EDUCATION: CHILD WELFARE, STATE CARE OF CHILDREN, SPECIAL SCHOOLS, AND INFANT-LIFE PROTECTION. [In continuation of E-4, 1939.]

Appendix to the Journals of the House of Representatives, 1940 Session I, E-04

E.—4.

1940. NEW ZEALAND.

EDUCATION: CHILD WELFARE, STATE CARE OF CHILDREN, SPECIAL SCHOOLS, AND INFANT-LIFE PROTECTION. [In continuation of E-4, 1939.]

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

CONTENTS.

PAGE No. I.—Extract from Report of the Hon. the Minister of Education (E.-l) .. .. .. .. 2 No. 2. —Statement of the Superintendent — Field-work .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 3 Institutions .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 3 Residential Schools for Backward Children .. .. .. .. .. .. 3 Preventive Work. . .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. ..3 Placement of Children .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 5 Young Persons in Employment .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 5 Infant-life Protection .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 7 Blind Children .. .. .. .. ■ • •. .. .. .. 8 Illegitimate Children .. .. .. .. .. .. .. . . 9 School for the Deaf, Sumner .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 9 Edward Costley Trust .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 9 Tables relating to Child Welfare —• 1. Cases appearing before Courts, and how dealt with .. . . .. .. 4 2. Cases classified according to Reasons for Appearance .. .. .. .. 4 3. Children placed under Supervision of Child Welfare Officers .. .. .. 4 4. Status of Children .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 5 5. Committals and Admissions during the Year .. .. .. .. 6 6. Committals and Admissions classified according to Causes of Admission .. .. 6 7. Committals and Admissions classified according to Religious Beliefs .. .. .. 7 8. Inmates discharged during the Year .. .. .. .. .. 7 9. Institutions for Backward Children .. .. . . .. .. . . 7 10. Particulars of Children in Licensed Foster-homes .. .. .. .. 8 11. Childen in Residence in Children's Homes .. .. .. .. .. 8 12. Expenditure on the Education of Backward Children .. .. ... .. 9 13. Expenditure on the School for the Deaf, Sumner .. .. .. .. 9 14. Expenditure on Child Welfare .. .. .. .. .. .. 10

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E.—4.

No. I.—EXTRACT FROM THE SIXTY-THIRD 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 the 31st March, 1940, was 8,043, classified under the following headings State wards — _ In foster-homes, hostels, and with friends .. .. • ■ • • ' | In situations (includes 29 absent without leave) .. .. • • • • 931 In Government institutions, receiving-homes, &c. .. .. • • • • 238 In private institutions .. .. . • • • • • ■ • • • In special schools for backward children .. .. • • • • • • In hospitals, convalescent homes, &c. .. . • • • • • • • In School for Deaf, Sumner 4,320 Other than State wards — Young persons supervised by Child Welfare Officers in their own homes, with relatives, or with friends, pursuant to orders of Courts .. .. 1,041 Infants supervised in foster-homes registered under the Infants Act .. .. 623 Pupils at School for Deaf, Sumner (other than State wards (3) included in figures above) .. .. • • • • _ • ■ , ■ ■ • • • • Pupils at schools for mentally backward: Otekaike and Richmond (other than State wards (207) included in figures above) . . . . • • ■ • 33 Children supervised as preventive cases .. .. • • • • • • 1 > 906 Children in New Zealand Institute for Blind for whom the Department makes payment .. .. • • • • • • • • • ■ • • Total 8 ' 043 The total number of children that came under the control of the Branch during the year was 596. Of these, 509 were committed to the care of the Superintendent by Children's Courts. They can be classified according to reasons for committal as follows : Indigent, 147 ; delinquent, 36 ; living in a detrimental environment, 62; neglected, 27 ; not under proper control, 139 ; accused of punishable offences, 96 ; and breach of supervision order, 2. The remaining 87 children came into the custody of the Superintendent for the following reasons (a) Taken charge of by private agreement (section 12, Child Welfare Act, 1925), 18 : (b) Taken charge of temporarily, 52 : (c) Placed under supervision, and ordered by the Courts to be detained in an institution for a period, 5 : (d) At the time of this report held on warrant, pending the decision of Children's Courts (section 13 (2), Child Welfare Act, 1925), 12. If the 596 children are classified according to their ages at the time custody was assumed there are found to be 78 under six months, 13 over six months and under one year, 77 from one to five years, 106 from five to ten years, 134 from ten to fourteen years, and 188 over fourteen years. Of the 509 committed to the care of the Superintendent, 88 had previously come before the Courts for other offences for which they had received terms of supervision. The length of period in residence for children temporarily taken charge of was from one day to forty-two weeks. A number of these were held on remand from Children's Courts. At the 31st March, 228 of the children in foster-homes were receiving postprimary education and one boy was attending a training college, 55 were taking a professional course, 84 technical, 54 commercial, 3 agricultural, and 15 home science, while 17 Maori children were attending Maori colleges. j *

