EDUCATION: CHILD WELFARE, STATE CARE OF CHILDREN, SPECIAL SCHOOLS, AND INFANT-LIFE PROTECTION. [In continuation of E.-4, 1932.]

Appendix to the Journals of the House of Representatives, 1933 Session I, E-04

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1933. NEW ZEALAND.

EDUCATION: CHILD WELFARE, STATE CARE OF CHILDREN, SPECIAL SCHOOLS, AND INFANT-LIFE PROTECTION. [In continuation of E.-4, 1932.]

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

No. I,—EXTRACT FROM THE FIFTY-SIXTH ANNUAL REPORT OF THE MINISTER OF EDUCATION. CHILD WELFARE. Number of Children under Supervision. The total number of children under the supervision of the Child Welfare Branch as at 31st March, 1933, was 7,640, classed under the following headings State wards — In foster tomes, hostels, and with friends .. .. .. ..2,728 In situations (includes 21 absent without leave) .. .. .. 851 In Government institutions, receiving-homes, &c. .. • • 257 In private institutions . . .. ■ • • • • • • • 249 Inmates in special schools for backward children .. .. .. 264 In hospitals, convalescent homes, &c. .. .. • • • • 18 In Borstal .. • • ■ • ■ ■ • • • • • • 1 4,368 Young persons supervised in their own homes by Child Welfare Officers, by order of Court .. .. • • ■ • • ■ • • ■ • 864 Infants supervised in foster-homes registered under the Infants Act .. 996 Pupils at School for Deaf, Sumner (9 of these being State wards) . . .. 120 Children dealt with as preventive cases .. .. •• ..1,270 Children at New Zealand Institute for the Blind for whom the Department makes payment.. . • • • • • • • ■ ■ • • 7,640 The number of children committed to the care of the Superintendent during the year ended 31st March, 1933, was 384, classified according to reasons for committal, as follows: Indigent, 150; delinquent, 11; detrimental environment, 52; neglected, 7 ; not under proper control, 98 ; accused or guilty of punishable offence, 66 ; and, in' addition, 9 were admitted by private arrangement (section 12, Child Welfare Act), while 49 were temporarily "admitted, making the total number of admissions for the year 442. Of the children committed, 60 had been dealt with previously by the Courts for other offences, for which they had received terms of supervision. Classified according to the age at the time of admission, the numbers, including temporary admissions and those admitted under section 12, Child Welfare Act, are as follows : Under six months, 52 ; over six months and under one year, 24 ; from one to five years, 76 ; from five to ten years, 69 ; from ten to fourteen years, 106 ; over fourteen years, 115. The length of period of residence for the children temporarily admitted was from one day to twelve weeks. Of the children in foster-homes, 195 are over the age of fourteen years, of whom 103 are still attending primary schools and 92 are receiving higher education. In addition, there are 18 residing in hostels and receiving secondary education. Furthermore, 21 children under the age of fourteen years are receiving higher education.

