EDUCATION: INDUSTRIAL SCHOOLS. [In continuation of E.-3, 1902.]

Appendix to the Journals of the House of Representatives, 1903 Session I, E-03

E.~3.

1903. NEW ZEALAND.

EDUCATION: INDUSTRIAL SCHOOLS. [In continuation of E.-3, 1902.]

Presented to both Houses of the General Assembly by Command of His Excellency.

No. 1. EXTRACT FROM THE TWENTY-SIXTH ANNUAL REPORT OF THE MINISTER OF EDUCATION. In December, 1902, the total number on the books of all the industrial schools was 1,847, or 84 more than at the close of the year 1901. On the books of the Government industrial schools there were 1,286, an increase of 61 over the corresponding number for 1901; on the books of the private industrial schools there were 561, or 23 more than at the end of the previous year. The number in residence at Government schools was 283, and at private industrial schools 327, so that 610 was the total number of " inmates" actually in residence. The number boarded out was 441, one being from a private school and the rest from Grovernment schools. There were 24 girls maintained in various corrective institutions, 11 boys and girls in orphan homes, 1 boy at the Blind Institute, Auckland, and 2 at the School for Deaf-mutes, Sumner. The total number of inmates dependent on the schools for maintenance was therefore 1,08c 1 , or 2 less than the number at the end of 1901. The remaining 758, although still subject to control and supervision, were not dependent on the schools for maintenance. They may be classified as follows: Licensed to reside with friends, 176; at service, 518; in hospital, 3 ; in lunatic asylum, 4; in the Costley Training Institution, Auckland, on probation, 1; in other institutions without payment, 12 ; in gaol, 5 ; absent without leave, 39 —namely, 23 from service and 16 from the schools. There were six Government industrial schools in existence in 1902, and the numbers of inmates on their books at the end of the year were as follows: Auckland, 106; Eeceiving Home, Wellington, 100; Eeceiving Home, Christchurch, 228; Burnham, 271 ; Te Oranga Home, 50; Caversham, 531: total, 1,286. Those belonging to private industrial schools were distributed as follows : St. Mary's, Auckland, 134; St. Joseph's, Wellington, 79; St. Mary's, Nelson, 314; St. Vincent de Paul's, Dunedin, 34 : total, 561.

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TABLE S.—Inmates, 1901 and 1902.

The term " industrial schools " includes* institutions which, although all are "industrial schools" in the meaning of the Act of 1882, are in reality very different in character. First there are the two reformatories—one for boys at Burnham, and the other, Te Oranga Home, near Christchurch, for girls. At Burnham there are many who, if they had not been sent there, would probably have been waifs whose liberty would be periodically restricted ; but where they are they are regularly trained in farming, gardening, poultry-keeping, dairy-work, carpentry, bootmaking, or tailoring, and have every chance of being reformed in character. No boys are sent to Burnham who are merely destitute, or who need only some degree of careful control to make them like ordinary boys living in good homes. The institution is reserved for those who, from hereditary taint, or more frequently through the neglect or vice of their parents, or from both causes combined, have fallen into vicious ways. The process of reclamation in such cases is necessarily a slow one, and requires intelligence, patience, and sleepless vigilance on the part of those who are to carry it out. Classification of the inmates is an important feature of the work, and an essential element in its success. The boys are accordingly divided into three main classes, although it has been found desirable to make a separate subdivision for certain individuals who show signs of serious moral degeneracy. Promotion from a lower to a higher class is made to depend principally upon two factors— good conduct and diligence in school and in learning a trade. Those in the first and second classes receive small payments as pocket-money, besides other privileges, and any boy in the first class who earns more than the cost of his maintenance may have the surplus paid into the account of his earnings in the same way as if he were licensed out to service. So far as there is room, also, those belonging to the first class live in cottages on the farm under the supervision of married attendants, and enjoy thus a taste of home life and considerably more liberty than boys belonging to the other two classes. The period of probation under conditions of partial liberty is a valuable means of fitting them for fuller freedom and responsibility when they leave the school. Those in the workshops and on the farm receive sufficient training to enable them to earn their own living afterwards, and in many cases they can step at once into as good situations as any other boys of the same age. It should be remembered that a training that shall do this is even more necessary in their case than in that of a boy whose parents are able and disposed to direct him in the first years of manhood, for the latter has both heredity and environment to assist his own voluntary efforts, whereas the reformatory boy can have a fair chance of an honest and respectable career only by being well equipped for the struggle of life.

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Boarded out. In Residence. At Service, &c. Totals. •h s> g ". 6 g S o ® 2 <o <d q fl a a os ScStSS os e3=a o> H . 8 B * * £ S . 03.0 o ogao CDS* <D <ciajco Q £ P Q Q^PP o 01 o Q a3 o5 ei I 3 a goo 2 © o> 8 a a rovernment SchoolsAuckland Receiving Home, Wellington Receiving Home, Christohurch Burnham Te Oranga Home, Christchuroh Caversham 'rivate Schools — St. Mary's, Auckland St. Joseph's, Wellington.. St. Mary's, Nelson St. Vincent de Paul's, Dunedin 48 39 147 184 9 35 '2 14 57 74 133 2 174 19 2 10 115 17 130 2 10 1 1 8 12 18 : 1 I 2 103 19 14.0 30 28 69 166 29 194 24 2 23 3 31 25 93 166 31 217 97 69 226 281 46 508 9 31 2 4 23 10 106 100 228 271 50 531 10 96 39 194 6 2 17 90 37 177 34 37 110 10 5 26 44 42 136 130 76 305 4 3 9 134 79 314 i X 19 4 23 8 3 11 27 7 34 Totals .. 419 46 24 441 641 16 47 610 705 94 3 796 1,765 92 10 1,847

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It has been stated from the Bench that in the absence of means of detaining boys committed to this reformatory, there is no option but to send them to gaol. This can no longer be said, as the large labour-yard that has just been erected at Burnham will enable close supervision to be exercised over boys of the worst class whilst they are engaged on useful work, and will almost certainly lessen the chances of absconding, without the necessity for having recourse to a larger amount of corporal punishment or of detention in cells. The cases of moral and mental degeneracy that form a certain proportion of the inmates of the school present soma most difficult problems that have been the subject of careful and anxious thought to the manager, the medical officer, and the Department. Further allusion is made to them in the report of the Inspector-General of Schools. Te Oranga Home is a reformatory for girls, and to some extent, as regards classification and training, the general principles guiding its management resemble those underlying the conduct of Burnham. Differences of an important nature are found, however, in the problems that present themselves for solution at the two institutions, inasmuch as the errors that form the grounds of admission, the occupations that are open to girls, and the dangers that await them when they leave the school are widely different from the same elements in the case of boys. The addition of a new wing at Te Oranga will aid greatly in the ease with which classification can be carried out. The principal occupations that are being taught are, first, those that will train the inmates in all kinds of domestic duties—cooking, sewing, laundry-work, the care of the house, &c-—and, secondly, such occupations as could be taken up afterwards by women —light gardening, dairy-work, and poultry-keeping. It is hoped in time to add others to these. The second class of institutions named " industrial schools " are industrial schools properly so called. At present two of these are Government schools, one being situated in the Mount Albert district, near Auckland, and the other at Caversham ; but a third is in process of erection at Horowhenua, near Levin. The last is intended to be the industrial school for boys for the colony ; and the boys, who are now in very crowded and unsuitable quarters at Caversham, will be. brought to Horowhenua as soon as the new buildings are completed. These will consist in part of a main building with dining-room, assembly-room, and dormitories in which those boys will .be accommodated who need a somewhat greater degree of control than the rest, and in part of cottage homes under the charge of married attendants ; each home having fourteen or sixteen boys in it. The inmates, who, it is estimated, will number about one hundred and twenty in all, will dine together in the main building, and will attend the day-school, which, with the workshop, dairy, and farm buildings, will be situated not far from the main building. The land, which, fortunately, unlike the land at Burnham, is of excellent quality, will give full opportunity for a complete training in all country pursuits, and it is anticipated that the produce will contribute no small share towards the cost of maintenance of the institution. The Caversham School will then become, as the Auckland School is now, an industrial school of moderate size for girls only; but these schools will in addition serve the same function as the receiving-homes, which form the third kind of institutions classed as "industrial schools." There are two " receiving-homes " proper —one at Wellington and one at Christchurch. They receive girls or young boys who, having been ordered to an industrial school, are waiting to be sent to a foster-home, or to the school best fitted to 'train them. On the books of the receiving-homes are found also the names of the industrial-school inmates boarded out or placed at service in their respective districts. It is still necessary to transfer many inmates immediately or soon after committal, as the Magistrates in some cases still continue to send special classes of children to industrial schools which are not intended for them. For instance, now and then there are sent to Burnham, which is a reformatory for boys, orphan children (who should go to a receiving home till they can then be boarded out in suitable foster-homes) or boys of tender years needing merely