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No. 2.—STATEMENT OF THE SUPERINTENDENT OF THE CHILD WELFARE BRANCH—Mr. J. R. McCLUNE. YEAR ENDED 31st MARCH, 1940. The functions of the Child Welfare Branch and statements regarding its various activities have appeared in a more extended form in previous reports ; this year, unfortunately, on account of a paper shortage the report on the Branch has had to be curtailed. The permanent field officers of the Branch stationed in the main centres of population have in the performance of their multifarious duties again received great assistance from the Honorary Child Welfare Officers —approximately 200 public-spirited men and women whose services the Department gratefully acknowledges. The system of appointing housemasters for duty in boys' homes, mentioned in last year's report, has been extended and has proved very successful, especially in enlarging the scope of the boys' activities and recreation and in supervising them in the evenings and at week-ends. A -larger number of children than usual passed through the receiving-homes last year. The matter of reopening the receiving-home at Napier to relieve conditions in the Wellington, fiawke's Bay, and Gisborne districts is at present under consideration. The Girls' Home at Burwood for older girls requiring institutional care for a period has been kept full during the year, and the question of providing additional accommodation to enable better classification of the girls to be made is at present under review. A new building for older boys requiring a period of training in an institution is in course of erection at Levin to replace the old out-of-date buildings. The training of the lads, though under rather difficult conditions, is proceeding satisfactorily meantime. The numbers in residence have been fully maintained at both schools for backward children at Richmond and Otekaike. Considerable improvements to the buildings and grounds were carried out at each institution during the year. The Girls' Hostel in Wellington continues to function very successfully. This institution provides for girls in employment in the city. In Auckland a hostel has recently been opened for older boys at apprenticeship or other work in the city. The latter hostel was previously occupied by boys receiving post-primary education (provision for whom is now made elsewhere) under an arrangement with the Costley Trustees and the Y.M.C.A. authorities. These two bodies had for some seventeen years assisted very materially in the maintenance and successful management of the hostel. While it would be difficult to name all those who assisted in this work, the Department feels it could not let this occasion pass without making special mention of the services rendered over a long period of years by Mr. C. J. Tunks, of Auckland, who was a member of both bodies. Preventive work, an important feature of the constructive work of the Child Welfare Branch, is being extended as circumstances permit. An adequate staff of trained persons is essential to its development, and this is being augmented as quickly as circumstances permit. It was a matter for regret that during the year we lost the services, owing to retirement for various reasons, of six of our experienced women field officers. With losses also on the male side it has not been possible to extend the preventive work as fully or as expeditiously as is considered desirable. During the past year 286 families, representing 625 children, were taken under preventive supervision, and at the 31st March the number of children under the oversight of Child Welfare Officers was 1,906. Contact with the child and the family is maintained until the Child Welfare Officer is satisfied that assistance is no longer needed. While the saving of money to the community in this way is very considerable as compared with the cost of maintaining inmates in institutions, the saving of the child to the community is a matter of infinitely greater importance. CASES APPEARING BEFORE THE CHILDREN'S COURTS. Table 1 below shows that a total of 2,953 children appeared before the Courts during the year, as against 2,801 for the previous year. This increase is almost wholly due to the increase in charges of theft (829) as against the previous year's total (650). Of the total number appearing this year, 812 were placed under the supervision of Child Welfare Officers, while 21 had their supervision period extended within the same period. Of the children placed under supervision, 28 were subsequently committed to the care of the Superintendent. The numbers committed to the care of the Superintendent and admitted to institutions such as receiving-homes, special schools, training-farms, &c., was 509, but all these, with the exception of 181 (104 boys and 77 girls) who required further training, were suitably placed out in the community before the close of the year. The remainder (1,611) appearing before the Courts were dealt with in a manner not calling for supervision by a Child Welfare Officer (see details below). At the 31st March, 1940, there was a total number of 1,041 children under supervision of Child Welfare Officers by order of the Courts. Of the numbers (812) placed under supervision this year, 43 had previously been dealt with by the Courts and placed under supervision. The Courts ordered 10 children to spend a period in an institution.

