LICENSED CHILDREN.

Hokitika Guardian, 23 July 1925, Page 3

LICENSED CHILDREN.

question of supervision

CHRISTCHURCH, July 22

A prominent city man, who has had many years’ experience in social work, is of opinion that more supervision is required over the licensed homes which take care of children liecnesd out bv Government Receiving Homes. ‘‘lt is impossible for strict supervision to he kept over them and the children, and tin- present system lends itself to abuse. | can only say that 1 alii very anxious about the whole business."

In an interview with a "Lyttelton Times” representative, yesterday the man who was approached on the matter explained how the children came to he admitted to the homes, and how they were licensed out. The children tv ere committed to homes usually because of their not being under 1 roper control. 'I hero they were tared for by the State until they were sent put to a licensed l,onie. The keepers of these homes received an allowance Irotn the Education Department for the children in their charge, and there was an obligation on the part of the guardians to have the children educated. 'lhere was supervision, hut it was impossible to have the supervision necessary. Out in the country the Ivors were practically at the mercy of the farmers who had them, and probably the supervisor paid no more than two visits a year to them. "The system is had." he said. The question was submitted to Miss E. Cardale last night, and she said that- the healthy children wore soon licensed out. and the amount given by the Department for maintenance varied according to the state of the child's health. In the case of infants it was sometimes as high as 20s per week. Excellent supervision was kept over the licensed homes, and if the children were properly cared for it would not lie possible to make profit out of the maintenance money. If there were any abuses they wore exceptions rather than the ltilo.