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careful control such as they would get in an industrial school proper, or even girls, who, according to circumstances, should be boarded out, sent- to the Caversham School or to that at Mount Albert, or, if they appear to be of vicious habits or disposition, to Te Oranga. There are four private industrial schools —namely, (1) St. Mary's, Auckland, with two branches—one for boys at Takapuna, the other, for girls, at Ponsonby ; (2) St. Joseph's, Wellington, for girls only ; (3) St. Mary's, Nelson, with a branch for boys at Stoke, and a branch for girls and very young boys at Nelson; (4) St. Vincent de Paul's, Dunedin, for girls only. The interests of boarded-out children are looked after by the managers (aided in Dunedin by an "official correspondent") at the several centres. The children are also visited monthly, or oftener, by the local lady visitors who send monthly reports on all the inmates under their charge to the managers. Inmates from Government industrial schools licensed to service, or with friends, are visited by the managers. It is to be regretted that the managers of private industrial schools have not so far seen their way to carry out, except in a very casual manner, so excellent a plan. Three officers of the Department act as Inspectors of Industrial Schools ; one of them is also chief clerk in charge of this important branch, and the other two also carry out, with another officer specially appointed for the purpose, the work of making a regular visitation of all the boarded-out children and such of the inmates placed at service and with friends as the managers have been unable to visit within a recent period. They also investigate any case in which the Department desires a special report. The lastappointed Inspector is a lady, and her work is especially useful in connection with boarded-out children and girls placed out at service. It may be as well to repeat here, for general information, the summary that was given in last year's report of the regulations gazetted:— Except in a few details the regulations are made to apply equally to Government and to private schools. Ample powers are given for the thorough inspection of all schools, for frequently visiting children residing away from the schools, and for auditing wages and other accounts. In the case of private schools, managers not residing at the schools are required to inspect the institution at least once a week, and to make themselves fully conversant with the details of management and acquainted with each inmate. The medical officer of a school has wide powers. He has the right to visit at any time, but there must be a monthly inspection. He is responsible that the physical well-being of inmates is attended to, and that the rules of sanitation are observed. The punishment-book is to be regularly produced to him. Managers are enjoined to co-operate with medical officers. Inmates are, throughout the year, to have at least one warm bath weekly. Underclothing is to be changed weekly. Closets are to be readily accessible to dormitories. Bedding is to be comfortable in all respects. Provision is to be made for the safety of inmates in case of fire. An Official Visitors' book is to be kept. Directions are given to insure that the food is in all respects satisfactory, and that it is sufficiently varied. Full provision is made for the proper clothing of inmates. Industrial training is to be thorough and regular for all inmates of suitable age, and female inmates are to receive domestic training. The attention of inmates is to be directed to rural life, and they are to be taught dairy-work, poultry-keeping, gardening, &c. Military drill, swimming, and life-saving are to be taught. Proper provision is to be made for inmates' recreation, and libraries are to be provided. Thorough classification is to be maintained. Facilities for religious training are to be given. Careful supervision over inmates is enjoined. Each dormitory must be under the supervision of an officer. Lights are to be shown in dormitories. Managers are to visit dormitories at least once nightly. Inmates licensed out are to be regularly visited, and complaints of licensed inmates are to be promptly attended to. An inmate who absconds or damages property may be fined. Inmates who through misconduct frequently return to the schools may be required to contribute from their accumulated earnings towards the cost of their maintenance at the schools. Inmates who for special reasons cannot be licensed out may be remunerated for their services at the schools. Monetary rewards 'and badges for good conduct may be given. A certain relaxation of the regulations formerly in force relating to corporal punishment has been made, though, as the maximum amount of punishment has been more carefully defined, the effect is not to make any very great difference. The punishments in industrial schools and in reformatories have been differentiated; in the latter they are the more severe. As a rule the punishments to be inflicted will be such as may be lawfully inflicted by schoolmasters. Managers may inflict the punishment or may depute officers to do so in their presence. In general the officer reporting the offence is not to be the one to inflict punishment. A cane or leather strap is to be the instrument for punishing boys, and a strap for girls; twelve strokes to be maximum. Under careful restrictions, and for grave offences, male inmates may be birched on the bare breech, but the birch must be approved by the medical officer; the maximum of strokes is twelve. Both males and females may be put in cells for a maximum of ten hours in industrial schools and a week in reformatories. Under proper restrictions, dietary discipline may be used. Badges of degradation may be used only with the approval

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of the Minister. A register of punishments is to be kept, and a copy is to be sent to the Education Department monthly. The regulations relating to inmates who are licensed to reside away from the schools are founded on the practice of the past nineteen years. For the first time, however, it is recognised that a foster-parent may administer corporal chastisement to boarded-out children. Provision is made for limiting the amount of work which a foster-parent may cause a boarded-out child to do. Of the 160 inmates who during the year 1902 ceased to be under the control of the schools, 98 were discharged by warrant, 32 attained twenty-one years of age, 10 were transferred to the Costley Training Institution, 3 were married, and 17 died. The number of deaths (17) was very high. The medical certificates show that of the 5 inmates who were in residence at the time of death, 2 died of pneumonia, 1 of diabetes, 1 of paralysis, and 1 of diarrhoea complicated with hernia. Six boarded-out children died —of measles 4, spina bifida 1, and abscess psoas 1 respectively. One child died in a lunatic asylum from epilepsy; 1, who was at service, died of cerebral tumour; and there were 4 deaths in hospital— 1 from phthisis, 1 from tubercular meningitis, 1 from cardiac disease, and 1 from the effects of an accident in the bootmaker's shop at the Burnham School. The number of admissions during the year (244) shows an increase of 47 over the number for 1901. Of these 43 were sent from Dunedin, 46 from Wellington, 52 from Auckland, and 18 from Christchurch. Of the remaining H5 children, no one town or country district sent more than 12 to the schools. From information taken from the Magistrates' orders it is found that the religious denominations in which the children who were admitted are to be brought up are: Church of England, 115; Roman Catholic, 85; Presbyterian, 29; Methodist, 11 ; Baptist, 1; Church of Christ, 1; Protestant, 1; Plymouth Brethren, 1.

TABLE T.—Admissions, classified according to Parents' Circumstances and Character, 1902.

At the end of 1902 there was in the Post-Office Savings-Bank on account of the earnings of inmates of Government industrial schools a sum of £11,581 9s. 4d., and on account of inmates of private industrial schools £2,321 16s. Id. For inmates of Government schools a sum of £1,218 os. 2d. was withdrawn during the year, and for inmates of private schools £129 19s. sd.