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E.—4.

The following is a comparative statement of the number of children who appeared before the Children's Courts, and the action taken:—

Table 1.

Table 2. —Total Number of Children appearing before Children's Courts.

Table 3. —Children appearing before the Courts during the Year ended 31st March, 1940, and placed under the Supervision of Child Welfare Officers. (Section 13(4).)

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11938—11939— __ 11938-1939-j 39. j 40. | 39. 40 Committed to tho caro of the Superintendent 501 509 Admonished and license suspended .. 1 Placed under supervision .. .. 718 798 Convicted and license suspended .. .. 1 Admonished and discharged .. .. 618 715 Convicted and costs and license endorsed .. 2 Admonished and ordered to make restitution 266 233 Borstal term extended .. .. .. 2 Adjourned .. .. .. 59 79 Convicted .. .. .. .. 1 Dismissed .. .. .. 81 53 License endorsed .. .. .. .. 9 Supervision extended .. .. .. 19 24 License cancelled Committed to Borstal .. .. .. 20 24 Convicted and ordered to come up for sentence .. 1 Convicted and fined .. .. •• 10 6 Remanded .. .. .. .. .. 5 Returned to the care of the Superintendent 44 73 By-law cases— Adjourned sine die .. .. .. 10 24 Admonished and discharged .. . . 141 153 Admonished and costs .. .. .. 21 13 Convicted and fined and/or costs .. 13 Withdrawn .. .. .. .. 13 27 Fined and/or costs .. . . ,91 135 Admonished and fined .. .. . . 7 . . Dismissed .. . . .. .. 3 3 Ordered to come up for sentence .. .. 12 7 Admonished and costs .. .. 13 2 Supervision with residence .. .. 15 10 Admonished and fined .. .. 24 Probation .. .. .. .. 10 8 Adjourned .. .. .. . . 1 1 Convicted and discharged .. .. 3 4 Admonished and ordered to make restitu- 5 Convicted and costs .. .. .. 5 .. tion Referred to Magistrates' Court .. .. 3 4 Discharged .. .. .. 1 Informal supervision .. .. .. 2 1 Ordered to pay costs .. .. .. 4 Fined .. .. .. .. .. 54 25 Convicted and discharged .. . . 1 3 Ordered to pay costs .. .. .. 2 3 Case struck out.. .. .. .. 2 Fined and driving license cancelled .. 1 .. Fined and prohibited from obtaining a license 1 .. Totals .. .. .. 2,8012,953 Note.—Convictions mostly comprise eases that come before the Courts for offences arising out of breaches of Traffic Regulations, &c.

(Classified according to reason for appearance.) 1038- 1939- _ 1938- 193939. 40. 39. 40. Offences against morality .. 6 4 Breaches of Acts —continued. Offences against the person .. 56 90 Railways .. .. .. 20 2 Offences against rights of property 1,133 1,388 Fire Brigades .. .. 4 10 Motor offences .. .. 184 199 Acclimatization .. .. 2 4 Delinquent .. .. .. 203 201 Licensing .. .. .. 6 7 Indigent .. .. .. 167 161 Arms .. .. .. 65 38 Not under proper control .. 210 206 Post and Telegraph .. .. 65 67 Living in a detrimental environment 81 91 Shipping .. .. .. 9 4 Neglected . . . . .. 95 31 Traffic Regulations . . .. 85 47 Breaches of Acts— Breaches of city by-laws .. 298 297 Police offences (minor) .. 92 86 Child Welfare .. .. 9 7 Totals .. ..2,801 2,953 Motor-vehicles .. .. .. 11 13

Boys. | Girls. Totals. Charged with an offence .. .. .. .. 564 53 617 Delinquent .. .. .. . . ■ . ■ • 113 10 123 Not under proper control .. .. .. .. 30 18 48 In detrimental environment .. .. .. .. 3 12 15 Indigent .. .. .. .. •• 4 1 5 Neglected .. .. .. .. .. • • . • 3 3 Informal supervision .. .. .. .. .. 1 .. 1 Totals 715 97 812 Note. — Twenty-one of the above were again before the Courts during the period and were placed under a further term of supervision, 28 were again before the Courts during the period and were committed to the care of the Superintendent ; 18 were already under supervision, and 10 were ordered to spend a period in an institution. Furthermore, 43 had previously been under supervision.