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No. 2,—STATEMENT OF THE SUPERINTENDENT OF THE CHILD WELFARE BRANCH, FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31st MARCH, 1933. Investigation and Supervision of Cases appearing before Children's Courts. The number of children dealt with by the Children's Courts last year was 2,036, and of these 547 were placed under the supervision of Child Welfare Officers. Of the children placed under supervision, 21 were subsequently committed to the care of the Superintendent. The number actually admitted to institutions such as receiving-homes, special schools, training farms, &c., was 384 ; but all of these, with the exception of 97, who required further training, were suitably provided for in the community before the close of the year. The other children (1,105) appearing before the Courts were dealt with in a summary manner not calling for supervision by a Child Welfare Officer. At the 31st March, 1933, there was a total number of 864 children under the supervision of Child Welfare Officers by order of the Courts. Of the number (547) placed under supervision this year 55 had previously been dealt with by the Courts. The Magistrate had also ordered 2 children to spend a period in institutions. The following statement indicates the, numbers (other than those placed under supervision or committed) appearing before all such Courts,- and the method of disposal: Admonished and discharged, 714 ; withdrawn, 5 ; returned to institutions, 21 ; dismissed, 25 ; adjourned, 49 ; committed to Borstal, 27 ; convicted and discharged, 8 ; convicted and fined, 15 ; convicted and probation, 20; convicted and ordered to come up for sentence, 5 ; ordered to pay damages and costs, 8 ; committed to mental hospital, 1 ; driver's license cancelled, 2. By-law cases : Convicted and discharged, 6 ; dismissed, 2 ; convicted and fined, 64 ; convicted and costs, 4 ; admonished and discharged, 134 ; adjourned, 1. Total, 1,105. Of the above, 316 were charged with theft; 173, wilful damage ; 2, false pretences ; 4, indecency ; 141, mischief ; 5, forgery ; 28, stone-throwing ; 10, possessing firearms ; 4, disorderly conduct; 9, obscene language ; 9, assault; 39, breaking and entering ; 9, not under|proper control; 21, conversion ; 8, receiving ; 11, discharging firearms ; 7, indecent assault; 3, carnal knowledge ; 4, detrimental environments ; 1, aiding and abetting ; 9, delinquency ; 3, drunkenness ; 3, unlawfully on premises ; 1, bookmaking ; 4, nuisance ; 3, negligent driving ; 1, attempted rape ; 8, indigency ; 2, breach of supervision ; 8, breach of Fire Brigades Act; 32, breach of Motor-vehicles Act; 2, breach of Post and Telegraph Act; 2, breach of Licensing Act; 3, breach of Arms Act; 1, breach of Unemployment Act; 8, breach of Railways Act; and 211, breach of city by-laws. In addition to the above, there were 24 cases dealt with by Magistrates under the provisions of section 17 of the Amendment Act, 1927, and the information dismissed as trivial; while there were also 80 cases in which, as the result of consultation between the Child Welfare Officer and the police, the informations were regarded as of insufficient importance to warrant Court action—the children concerned being adequately dealt with otherwise, usually as being regarded as preventive cases under the supervision of a Child Welfare Officer for a period. Preventive Work. An important part of the work of the Child Welfare Officers is that of adjusting conditions in homes and in connection with families, in order to prevent the committal of children to the care of the State. In very many cases parents whose children are difficult to manage avail themselves of the services of Child Welfare Officers for the purpose of supervision and friendly guidance. At the end of the year there was a total number of 1,270 children being dealt with in this connection. Children under the Guardianship of the Superintendent of the Child Welfare Branch. At the 31st March, 1933, there were 4,377 children under control (excluding those mentioned under separate heading below), and of these 257 were in residence at Government receiving-homes (many of these, of course, only temporarily), training farms, and training institutions, 264 in special schools for mentally backward children, 86 in the four private Roman Catholic schools recognized under the Child Welfare Act; 2,172 children were boarded out in foster-homes, 830 were in situations ; and 524 residing under license with relatives and friends. The remainder were in various private institutions. Young persons over school age in employment number 685 males and 407 females (a number of whom are residing with friends) included in the total of 4,377. Of the males 499 are farm workers (220 skilled in dairy work and cheesemaking and 279 competent to milk and carry out general farm work), 45 are apprentices, and 141 others are employed in various trades. Of the girls, 341 are domestic workers, 33 factory employees, and 33 engaged in various employments, such as shop and office assistants, probationary nurses, dressmakers, &c. A number of these (boys and girls) are being assisted by the Department.