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•eceden Condi ;ion of in 190) Ohildr. in adm: itted i. Fathers, described as Mothers, described as .2 » ag Is? MO I! •2 3 6 3 o a o O a D o « *s o •gw V =•§ iDn 3 3 o 3 on. 4^ d o a CD 5 6 B <! >. M Total. 3 O A s a s CD Dead Sick, lunatic, &c. Good Unknown .. Dead Good Unknown Bad Dead Good Dead Sick, lunatic, &c. .. Good Bad Deserter Dead Good Unknown Bad Deserter Dead Sick, lunatio, &c. .. Good Bad Deserter Dead Good Unknown Bad 7 10 1 6 3 2 13 2 1 1 8 i *8 4 1 1 1 "l 2 5 1 1 2 3 1 6 1 1 3 1 24 6 2 1 1 7 16 2 14 1 1 9 3 48 14 1 1 12 4 16 2 11 1 13 49 2 1 12 1 3 Bad" 8 2 10 1 6 2 i 12 28 7 7 2 Deserter 1 11 1 2 i °i Totals Totals 98 29 44 8 63 2 244

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In Table U is shown the cost of the Government schools, in which is included the expenditure for the maintenance of inmates boarded out and the salaries of the resident staffs and medical officers; it also shows the cost of supervision of all inmates who are licensed to reside away from the schools; and, further, the amounts of the recoveries from Charitable Aid Boards, from persons against whom orders for maintenance have been made, and from the sale of farm-produce, &c. Owing to the increased cost of living it has been found necessary to raise the rates of payment to foster-parents : for children under twelve years of age seven shillings a week is now paid, and for those between twelve and fourteen years 6s. is the rate.

TABLE U. —Expenditure on Government Schools, 1902.

Table W shows the payments made by Government on account of inmates in private industrial schools, the recoveries, and the net expenditure by Government. The contributions from Charitable Aid Boards are made directly to the managers of these schools, and are not included in the recoveries shown.

TABLE W. —Government Expenditure on Private Schools (R.C.), 1902.

The Government or the Charitable Aid Boards paid for the maintenance of the 38 children previously stated to be in corrective or other institutions or homes. The payments made by the Government were as follows: St Mary's Home, Karori, £35 145.; Levin Memorial Home, Wellington, £18 17s. ; St. Mary's Home, Bichmond, Christchurch, £62 18s. Id.; Mount Magdala, Christchurch, £245 145.; Female Befuge Home, Christchurch, £8. Four children belonging to St. Joseph's, Wellington, and St. Mary's, Nelson, private industrial schools were boarded at the Mission Home, Jerusalem, Wanganui (Mother Aubert's) —■ 3 for the whole year and 1 for nine months —the Government paying during the year £49 9s. 2d. for their maintenance.

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Government School. Cost of School. Boarding out. Salaries. (Included in first i (Included in first column.) column.) Recoveries. Net Cost. Auckland .. .. .. 1,850 19 5 Levin .. .. .. 2,339 4 6 Burnham .. .. .. 6,042 16 9 Caversham .. .. .. 8,606 18 5 Te Oranga Home .. .. 3,263 17 7 Receiving Home, Wellington.. 1,575 4 8 Receiving Home, Christchurch 3,352 12 10 £ a. d. 1,850 19 5 2,339 4 6 6,042 16 9 8,606 18 5 3,263 17 7 1,575 4 8 3,352 12 10 £ s. d. 870 5 5 7 14 2 2,928 0 7 £ s. d. 336 0 0 207 16 0 1,840 12 8 1,367 15 5 348 0 0 187 0 0 298 0 0 £ s. d. 596 8 5 7 15 0 1,615 18 0 3,424 2 8 69 2 6 427 8 7 1,047 9 7 £ a. d. 1,254 11 0 2,331 9 6 4,426 18 9 5,182 15 9 3,194 15 1 1,147 16 1 2,305 3 3 891 18 8 2,226 8 4 Totals .. .. 27,031 14 2 27,031 14 2 6,924 7 2 4,585 4 1 7,188 4 9 19,843 5 Salaries and expenses of Assistant Inspectors an Travelling-expenses of managers and others Contingencies id visiting officers 1,586 17 0 229 16 9 47 8 6 Total 21,707 11 8

Payments. Recoveries. Net Expenditure by Government. It. Mary's, Auckland It. Joseph's, Wellington It. Mary's, Nelson !t. Vincent de Paul's, Dunedin £ a. d. 1,304 14 0 268 16 0 1,342 19 6 90 15 6 £ s. d. £ s. d. 125 16 8 1,178 17 4 20 1 8 248 14 4 316 18 11 1,026 0 7 18 13 0' 72 2 6 481 10 3 2,525 14 9 Totals 3,007 5 0

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No. 2. ADDITIONAL STATISTICS. Inmates, 31st December, 1902.

Admitted during 1902.

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Governmei it Schools. 'rival ;e Sehoi >ls. .11 Sen. ioIs. Inmates. CD 3 BJO £ .S o -w .m o 3 P5 | A £ _ o B. G. B. G. a & ■ I 5 ga -s a o B. G. ! B. G. I s3 m 3 o'si DQ d [R H OsS S * o • oir A to d CD CO 43 o h o k I B. G. G. B. G. G. IB >, O pq 3 "3 o H in the schools 3oarded out With friends U service n hospital .. !n lunatic asylums tn Blind Asylum, Auckland [n School for Deafmutes, Sumner U Costley Training Institution (on probation) Cinder control of refuges or cognate institutions [n Orphanage, Cottage Home, &c. [n gaol Absent without leave.. 35 2 3 18 22 23 45 6 ll 29 r 2 1 79 9 22 1 1 54 11 47 103 2 27 110 19 4 112 89 19 94 28 85 13 79 1 5 0 51 7 19 37 14 26 1 114 37 59 63 1 11 17 23 8 3 309 250 105 298 1 3 1 241 191 71 220 2 1 610 441 176 518 3 4 1 247 409 91 364 2 363 32 85 153 1 4 i i 2 i 1 "l 1 1 2 1 1 27 36 36 27, 1 2 11 I •• 5 24 6 ~2 i h 1 5 36 3 5 39 3 32 2 7 Totals .. I i 49 113 115 271 \ 50 321 5f 210 31 56 78 79 218 31 34 1,073 1,186 660 1 43 (53 \£ 96 774 1,847 li 1, 847

Government Schools. Private Schools. All Sen. lols. Admitted as o 3 «1 a . o a a ° >9 o£ o « ©* O O K£ &0-3 a o S.2 '3 £ o-a So M a § 3 3 B o a o W d cc 3 d h O o a > d a k o 3 < >.a a .2 a QQ ."a a o "■3 Cfl CO 9 ■o 3 to.S OPhT3 030 00 B. I G. I B. G. B. G. B. B. G. B. G. G. B. G. CO >. o ffl 00 3 "3 o G. G. Destitute Vagrant Assooiating with disreputable persons Uncontrollable .. Accused or guilty of punishable offences 13 3 6 5 2 8 14 2 4 11 7 2 2 2 "5 19 3 9 1 5 1 4 1 1 5 5 4 h 2 8 58 20 16 40 9 28 98 29 44 9 3 2 5 1 3 34 2 5 i 8 50 8 54 1 i i 6 4 By arrangement .. Transferred from gaol 2 6 3 •• •• 6 2 3 2 9 Totals .. j 29 16 21 20 11 7 48 4 29 16 1 6 I 20 158 7 9 86 244

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Discharges, 1902.

Numbers of 1901 and 1902 compared.