E.—4.

PLACEMENT OF CHILDREN. The Department's policy is to board children in suitable private homes under the supervision of Child Welfare Officers, and its experience over a period of nearly sixty years has proved that the boarding-out system is much to be preferred to that of placing children in institutions. At the same time, the institution has its place in the work. State wards who have completed their schooling are in general placed in employment on the same basis as regards wages, &c., as other young people in the community. In some instances, however, as, for example, when they are incapable of competing on equal terms with fellow-workers of approximately the same age and exj)erience or have shown anti-social traits, great emphasis is laid on obtaining a home that will meet the particular needs of the individual. Information as to the occupations of young people in employment is given later in this report. When a child takes his first situation the greater portion of his wages is banked in a Post Office account by the Department and the balance is paid to him as pocket-money, the amount of which is generally increased every three or six months until the time arrives when ho draws his full wages. This system has proved of value in training young persons to appreciate the value of money. The money banked by the Department (section 37 of the Child Welfare Act, 1925) is used in paying for clothing, dentistry, &c., and the balance is paid at any time —generally after he attains twenty-one years of age —to the young man himself. The Department investigates each application and does what it can to ensure that as far as possible the money is utilized to the best advantage. CHILDREN UNDER THE GUARDIANSHIP OF THE SUPE RINTENDENT OF THE CHILD WELFARE BRANCH. At the 31st March, 1940, there were 4,320 children under control (excluding those mentioned under separate headings below), and of these, 2,081 were boarded-out in foster-homes ; 902 were in licensed situations ; 522 residing under license with relatives and friends ; 238 were in residence at Government receiving homes (many of these only temporarily), training-farms, and training institutions ; 207 in special schools for mentally backward children ; and 54 in the four Roman Catholic schools recognized under the Child Welfare Act. The remainder were in various private institutions.

Table 4. —Status of Children and Young Persons under Guardianship of the Superintendent at the 31st March, 1940.

YOUNG PERSONS IN EMPLOYMENT. At the 31st March, 1940, there were in employment 1,207 (781 males and 426 females) State wards, representing slightly more than one-fourth of the young people (4,320) under control. Of those employed, 301 (199 males and 102 females) were residing with friends or relatives on license (section 20 of the Child Welfare Act, 1925), while the remainder (906) were supervised in situations by Child Welfare Officers. Of the males (582) supervised by Child Welfare Officers, 387 were farm hands (189 skilled in dairy-work and cheesemaking, and 198 competent to milk and carry out general farm-work) ; 40 were apprenticed to various trades, and of those not apprenticed 43 were factory employees, 17 clerks, 10 boot-factory employees, 8 shop-assistants, 6 labourers, 5 in Army, 4 message-boys, 4 seamen, 5 nurserymen, 4 pressers, 3 engineers, 3 office assistants, 3 stable hands, 3 warehouse assistants, 2 storemen, 2 garage assistants, 2 freezing-works employees, 2 motor-painters, 2 market-gardeners, 2 electrical engineers, 2 in Air Force, 2 mill hands, 2 porters, 1 butcher, 1 carpenter, 1 driver, 1 miner, 1 milkman, 1 painter, 1 telegraph operator, 1 packer, 1 projectionist, 1 jockey, 1 showman, 1 grocer, 1 Railway workshops employee, I panel-beater, I upholsterer, 1 Railway cadet, 1 monumental worker, 1 motor mechanic, and 1 plumber.

