CHILD DELINQUENCY

Marlborough Express, Volume LXXVI, Issue 247, 20 October 1942, Page 6

CHILD DELINQUENCY

POSITION IN NEW ZEALAND. Little inerease is shown m the tatai number of appearances in the Children's Courts throughout the Dominion for the> year ended March 31, 1942, as shown in the annual report of the superintendent for child welfare . in the Education Department, which was presented to Parliament last week. The total number of appearances for the year 1941-42 is 2936, as compared with 2934 for 1940-41, and 2953 for the year 1939-40. "These indicate a, fairlv satisfactory position in that there has been little inerease in the total numbers of children appearing for offences,', said the superintendent. "As more parents are required to be absent from their homes for war purposes, increasing difficulties in this regard will, it is anticipated, be met." During the year 356 boys and 208 girls were committed by Courts tc the care of the superintendent. "The number of orders for the adoption of children made by the magistrate during the year was 605. a record." he said. "The average number of children adcpted annually during the last, flve years was 530. A most satisfactory feature is that during this same pericd the Courti ordered onLy seven cancellations." — V