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Child-placing System. Assisted Service, Higher Education, and Employment of State Children over School Age. At the end of the year 103 State wards over fourteen years of age were in attendance at primary schools and maintained by the Department, and 92 were attending secondary and technical schools. Of the State wards in employment, 177 (some of whom were apprentices), were being partly maintained by the Department. Blind Children. The Department has arrangements with the New Zealand Institute for the Blind whereby pupils up to the age of twenty years are partly maintained by the State. Where the parents of such pupils are not in the position to pay the fees for maintenance the Department pays the Institute 10s. per week for each pupil. At the 31st March, 1933, 22 pupils were being maintained in this manner. Infant-life Protection (Infants Act, 1908). At the end of the year 996 infants and young children were supervised in 850 licensed fosterhomes. Of these, 734 homes had one child each, 94 had two children each, 16 had three children each, 4 had four children each, and 2 had five children each. Adoptions. By an arrangement with the Department of Justice, applications for adoptions are investigated by Child Welfare Officers before being dealt with by a Magistrate. During the year 302 children were adopted (44 of these being State wards), and in 31 of these cases premiums were received by the Department's agents, and paid out usually at the rate of 15s. per week for each child concerned. Of the total number of children adopted, 45 were under the age of six months ; 40 between the age of six and twelve months ; 128 between the age of one and five years ; 55 between the age of five and ten years ; and 34 between the age of ten and fifteen years.

Table 1. —Status of Children and Young Persons under the Guardianship of the Superintendent at 31st March, 1933.

The following table shows the admissions according to age

Table 2.-Committals and Admissions during the Year ended 31st March, 1933.

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Status. Boys. Girls. Totals. In residence ■ • ■ • • • • ■ 144 113 257 TWdldout ' ..1,255 917 ! 2,172 Boarded out > 830 At service .. •• •• •• •• , With friends .. • • ■ • ■ ■ • ■ 3 ®6 In hospitals, convalescent homes, &c. .. .. 15 £ In refuges or cognate institutions .. • ■ • • ! • • In orphanages 57 33 90 Absent without leave 19 In Borstal institutions .. •. • • 1 ■ ■ Y.M.C.A. Hostel, Auckland .. • • • ■ 15 • • Institute for the Blind .. ■ • ■ • • • • • In colleges . ■ • • • • • ■ ■ • • • i k if; In Girls' Hostel, Wellington .. . • • • • ■ «a In residence, Roman Catholic schools .. .. 38 o-j ' orl In schools for mentally backward . . .. • ■ 183 «I Mi In School for Deaf, Sumner .. . • • • 2 Totals 2,575 1,802 4,377

Boys. Girls. j Totals. Under six months .. • • • • • • 24 Over six months and under one year ... 12 Z* One year to five years .... ... 42 M Five years to ten years .. •• •• Ten years to fourteen years .. ■ • • • ?4 Over fourteen years .. •• •• Totals 273 169 442

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Table 3 below shows the admissions classified according to the causes of admission. Of the total number (442) 150 were indigent, 98 not under proper control, 66 were charged with punishable offences, 11 were delinquent, 52 living in detrimental environments, and 7 were neglected. Of the children admitted under these headings (384), 287 were placed out in the community before the 31st March, 1933.

Table 3.—Committals and Admissions during the Year ended 31st March, 1933, classified ACCORDING TO CAUSES OF ADMISSION.

Table 4.—Inmates discharged from Control during the Year ended 31st March, 1933.

Table 5.—Institutions for Backward Children : Numbers at 31st March, 1933.

Table 6.—Particulars of Expenditure for Year ended 31st March, 1933.

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Taken charge of as Boys. j Girls. Totals. Indigent .. ,. .. .. .. 84 66 150 Delinquent .. .. .. ' .. .. 11 .. 11 Detrimental environments .. .. .. .. 24 28 52 Neglected .. .. .. .. .. 3 4 7 Not under proper control .. .. .. .. 55 43 98 Accused or guilty of punishable ofEence .... 59 7 66 Admission by private arrangement (section 12, Child Welfare Act) 5 4 9 Temporary arrangement .. .. .. 32 17 49 Totals 273 169 442

Boys. Girls. Totals. Discharged (Child Welfare Act, section 23) .. 465 295 760 Attained the age of twenty-one years .... 9 35 44 Adopted .. .. .. .. .. 22 23 45 Written off books .. .. .. . 54 33 87 Died .. .. .. .. .. .. 8 5 13 M .rried .. . . . . .. . . . , . . 17 17 Totals „ 558 408 966