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Status. J Boys. ■ Girls. Totals. In residence .. .. .. .. .. 109 129 238 Boarded out .. .. .. .. .. 1,191 890 2,081 At service (includes 2 boys and 17 girls at day service) .. 589 313 902 With friends .. .. .. .. .. 317 205 522 In hospitals, convalescent homes, &c. .. .. 83 41 124 In refugees and cognate institutions .... 2 40 42 In children's homes registered under Part I, Child Welfare 48 38 86 Amendment Act, 1927 Absent without leave .. .. .. .. 15 14 29 In colleges and residental schools .. .. .. 5 13 18 In Girls' Hostel, Wellington . . .. .. .. 14 14 In residence, private institutions (Roman Catholic) . . 25 29 54 In schools for mentally backward . . . . .. 142 65 207 In School for the Deaf, Sumner .. .. .. 1 2 3 Totals .. .. .. .. 2,527 1,793 4,320

E.—4.

Of the females (324) supervised by Child Welfare Officers, 12 were apprenticed to various trades, and of those not apprenticed 180 were domestics, 60 factory employees, 13 shorthand-typistes, 13 tailoresses, 12 shop assistants, 11 clerks, 7 dressmakers, 5 waitresses, 3 printers and bookbinders, 3 assisting on farms, 3 nurses, 1 furrier, and 1 theatre attendant. Fifty-three (16 skilled and 37 unskilled) of the males residing with friends or relatives (199) were employed on farmwork, 62 were factory employees, 14 shop-assistants, 12 labourers, 4 miners, 3 carpenters, 3 garage assistants, 3 page boys, 3 message-boys, 2 butchers, 2 printers and bookbinders 2 engineers, 2 blacksmiths, 2 freezing-works employees, 2 drivers, 2 in Air Force, 2 milkmen, 2 mill hands, 1 hairdresser, 1 clerk 1 in Army, 1 cook, 1 electrical engineer, 1 painter, 1 presser, 1 grocer, 1 baker, 1 fishmonger, 1 boot-factory employee, 1 porter, while in addition 12 were apprenticed to various trades. Of the females residing with friends or relatives (102), 49 were domestics, 36 factory employees, 4 clerks, 3 shop-assistants, 3 dressmakers, 2 tailoresses, 2 waitresses, 1 shorthand-typiste, 1 Nativeschool teacher, and 1 office assistant. Of the total (1,207) above, 228 (129 boys and 99 girls, including some apprentices) were being partly maintained by the State. COMMITTALS AND ADMISSIONS. The three following tables classify the children committed to the care of, or taken charge of by, the Superintendent according to age, causes of committal or admission, and religious beliefs for the year ended 31st March, 1940: —

Table 5.—Committals and Admissions according to Age.

Table 6.—Committals and Admissions according to Causes of Committal or Admission.

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Boys. Girls. j Totals. Under six months .. • • • • • • 35 43 78 Over six months and under one year .... 10 o One year to five years j Five years to ten years ™ Ten years to fourteen years .. •• •• ™ Over fourteen years 127 J-l Totals ™ 219 596

Boys. Girls. Totals. Indigent J 6 q Delinquent • • • • • • • • • • 30 6 o Living in a detrimental environment .... oi oi o/ Neglected 10 Not under proper control .. ' .. • • • • 67 139 Accused or guilty of punishable offences .. .. 83 13 9b Private arrangement (section 12, Child Welfare Act, 15 3 18 1925) * 13 52 Temporary arrangement .. .... .. ov io u* Supervision with residence in an institution .... 4 1 5 Held on warrant pending decision of the Court (section 8 4 12 13 (2), Child Welfare Act, 1925) Breach of supervision order (section 30, Child Welfare Amendment Act, 1927) Totals 377 219 596 Note —Of the number (509) actually committed to the care of the Superintendent, 88 (74 boys and 14 girls) had previously been dealt with by the Courts and placed under supervision. Of the temporary admissions, 20 (12 bovs and 8 girls) were subsequently dealt with by the Courts and placed under supervision. _ The records show that 177, or 2-698 per cent., of the children admitted were known to be illegitimate.

E.—4.

Table 7.—Committals and Admissions according to Religious Beliefs.

Table 8.—Children discharged from the Care of the Superintendent during the Year ended 31st March, 1940.

Table 9.—Institutions for Backward Children: Numbers at 31st March, 1940.