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Government Schools. •ivati Schools. All Ichools. Cause of Discharge. Auckland. Eeceiving i Home, Wellington. Keceiving Home, Christchurch. Burnham. <8 00 ga oK Caversham. Si Mar Auck ry's, ;land. ."a .a o if OS 13 Sis St. Mary's, Nelson. fl co a S =3 « .3 o 3 EH B. G. B. [ G. B. | G. G. B. G. a. 00 >> O a B. G. B. B. Q. a. Warrant of discharge Death To Costiey Training Institution Reached age of 21 years Marriage Totals .. \ 10 1 1 7 2 4 2 1 4 2 3 1 32 1 3 5 22 2 6 13 2 7 4 1 i 2 2 1 3 11 1 1 *2 69 5 10 10 29 12 22 3 98 17 10 32 3 11 8 9 10 36 5 30 22 5 3 6 12 1 2 94 66 160 ll

At end of Year Inmates Increase or Decrease. 1901. 1902. In the schools Boarded out With friends At service In hospital In lunatic asylum In Blind Asylum, Auckland School for Deaf-mutes, Sumner At Costley Training Institution (on probation) Under control of refuges or cognate institutions In orphanage, oottage home, &c. In gaol Absent without leave 641 419 155 448 4 5 1 1 2 27 16 6 40 610 441 176 518 3 4 1 2 1 36 11 5 39 - 31 + 22 + 21 + 70 - 1 - 1 + i - i + 9 - 5 - 1 - 1 Totals .. 1,765 1,847 + 82

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No. 3. REPORT OP THE INSPECTOR-GENERAL OE SCHOOLS. The Eight Hon. the Minister of Education. I have the honour to bring under your notice a few of the aspects of the work of the industrial schools that seem at the present time to call for most attention. The most important feature of the work of last year is, I take it, the commencement of the buildings for the new boys' industrial school at Levin. Those for whom it is intended do not belong to the criminal or criminally vicious class, and with proper training most of them should become good average citizens, who are a help and not a burden to the State. Proper training is, however, impossible for them so long as they are crowded together in the unsuitable and; decayed buildings which they have occupied for many years at Caversham, with land limited in extent and unsuited in character for farming pursuits. The fine estate on which the new institution is to be founded at Levin will give opportunities of training these neglected but not necessarily vicious boys in the various industries directly connected with land ; indeed, while I fully recognise the many advantages possessed by the boarding-out system, especially the fact that it gives to those who have lost their own homes, or have never had any real home, the training under suitable foster-parents that nothing else but a real home life can supply, and the quiet but strong aid to the growth of truly social and moral character to which the formation of home ties is the best stimulus in the youth of either sex, yet I consider that, in those cases where the foster-home is not likely also to afford reasonable opportunities for learning a trade, boys should be withdrawn from their foster-homes, say, for two years before reaching the age of employment, and should receive the definite training in practical work which I hope will be given at Levin. Although only one cottage home is so far approved for erection, I trust that before long all the four cottages that formed part of the original plan will be erected, so that the school shall be arranged on the cottage-home system, and not on what is known as the " barrack system." With twelve or fourteen boys in each home, and a suitable married couple in immediate charge, the elements of home life will be to a large extent present; and yet, with the grouping of these homes round a central institution, there will be full opportunity for industrial education at very little additional expense. , Gradually the schools are becoming more and more worthy of the name they bear—•" industrial schools." It may be a commonplace fact, but one very easy to overlook in the routine of official work or in forensic discussions that sometimes arise on these subjects ; nevertheless, it is well to repeat it from time to time—that if our industrial-school boys and girls are taught how to work, and so, in some degree, to love work (as people nearly always like to do what they can do well), then, unless they are morally or mentally degenerate, the Police Courts, lunatic asylums, and the like will hear very little of them in after-life. I therefore welcome the great progress that has been made in this direction in the last few years. Burnham and Te Oranga, the reformatories for boys and girls respectively, naturally cause more anxiety and require greater thought and care on the part of the Department and managers and other officers concerned than the ordinary industrial schools. In these institutions we have presented to us in their initial stages some of the most difficult problems connected with the modern social system —some of them problems that society has as yet scarcely attempted to face, and for which certainly it has hitherto failed to find any satisfactory solution. As it is impossible to go over the whole of the ground embraced under the head of " industrial schools," I propose to touch upon one or two of the matters demanding the most urgent attention. The most serious problems are those arising out of the cases of mental and moral degeneracy, which may or may not be associated with obvious weakness of physical constitution or with other symptoms, such as symptoms of an epileptic character. It would be out of place for me to attempt a scientific classification of human degeneracy; but some indication is needed of the divisions into which, for practical purposes, it may be convenient to arrange the cases that come up for treatment. Taking mental deficiency first, and avoiding the discussion of causes, and disregarding for the present the fact that it is commonly and almost necessarily accompanied by some degree of moral deficiency, or even by serious moral degeneracy, we may follow roughly the classification of Dr. Charles Mercier, and refer to those who are mentally deficient under the following heads: — (1.) Defectives (using the word in a restricted sense) —that is, those who are markedly below the average in intelligence, and without special training would be unable to earn their own living, but who with such training could at least earn a bare subsistence and not become a burden to the community: (2.) Imbeciles, the term being used to include those who, while incapable of being trained to earn their own living unassisted, are yet capable of keeping themselves out of personal danger, and of doing, under constant supervision, work which will keep them in good health and at the same time help to lighten the burden imposed by their affliction, upon their friends or the community : (3.) Idiots —that is, those who are to no appreciable extent capable of any kind of education, who cannot be trusted to keep themselves out of personal danger, and must be under kindly but close supervision as long as they live. Now, it is evident that, still leaving out of sight the moral element, the defectives, if properly educated for simple trades, may after a time be left to look after themselves, and their education is an important thing for the State to undertake —inasmuch as every " defective " who is set, so to speak, upon his own feet makes one less in the number of useless members of society. When a properly trained "defective" reaches the age (twenty-one) at which he passes out of the control of the industrial school, it will therefore be unnecessary for the Sta,te to make further special provision for him.

2—B. 3.