Richmond Otekaike m , , (Girls). (Boys). Totals " In residence .. .. .. .. .. 80 183 263 On vacation .. .. .. .. .. 1 2 3 At service .. .. .. .. .. .. 2 2 Day pupils . . . . . . . . .. 1 .. 1 Hospital .. . . . . .. . . .. 1 1 Totals „ .. 82 I 188 270

Item. Otekaike. Richmond. Total. £ £ £ Salaries .. .. .. .. .. .. 6,285 1,741 8,026 Advertising .. .. .. .. .. 11 6 17 Maintenance of buildings .. .. .. .. 107 2-31 338 Maintenance of institutions .. .. .. 4,356 1,256 5 612 Contingencies .. .. ., .. .. 1 . . 1 13,994 Travelling-expenses .. .. .. „. ., .. 225 Less — I 14,219 Board of staff .. .. .. .. 1,425 ,1 330 1/755 Recoveries (parental contributions and revenue from farm, sale of articles manufactured, &c.) 2,222 National-endowment revenue .. .. .. 216 4;193 £10,026

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School foe Deaf, Sumner. The number of children on the roll at Sumner at 31st March, 1933, was 57 boys and 63 girls ; 14 pupils left, and 12 were admitted during the year. Table 7.—Expenditure on School for the Deaf, Sumner, for Period ended 31st March, 1933. £ £ Salaries .. .. • • • • •• • • • • • • • ® > 453 Advertising, &c. .. . ■ ■ • • • • • • • • ■ 13 Maintenance of pupils and sundry expenses .. .. •• •• 1,870 Travelling-expenses .. .. • • • • • • • • 283 Maintenance of buildings, furnishings, &c. .. .. . . . • 32 7,651 Less— Parental contributions and amount received from Hospital and Charitable Aid Board .. .. • • • • • • • • 2,504 Board of staff . . . • ■ • • • • • ■ • • • Miscellaneous .. .. ■ • • • ■ • • • • • 25 National-endowment revenue .. .. • • • • • • 124 3,258 £4,393 Net expenditure for year ended 31st March, 1932, was £5,767 ss. sd. Table 8. £ Net expenditure on upkeep of child-welfare institutions .. .. •• 13,259 New buildings Salaries of staffs of homes, Child Welfare Officers, visiting nurses, &c. .. .. 27,645 Boarding-out of children — £ Payments to foster-parents .. • •• •• •• 78,258 Payments to Postal Department as commission .. .. .. 745 Issues of clothing, &c.-— £ From institutions .. .. • • • • ■ • 427 From central and branch stores .. .. . ■ 1,490 1,917 Medicine, medical attendance, dentistry, clothing, &c. .. .. 3,869 ■ 84,789 Inmates at service— Issues of clothing, &c. — £ From institutions .. .. • • • • • • 925 From central and branch stores .. .. • • 769 1,694 Miscellaneous payments (clothing, medicine, &c.) .. .. •• 3,068 4,762 Refund of maintenance payments .. . • • • • • • • • • 138 Refund of inmates' earnings .. • • • • • • • • • • 477 Rent, office requisites, &c. .. .. •• •• •• 2,092 Maintenance of inmates in private institutions .. .. • • ■ • 3, 720 Travelling-expenses .. •• •• •• •• •• 3,782 Wages of inmates .. . • • • • • • • • • • • • • 224 Legal expenses .. • • • • • • • ■ ■ • • • • • 36 Transfer and removal expenses .. . • • ■ • • • • • ■ 25 Contingencies .. • • ■ • • • • • • • • ■ • • 2 142,021* Less recoveries— £ Board of staff .. .. ■ ■ • • • • ■ • • • 2,548 Parents and others .. ■ • • • • • • • .. 15, 810 Sale of farm-produce .. . . ■ • ■ • ■ • 1 > ?56 Inmates' earnings for clothing, &c. .. •• •• •• 4,863 Miscellaneous .. • • • • • • • • • • • • 1 > 422 National-endowment revenue .. .. •• •• •• 2,440 28,839 £113,182

* Expenditure £141,018, plus £1,003 (decrease in stocks).

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