persons supervised by Child Welfare Officers in their own homes, with relatives, or with friends, pursuant to orders of Courts .. 910 Infants supervised in foster-homes registered under the Infants Act . . 842 Pupils at School for Deaf, Sumner (other than State wards (7) included in figures above) .. .. • • • • • • • • 106 Pupils at Schools for Mentally Backward —Otekaike and Richmond (other than State wards (221) included in figures above) .. .. 42 Children supervised as preventive cases .. .. ..1,273 Children in New Zealand Institute for Blind for whom the Department makes payment .. .. • • • • • • • • 1? Total 7,403 The total number of children admitted and committed during the year was 583. Of these, 503 were committed to the care of the Superintendent by Children's Courts. The following gives the numbers of children classified according to reasons for committal: Indigent, 196 ; delinquent, 36 ; living in a detrimental environment, 46 ; neglected, 26 ; not under proper control, 121 ; accused or guilty of punishable offences, 75; and breach of supervision order, 3. The remaining 80 children came under the control of the Superintendent for the following reasons : —- (a) Admitted by private arrangement (section 12, Child Welfare Act, 1925), 13. (b) Temporarily admitted, 52. (c) Placed under supervision and ordered by the Courts to be detained in an institution for a period, 7. (d) At the time of this report 8 were held on warrant pending the decision of the Children's Courts (section 13, subsection (2), Child Welfare Amendment Act, 1927). Classifying the 583 children according to age at the time of admission, there were 79 under six months ; 23 over six months and under one year ; 72 from one to five years ; 70 from five to ten years ; 152 from ten to fourteen years ; and 187 over fourteen years. Out of the 503 children committed to the care of the Superintendent 89 had previously come before the Courts for other offences for which they had received terms of supervision. The length of period in residence for children temporarily admitted was from one day to eight weeks. At the 31st March, 1938, 138 of the children in foster-homes were receiving higher education at secondary or technical high schools. Eighty-two of these were over and 56 under the age of fourteen years. In addition, 15 boys residing in the Y.M.C.A. hostel at Auckland were receiving secondary education and 21 children were boarded at private secondary schools.

7—E. 1.

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