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The case is different in regard to " imbeciles," who are capable of only the smallest amount even of practical education, and who will need help and supervision after they reach the age of maturity perhaps as much as before it, for they are children mentally all their lives long. Most of them might be left in the care of their friends but for the very real and serious danger that would thereby ensue, namely, the birth of children who would perpetuate in our midst a race of degenerates. Unless society is prepared to take surgical precautions for preventing such a result its interests demand separate homes for those thus afflicted throughout life ; at such homes they might, by open-air pursuits, enjoy a fairly happy existence without being a menace to human progress. The " idiots," I think, should be treated in special homes attached to the institutions intended for the treatment of mental diseases. Epilepsy may be associated with any of the above classes of mentally deficient cases, and is very frequently associated, especially in girls, with cases of moral degeneracy, to which I shall presently refer. In some cases the epileptic symptoms are so slight and infrequent that separate provision need not be made; but in cases where the epilepsy is more pronounced in type, often without any other obvious mental defect, special provision should certainly be made. Such individuals should not be put into the same homes as "defectives," as those of both classes will suffer thereby ; nor with " imbeciles," as the treatment of the epileptics would certainly be rendered very difficult under such conditions. Pronounced cases of epilepsy, especially if accompanied by sexual weakness or degeneracy, should not, I consider, be released at the age of twentyone, at which the industrial schools cease to have control of them ; it is just then that the sexual instincts would make the danger to society greatest. It would appear to be necessary to make some provision for the segregation of such individuals or for rendering them harmless, unless human society is to be for ever liable to these degenerating influences in their full degree. The Medical Officer of Burnham and Te Oranga has given much thought to these questions, and has expressed in his report some of the conclusions to which he has been led by his observations. He points out with truth that some of the cases of moral degeneracy are those of individuals committed to the school whose low moral instincts, strong passions, and vicious habits will without doubt render them dangers to society as soon as the time comes for release. The cure is in many cases perfectly obvious ; but, as the law exists at present, the cure cannot be undertaken except it can be shown beyond doubt that the life or reason of the individual is at stake. It has been suggested that an alternative might be found in the creation of an island community to which such individuals might belong. Surely humanitarian motives, so often urged against the adoption of the true cure, would forbid the deliberate formation of a colony of human wild beasts. The question no doubt is a very difficult one, and it would be very easy to exaggerate the number of bad cases that really exist. It appears to me, however, to be the truest kind of courage to face the problem fairly, and, after due investigation by experts, not to shrink from applying whatever remedy medical science and sober clear-headed philanthropy may decide to be the best. Cases cited by the Inspector-General of Asylums in his report of a few years ago showed the extent to which one family of imbeciles may injuriously affect the community. It needs no apology to quote again one of the cases included in that report, more especially as facts coming recently under the notice of the industrial-school branch of this Department have added considerably to the force of the lessons to be derived therefrom. The case will be most clearly appreciated perhaps if the facts are presented in tabular form :— Family History of a " Defective " Case. J. A., admitted to Mount View Asylum, 24th May, 1897. Dr. France : She appears imbecile, but without delusions. " Natural imbecility." Dr. Fell: Stupid idiotic expression. Baby one month old. Age between thirty and forty. Dr. Hassell: Suffering from dementia (lactational). J. A. (husband), labourer, Johnsonville; aged 69. Average earnings, 15s. a week; at present gets 4s. a day when in work. Six children, — M. J. A., aged 12 years A. A.', '.'.'. '.'.'. '.'.'. '.'.'. '''[ M [ / hi / dr f «™ , said to W. T. A , aged 5 years be m industrial schools. V. A. A., aged 3 years ... ... ... .... Baby born April., 1897. This baby was put out to nurse by the Hutt County Council. Sister of J. A. (the wife), P. E., in Salvation Army Home. There are also two brothers, but their Christian names and addresses cannot be ascertained. " The whole of the relatives of J. A." [the wife] " were partly imbecile, always in a helpless condition and state of destitution, and have been for years supported partly by charity of neighbours and help from the Charitable Aid Boards" (police report). J. A. (the husband) wishes to get admission into some " old men's home." (An Act passed in Connecticut prohibits, under penalty of three years' imprisonment, the intermarriage, where the woman is under forty-five, of a man and woman either of whom is epileptic, imbecile, or feeble-minded, or the cohabitation of a man with any female under forty-five (not being his lawful wife) who is thus afflicted). The above information was collected some years ago by the Inspector-General of Asylums. The following notes, arranged genealogically by the Education Department, show the development of the case up to the present time.

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J. E. (of weak intellect). I I I ~~ I i I J. A. (wife). P. E. S. E., 10 years. J. E., 8 years. A. E., 6 years. (See foregoing notes.) (See foregoing notes.) l ; , ' I Committed to industrial school in 1886; mother dead ; badly neglected. A. E. died soon after committal. S. E., E. P., 4 years. P.P., 6 years. after she reached twenty-one, confessed to immorality * , ' with different men; had illegitimate child. J. E.: Dr. Committed to industrial school in MacGregor said in 1887, " Little better than congenital 1891. Described as " wild children," imbecile." Mental deficiency at present time very pro- " unable to speak any language." nounced. Now at service, but both are shown in recent returns as " defectives." M.J. A., years.* S. A., years.* E. A., 2-& years.* V. A., years.* W. T. A., 5jL years.* v . — ' c 1 t M. J. A. and S. A. were committed to industrial school in Committed to industrial school in 1897--1892 —parents destitute. S. A. was at service, but has just Mother described by police as "an idiot" ; died as the result of eating match-heads. Both S. A. and children brought up like " wild ones." E. A. are shown in recent return as " defectives." The Director of the School for Deaf-mutes reported soon after their admission to industrial schools that they could not articulate ; the boy undoubtedly backward .in intellect, the girl not likely to turn out to be imbecile. The maintenance of the members of this family at industrial schools has already cost the State £1,137, and the burden still exists. This does not -include any of the cost in other ways, under the heads of lunatic asylums, charitable aid, police, &c. Defectives and Criminals. A. J., aged forty-eight; destitute circumstances; "makes a precarious living at nursing" (police report); living with a man named H. C, a thief, and is now away in the North Island. She is mother of A. J., patient committed to Sunnyside on the 20th September, 1897, direct from Burnham Industrial School. Further Particulars of Family. J. J., a cooper, living at Timaru, " a lazy, drunken fellow " (now dead). A. J. (wife), " a drunken prostitute" (police report, 1886). Seven children— W. J. : Committed to Burnham, December, 1877 ; recommitted, 1882 ; discharged, June, 1890, aged 18. Sentenced by Supreme Court, August, 1896, to three years for burglary. H. J.: Committed to Burnham for larceny, August, 1883 ; discharged, December, 1887, aged 17. B. J.: Committed to Burnham for breaking into and stealing, March, 1886, aged 16 ; discharged, June, 1890. G. J. : Committed to Burnham, September, 1891, aged 13; discharged, April, 1895, aged 18. A. J. : Committed to Burnham, September, 1891, aged 9-J-; boarded out with Mrs. H., at P., and then with Mrs. T., at M., ever since he was nine and a half years old. Of him medical men say: " His depraved habits result of bad bringing-up by his mother" (Dr. Prins); "Probably hereditary" (Dr. Jennings); "Satyriasis from congenital defect" (Dr. Syrnes) : "A case of moral depravity associated with mental deficiency and cretinism " (Dr. Levinge). Admitted Sunnyside Lunatic Asylum, September, 1897, at age of 15^; discharged from asylum in August, 1898, and returned to Burnham, and placed out at service in January, 1899; July, 1902, the Manager, Burnham, reported returned to school for misconduct, and described him as "one of the worst specimens of humanity I have ever met." Attained the age of twenty-one in March, 1903 ; whereabouts not known. E. J.: Said to be dependent on her mother, and aged LI, in 1897. November, 1897 committed to an industrial school; found wandering; parents serving six months' imprisonment for assaulting a constable. Transferred to Caversham, May, 1900; March, 1903, Manager, Caversham, described E. J. as "a big, stout, lazy girl, without any head." S. J.: Committed to Burnham, September, 1891, aged 7 ; in hospital for removal of growth in nose and defective sight, September, 1896. I have referred to the problems connected with " degenerates " in a somewhat disjointed way perhaps, but with the object of showing that the cases of moral and mental degeneracy differ so widely as to demand fundamentally different treatment, and that the question will not be solved merely by the establishment of homes for defective and epileptic children. lam glad, however, to think that in a short time there may be established such homes as those just named. It is a relief to find that the number of bad cases is, though too large, after all comparatively small in relation to the whole number of cases, and to find that the earnest care and untiring

* Age when committed to industrial school.

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efforts of the managers and other officers of the institutions are producing a great improvement in the general tone, with the result that a very large proportion of the inmates are likely to do well in after-life. New Zealand already stands very high, according to one of the best authorities, Miss Bosa M. Barrett, in her successful handling of the industrial-school question, and I hope that, even though it may involve increased expenditure, she may still keep pace with the advance that is being made in the communities whose policy in this question is most enlightened. G. HoGBEN.

No. 4. REPORTS OP MEDICAL OFFICERS. Auckland. Sir,— Auckland, 18th May, 1903. I have the honour to report that during the year ending the 31st March, 1903, we have had epidemics of influenza, measles, and whooping-cough, and a few cases of acute chest-affections as well as some of severe diarrhoea. There have not been any deaths amongst the children under my charge. There was, however, one sickly young woman who was sent up from the South some years ago and whose health was much improved while in the school, who, at the expiration of her term, returned to her friends in the Middle Island, and shortly afterwards died. The opportune enlargement of the buildings at Mount Albert will add greatly to the comfort of the inmates, and will facilitate in many ways the work of the school. The excellent soil of the garden and the skilful cultivation have contributed much to the health and enjoyment of the children by providing a constant supply of excellent vegetables and fruits. The management, as usual, leaves nothing to be desired. I have, &c, A. G. Purchas, M.B.C.S. (Eng.), Medical Officer, Auckland Industrial School. The Secretary for Education, Wellington.

Sir,— Auckland, 15th April, 1903. On Tuesday, the 14th April, at the request of the sister in charge, I attended, in place of Dr. Laing, at the Convent, Takapuna, and inspected the premises and the inmates. The boys, with one exception, " Frank Smith," who was seriously ill, appeared to be in the best of health, and certainly looked happy arid well cared for. The sleeping arrangements appeared somewhat crowded, but the best use seems to be made of the means of ventilation. The premises were spotlessly clean and in good order. I was very pleased with all I saw. I have, &c, H. C. Bennett, M.8., M.8.C.5., L.R.C.P. The Secretary for Education, Wellington.

Sir,— Auckland, 15th April, 1903. I beg to forward the following report on St. Mary's Industrial School, Auckland (Girls' Branch): — I have examined the building thoroughly, and find the dormitories, schoolrooms, and refectory clean and well ventilated. The children's beds and bedding I also took particular notice of, on which I can report most favourably. The water-supply is good and sufficient. The lavatories are clean and dry, and well washed out. The kitchen is also well able to meet the demands of the inmates. The children I got all assembled together, and carefully inspected each one. I found no contagious diseases, and all seemed well dressed, nourished, and clean. The "bill of fare" is quite sufficient for the well-nourishment of any child, of no matter what class. The grounds are large, and well adapted for healthy recreation; and the drainage and sanitation is good. So taking all and all, combined with the magnificent site of the Orphanage from a medical point, I am thoroughly satisfied. I have, &c, W. J. Darby, Hon. Physician. The Secretary for Education, Wellington.

Wellington. Sir,— Wellington, Bth June, 1903. I hereby certify that I have this day thoroughly examined St. Joseph's Orphanage, Hawkestone Street, Wellington. I found all the inmates in a good healthy condition. The dormitories, class-rooms, diningrooms, are well ventilated. The sanitary arrangements are quite up to date; in fact, I could find no fault anywhere, as the air in all the rooms was almost pure, and nothing but the utmost cleanliness prevailed. I have, &c, P. Mackin, M.D., F.8.C.5., Ed. The Secretary for Education, Wellington,

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Nelson. Sir,— Nelson, April, 1903. I took charge of the boys' school at Stoke on the Ist July, 1902, since which date I have inspected the school nine times, the visits being made during the first week of each month. There has been no sickness of any importance, no typhoid, scarlet fever, or measles, and no serious accident up to the 31st March, 1903. I cannot remember any death. I have dropped in on the boys at their meals on two or three occasions, and have been quite satisfied with the food provided. The boys are for the most part healthy and strong, and have sufficient clothing. The dormitories and hospital are airy and clean. The water-supply is abundant and of good quality. Punishments have on no occasion been excessive. Latrines are kept clean. Lavatories and baths are very good. I think the Institution is well conducted, and I have no suggestions of improvements to make. Girls' Industrial School, St. Mary's Convent, Nelson : During the year ending the 31st March, 1903, there has been no undue amount of sickness, no measles, one case of typhoid (recovered), and four cases of scarlet fever (all recovered without segeuld). During the year two babies, one aged two months and one aged three and a half months died from inanition, and one of the nuns, aged fifty-six, died from bronchitis. The children are well fed and clothed, and look healthy. The water-supply is unlimited and good. Dormitories are clean and airy. There is no special room set apart for a hospital, but the rooms at the ends of the dormitories are used for the more severe cases. For the scarlet fever, a cottage some distance from the main building was used, and the disease was limited to the four first attacked. The water-closets are clean, and fitted with cisterns which, whenever 1 have examined them, are in good working-order. A new bathroom is contemplated, and is needed, as the present one, although perhaps adequate, is out of date. Punishments have been few, and never excessive. The institution is well conducted, and the only suggestions I have to make are a new lavatory and baths, .and a special room for hospital cases. I have, &c, The Secretary for Education, Wellington. Jas. Hudson, M.B. (Lond.).

Canterbury. Sir,— Christchurch, 29th June, 1903. I have the honour to report that the health of the boys at Burnham has been remarkably good during the past year. I have inspected the school every month, and found the order and discipline excellent. The number of boys complaining of different ailments has varied from twelve in the summer months to over thirty in the winter months, but the complaints have been generally unimportant or else of a chronic nature. lam strongly of opinion that a properly trained nurse should fill the position of sub-matron, as the distance of Burnham from Christchurch makes me dependent on such assistance in the care of the boys' health. Also, I feel greatly the need of a room to be used exclusively as a surgery and dispensary. At present there is no convenient place to keep either medicines or surgical dressings and appliances, and neither accidents nor illness can be promptly attended to. Some progress has been made during the year in the classification of inmates. Those convicted of bad habits have been separated in a group, called Class M, and subjected to special rules and supervision. This has already produced good results, but it requires more building accommodation. Since Burnham has been constituted the boys' reformatory for the whole colony, the necessity of classification has become more urgent, and yet the main building has not been added to for, I understand, about three years. There are, in addition to the main buiiding, two cottages for married attendants, each cottage lodging six boys. At least one more cottage or dormitory is badly required for Class M. Another great want is a proper hospital building for the prompt isolation of all cases of illness. Infectious diseases are often difficult or impossible to recognise with certainty in their early stages, and the whole school may become infected before the disease is diagnosed, especially as there is no resident medical officer. The design I have already submitted for a hospital at the Deaf-mute Institution would suit very well for Burnham. Telephone : I recommend that Burnham be connected by telephone with Christchurch. Altered condition of Burnham: There is a great contrast between the present inmates of Burnham and those of four years ago, when they consisted of boys and girls of much younger average age, and with a very much smaller proportion of the criminal type. During the five years from 1898 to 1902 we have admitted 265 boys, of whom twenty-one have been convicted in the Courts and sent to Burnham instead of to gaol. This gives a proportion of nearly 8 per cent., whereas in 1892 there was not a single inmate on the roll who had been transferred from gaol. There are also now on the roll thirty-six boys who have committed crimes and are quite as bad as those transferred from gaol. In some cases they are worse. Adding the previous twenty-one to these thirty-six gives fifty-seven as the number of boys of marked criminal type, equal to about half the number of the resident inmates, which varies from 100 to 120. From one-third to onefourth of the total number are practically young men of great strength and daring. It is only the exceptional energy and discipline of the manager, Mr. Arehey, which maintains order; but, unless further classification and subdivision are provided, an outbreak of violence may occur at any time. This remark applies more particularly to class M, which includes the boys—or men—addicted to bad habits, which deprive them of self-control and render them peculiarly liable to acts of impulsive insanity. This class should be kept quite separate from other boys both day and night, under the charge of two attendants specially interested in their reformation. Such boys are usually of a degenerate type, and supply a considerable proportion of the criminals and lunatics of

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the colony. Their limited brain-development is dominated by sexual passion, which in town-life finds relief in the society of young girls of a corresponding type. When deprived of such natural means of satisfying their desires, they resign themselves to self-abuse and even unnatural forms of vice. This destroys their mental equilibrium, and develops incipient insanity. It weakens the willpower ; and, while peculiarly obstinate and difficult to move, they cannot initiate any effort of mind or body, or exert themselves to do anything. They are, in fact, quite unable to work continuously, or to concentrate their attention on any one thing. The treatment I recommend consists in— (1) Discipline : These offenders require constant watching. Their meat is limited to once or twice a week, but they get an abundant variety of other food. When repeated warnings are of no avail, boards covered with a blanket are substituted for the flax mattress in their beds. In very persistent cases, I have long been anxious to use a camisole nightshirt, which only means that the ends of the sleeves are sewn together. Permission has not yet been granted for this necessary measure. Cold baths, either ordinary or shower, are used daily in suitable cases. (2) Training : These unfortunate creatures require treatment as patients afflicted with a chronic debilitating disease even more than as offenders requiring discipline. Although they are physically and mentally unable to join in work and recreation on an equal footing with other boys, their capacities require cultivating with sympathy and perseverance. They are weighed down by apathy and inertia, which they must be encouraged to struggle against. (3) Vasectomy: When these efforts fail, and the steady increase of nervous exhaustion threatens health, reason, or even life with permanent destruction, I recommend vasectomy as a safe, simple, and effective remedy. It not only restores the patient to health, but offers the enormous advantage of protecting society from the propagation of degenerates. Vasectomy consists in the ligature of the seminal ducts. It is a perfectly safe and simple operation, involving neither risk nor pain, nor the removal of any part of the body. It is often performed on elderly men to cure enlargement of the prostate gland, a distressing complaint which occasionally renders life very miserable. The effect of this operation is to cause gradual shrinking and atrophy of the testicles, and to remove sexual desire. It has been performed also for the cure of epilepsy and insanity resulting from masturbation, with the happiest results. The Attendants: I consider that the attendants are entitled to much credit for the efficient assistance which they render to Mr. Archey in the care of the inmates ; but I think it would be a great advantage if the services of some retired and married petty officers of the navy or army could be obtained. Their training would specially adapt them for this work. Such men, living with their wives in cottages at Burnham, should each have about a dozen boys to live with them. This would afford a good method of classification, and provide the required increase of accommodation. The present conditions of life at Burnham do not render the post of attendant such as to attract the best class of applicants. The isolation, the long hours, and the absence of congenial society or recreation, make single men prefer employment in town. It is difficult to find suitable men ; and, when obtained, they often get tired of their position, before they have acquired sufficient experience and training to enable them to manage the boys properly. On the other hand-, there are many petty officers retired every year from the navy and army in England, to whom the offer of a comfortable cottage and the present salary in force would be very attractive. The wives of such petty officers would introduce a valuable civilising influence in the home training and homelife of the boys. Alteration of Site : It has always been one of the greatest difficulties, in training the boys to farm work, that the land at Burnham is merely a shingle-bed, covered with 3 in. or 4 in. of soil. Its cultivation is not only difficult, but very unproductive as compared with the labour expended on it. Irrigation would greatly improve it, but the expense of bringing the water to it would be considerable, and the present system of water-races is even now insufficient for watering the stock. It is said that all the asylums are overcrowded, and that extensive accommodation is required to relieve them of old men and harmless chronic cases, which do not need the special treatment of acute cases. It appears to me that the whole establishment at Burnham might be profitably used for the reception of these cases; and that, instead of adding more expensive buildings to the existing asylums, the money might well be used to construct a new boys' reformatory on fertile soil—preferably on an island, if one can be found suitable for this purpose. W. H. Symes, M.D., The Secretary for Education, Wellington. Medical Officer.

Sir,— Christchurch, 29th June, 1903. Te Oranga Home has only been instituted since July, 1900, a reformatory for the reception of all girls in New Zealand who require such treatment and are committed there until they reach the age of twenty-one or are previously discharged. There are now about 50 girls on the books of the Home, in addition to 15 discharged. Of these 50 there is only room in the present building for 20, the other 30 being lodged in St. Mary's Home and at Mount Magdala. Of the 15 who have been discharged, 2 have been transferred to the Beceiving Home, 1 is dead, 1 has gone to the Befuge, 2 have gone to their friends, 5 are in situations, 1 has gone to St. Mary's, and 3to Mount Magdala. The last 12 of these are discharged as being over twenty-one, so that the 4 who are in St. Mary's and Mount Magdala are only kept there by persuasion, as there is no power to detain them if unwilling. I think some power should exist to exercise supervision over girls for about five years after they leave the reformatory. The conduct of the seven who have been discharged and returned to their friends or situations has, so far as we know, been fairly good, but our knowledge is very imperfect. The Home is visited once a week by the Bev. Mr. Inwood, vicar of the parish ; twice a week by Mr. Smail, the Bishop's evangelist; occasionally by other ministers, and regularly by the Official Visitors, Mrs. Chrystal, Mrs. Smith, and Mr. Heywood.

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A new large brick building is nearly ready for occupation, and this will enable the Home to accommodate about forty-five girls. More buildings will, however, be required to enable proper classification to be carried out. The health of the girls has been generally good during the past year. They derived great benefit from a fortnight's residence on Quail Island last December, and it is to be hoped that they may often be enabled to repeat that trip, which is a most welcome relief from their confined life at Te Oranga. It must be remembered that the girls who are brought into the life of seclusion and routine at this institution have been accustomed before their committal to a life of freedom and license. They can be detained in the institution only till they are twenty-one years old, and it is obvious that in the institution very little time is thus afforded wherein to achieve their complete reformation. Our efforts should therefore be directed to make these few years as pleasant as possible, consistently with strict discipline, in order that the idea of a virtuous life may be rendered more attractive. I have constantly endeavoured to find ladies willing to visit the Home, and teach the girls useful things—read to them or sing or play the piano to them. I think the matron should be allowed a liberal expenditure in the means of instruction and of recreation, and I consider that a gymnasium and a tennis-court should be provided. Such expenses are trivial in comparison with the great cost of the Home and the moral effect of these accessories. Our chief means of influencing these girls for good is by cultivating their sympathy with a higher and purer life; and if we fail to enlist their sympathy with our work all our labour and expenditure will be wasted. I wish to bear emphatic testimony to the great improvement in the behaviour of these girls since they were first taken in hand by the matron, Mrs. Branting. Some most unruly and even violent girls have become comparatively docile, and the detention-cell is now much less often used than formerly was necessary. There are, however, some great difficulties to contend with, especially in eradicating bad habits, and I think the matron and myself might be allowed a little more liberty in dealing with special cases. '; The work done by the girls is principally out of doors. There are 14 acres of land, two cows, four pigs, forty^fowls, and twenty bee-hives. The cultivation of the land and the care of the livestock are entirely managed by the girls. No washing or other work is done for any purpose outside the Home, with the exception of mending the stockings for the boys at Burnham." Six of the girls receive ordinary school-teaching from an attendant. All the girls are taught cooking, laundrywork, and dressmaking. The general appearance of the Home is bright and cheerful; the girls seem contented and very rarely abscond. I consider the Home is doing most useful work, but I think the permanent success of the work would be more assured if some supervision were exercised over girls for five years after they leave the Home. W. H. Symes, M.D., The Secretary for Education, Wellington. Medical Officer.

Sib,— Christchurch, 29th June, 1903. I have the honour to report that the number of children on the books of the Christchurch .Receiving Home was 234 in May, 1903, as compared with 228 in May, 1902, and 220 in May, 1901, so that the yearly increase is small but steady. The health of these children has been generally fairly good, though we have had two outbreaks of measles in the Receiving Home during the past year, and a serious one of diphtheria previously, showing the necessity of a separate ward to enable us to isolate all cases of illness in their earliest stages. Unless such isolation is resorted to at the very commencement, it is very little use doing so after the complaint is developed sufficiently to be diagnosed. The system of boarding-out appears to answer very well in most cases, with the exception of the infants under one year. These are rarely, if ever, fed according to proper methods; and, although this may not produce much mortality in cool weather, the whole future health and strength of a child depends more on its rearing during the first year than during any subsequent period of its life. Thus, I generally find these infants fed on a mixture of farinaceous food and milk in a bottle with an indiarubber tube, resulting in diarrhoea -and rickets, whereas pasteurised milk and cream should alone be used and no rubber tube allowed. The most important element in the food of an infant is cream, which is expensive, and foster-mothers will not buy it on the payment they now receive. The cream should be supplied by the Department, to insure the infant getting it. The milk should be pasteurised, and the feeding carried out according to definite rules. If there is not an average weekly gain of 6 oz. in weight, the most frequent' cause is wrong feeding. The seeds of many constitutional diseases, like consumption, scrofula, rheumatism, &c, are more often sown in the first year than afterwards. In addition to the children boarded out by the Receiving Home, there are at present about fifty boarded out by the North Canterbury Charitable Aid Board, and a smaller number by the South Canterbury Charitable Aid Board. The illegitimate infants boarded out in houses licensed under the Infant Life Protection Act of 1896, in the Canterbury police district, were—in 1896, 69; 1897, 168; 1898, 182- 1899 139; 1900, 112 ; 1901, 132; 1902, 203. The deaths have been 49, equal to a rate of 48'7 per 1,000 births, which is very moderate in comparison with some statistics. Thus, the boarded-out children are divided into three classes—First, those belonging to the Receiving Home ; second, those belonging to the Charitable Aid Board ; third, those under the Police Department. The first of these three classes is under medical supervision, but the other two classes are not. It appears desirable to bring all these classes of boarded-out children under one control, with direct medical supervision. In regard to all the infants it would, I think, be advantageous to have selected cottage houses for those under one year, to be reared by women specially instructed in such work. Ido not suggest the building of large foundling hospitals, but the selection of suitable houses and persons in places convenient for close supervision. There should not be more than six or eight infants in one house, just enough to occupy the whole time and care of one woman, who

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should be under the control of the Medical Officer. Each infant should be weighed every week, and its condition recorded. The children are the most valuable asset of the State: no trouble should be spared in their rearing, and the artificial feeding of infants should not be endangered by ignorance and mercenary considerations. Control over girls: It, is, I think, a great defect in our present system that we have no control over girls of weak intellect after the age of twenty-one. I think the Act should be amended to enable the Minister of Education to retain such control in the case of girls who are certified to be unable or unfit to take care of themselves. Such control should continue until by marriage or other arrangements a suitable provision is made for their proper care. The State, having taken these girls away from their own homes, and assumed the position of a parent towards them, should fulfil the same duties as other parents in watching over this class of girls as long as may be necessary for their safety and welfare. It cannot be right to turn them adrift at twenty-one, without any guardian to look to or any home to go to. I think the Receiving Home should remain open to them when out of a situation, and that the matron should continue to exercise supervision over them. There are at present eight or ten girls belonging to the Receiving Home, two belonging to St. Mary's Home, and six belonging to the Charitable Aid Board, urgently requiring such provision and care. There are also many belonging to Te Oranga, to Mount Magdala, and to the Samaritan Home, who ought to continue under control beyond the age of twenty-one. Thus one of the girls at the Samaritan Home has had eight children by different men, another has had six, another four, and several have had three. If such women are unwilling or unable to contribute to the support of their children they should be prevented from getting them. At present they only make a convenience of the Samaritan and other Homes. In conclusion, I think the whole question of neglected, of reformatory, of illegitimate, and of defective children is one of such magnitude and importance that it should be dealt with comprehensively under the category of " State children." The dreadful conditions recently described in Sydney ought to be an incentive to prevent such developments here. The first expense of dealing with this difficult problem, although very great, is much less than that resulting from postponing it, since criminals and lunatics are much more costly to the State than properly trained children. W. H. Symes, M.D., The Secretary for Education, Wellington, Medical Officer.

Otago. Sir,— Dunedin, 31st March, 1903. I have the honour to furnish the annual report on Caversham Industrial School for the past year. In accordance with Regulation 25, I inspected the school monthly, and satisfied myself that the inmates were properly fed and kept clean and tidy. The ventilation .of the building is satisfactory, and the water-supply is ample. The other sanitary arrangements are all that can be desired. No serious accident has occurred during the year, and the ailments, as usual, have all been of the minor kind. There was, indeed, a slight occurrence of chicken-pox, which did not spread. But, most unfortunately, we have had an outbreak of scarlet fever, which, in spite of every precaution, has not entirely disappeared even now. Luckily the type has been one of excessive mildness, and not a single death has resulted. With a resident number of 127 boys and girls, twenty-four boys and four girls have been attacked. All of them have either completely recovered or are in a fair way of so doing. On the 6th February seven cases occurred simultaneously. In the absence of any arrangement for isolation, they were at once removed to the temporary fever hospital in Caversham, which the local authorities had opened and put under the charge of Dr. Coughtrey. We have to congratulate ourselves on this piece of foresight; otherwise the disease must have spread throughout the school, and with increased numbers the type would have taken on a virulence which Ido not care to contemplate. When Dr. Coughtrey reported the cases to be convalescent we transferred them to the quarters at Quarantine Island, which we found in every respect suitable for their accommodation, till the expiry of the six weeks during which time they continued to be infectious. I took occasion to visit them when the attendant, one of the school staff, reported any illness. There were a few cases of sore throat, and one boy had rheumatic fever. At the end of the six weeks they returned to the school. This procedure worked satisfactorily till the temporary hospital was closed, and we had to make provision for isolating any new cases in our own grounds. Part of the recreation hall was boarded off, and was made as comfortable as circumstances admitted. The girls were secluded in an iron erection, separated from but convenient to the school. In all these arrangements I got the greatest assistance from the Manager, Mr. Burlinson, whom I consulted on every point as it arose, and who at once pushed on the alterations required with all speed. There never was any panic, and the attendants were assiduous in watching for any development amongst the inmates. I sincerely hope that their behaviour will be recognised by the Department carrying out at once the erection of such buildings as will enable us—independently of any outside assistance —to isolate at once any suspected case of. contagious disease, and give a fair chance of stamping out an epidemic which otherwise must spread throughout the school. This advice I have had occasion to give on more than one occasion in my annual reports. I forgot to mention that all along disinfection was carefully attended to by free ventilation, sulphur-fumes, and copious use of carbolic preparations. I have, &c, Robert Burns, F.R.C.S.E., The Secretary for Education, Wellington, Medical Officer.

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bIB '~ T , . . , Moray Place, Dunedin, 24th April, 1903. T ,• 7 o , Ve ,„ e honour herewith to submit the medical report on the St. Vincent de Paul Industrial School, South Dunedin, for the year ending the 31st March, 1903. During the past year the health of the inmates has, on the whole, been very good but in the monthsof May and June, 1902, whooping-cough, which was then epidemic in Dunedin,' visited the institution and affected many of the children. One of the children so affected S L M aged seven months died on the 7th July, 1902, of the broncho-pneumonia which complicated the disease. JLhe illness m this case was protracted—the infant was in the first instance a delicate one—and I have to record my satisfaction at the extreme care and assiduous attention and nursing that the patient received throughout from the Sisters- of the Institution. I have also to record the death on the 26th July, 1902, of A. M. W., aged twelve months (also a delicate child), of bronchopneumonia. Other cases of minor ailments have from time to time occurred ; they have alwavs been promptly reported to me, so as to receive early medical treatment, and the instructions have been m all instances carried out to my satisfaction. I desire to call attention to the fact as calling lor congratulation, that there has been no single case of scarlet fever in the institution notwithstanding the widespread prevalence of this epidemic throughout Dunedin and suburbs Should however, infectious disease at any time make its appearance, the means for prompt and efficient isolation are easily available. On each of my (unnotified) official monthly visits, I have had reason to be quite satisfied with the hygienic and general conditions as I found them ; the children are certainly well cared for their health is made a first care, and cleanliness of their persons and surroundings is a marked feature Iheir sleeping apartments are roomy, well ventilated, and scrupulously clean. The fact that children, weakly and delicate at the time of their committal, in due course become healthv fat and strong, is one that carries its own inference. In conclusion, 1 have to state my opinion that, from the hygienic and medical point of view the condition and the results of this institution reflect the highest credit upon those whose dutv it is to carry out the details of its management. I have, &c, t,, Q . „, w - s - Roberts, Visiting Medical Officer. Ihe Secretary for Education, Wellington.

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