Fuller particulars of these institutions are given in E.-4 for 1939. INFANT-LIFE PROTECTION. The Branch administers Part V of the Infants Act, 1908, relating to the licensing of homes and supervision of infants under six years placed therein apart from their parents. By section 34 of the Statutes Amendment Act, 1939, the maximum age under which a child is eligible for adoption was raised from fifteen to twenty-one years, thus bringing New Zealand legislation into line in this respect with that of Great Britain. Stipendiary Magistrates require a report from a Child Welfare Officer to be filed with each adoption application. For the year ended 31st December, 1939, there was a total of 518 adoptions. Of these, 43 were wards of the State, and in 9 cases premiums were approved by the Courts. One adoption was revoked during the year. Of the total number of children adopted, 109 were under the age of six months, 82 between six months and one year, 166 from one year to five years, 96 from five years to 10 years, 63 from 10 years to fifteen years, and 2 over fifteen years. On the Ist November, 1939, the Domestic Proceedings Act enacted that year came into effect*' This Department is concerned with this Act not only for the reason that Child Welfare Officers are called on to act as conciliators —they were appointed as such in thirty-three cases up to the 31st March last —but also on account of its connection directly and indirectly with the work of the Branch. In addition, the Courts in dealing with matrimonial disputes frequently obtain reports from the local Child Welfare Officers on matters relevant to the custody and welfare of the children of the parties. Reports were obtained in thirty-one cases during last year. The Social Security Department, too, was supplied with special reports on ninety-eight families during the same period, and relevant information has also been given to the Housing Department. T At the end of the year 624 infants were supervised in 572 licensed foster-homes. Of these homes, 527 had one child each, 39 had two children each, 5 had three children each, and 1 had four children. Payments for maintenance, which were made by relatives, ranged from 4s. to £3 3s. per week for each child.

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.2 . t»> "3 -s 1 J . 1 •§ I 1 ! a ■§ § d j • "§ I 5 I §° 1 o | £ § J | | £ |l o '» | s ! i; fa" ! 3 <1 P3 £ Sm P5 FQ ffl S P3 6 m P H Number .. .. 285 105 99 40 22 13 8 6 5 2 1 1 9 596 Percentage .. .. 47-8217-6216-61 6-713-692-181-341-010-840-330-170-170-51100-00

Boys. Girls. Total. Discharged (section 23, Child Welfare Act, 1925) .. 264 100 364 Attained the age of twenty-one years .... 13 22 35 Adopted .. .. .. .. .. 23 20 43 Returned to relatives .. .. .. .. 48 18 66 Married .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 21 21 Totals .. .. .. .. 348 181 529 The average age at discharge was seventeen years two months.

(Special School for Boys, Otelcaike, and Special School for Girls, Richmond.) Otekaike Richmond rn . (Boys). (Girls). iotal - In residence .. .. .. .. .. 168 68 236 On vacation .. .. .. .. .. 1 1 2 Day pupils .. .. .. .. .. .. 1 1 At day service .. .. .. .. .. .. 4 4 In hospitals, &c. .. .. .. .. .. 32 6 38 Totals .. .. .. .. 201 80 281

E.—4.

Table 10.—Particulars of Children admitted to and removed from Licensed Foster-homes during Year ended 31st December, 1939.

CHILDREN IN RESIDENCE IN CHILDREN'S HOMES REGISTERED UNDER PART I, CHILD WELFARE AMENDMENT ACT, 1927. The following information supplied by the authorities gives particulars of the admissions to such Homes (Private Institutions) during the year

Table 11.

iiiii;; > ; : — —— Of the admissions the following particulars were given regarding those who had lost one or both parents: 191 were orphans, 300 had only mother living, and 667 had only father living. The controlling authorities of the various homes (a list of which appeared in E.-4 for last year) have been of great assistance during the year, and their co-operation in the work of the Branch is much appreciated by the Department. BLIND CHILDREN. The only institution in New Zealand making provision for blind children and adults is the New Zealand Institute for the Blind at Auckland, a private institution. The education of blind children is made compulsory by section 127 of the Education Act, 1914, and while many parents arrange directly with the Institute for the admission of their children, the Department, where necessary, accepts resDonsibility, pays the Institute £25 per annum for each pupil it nominates, and obtains a refund trom the parents of such amount (if any) as they can contribute. There were twenty Government pupils in residence at the 31st March.

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! ji ° -2 d „ Under 6 "g £ § | 1 £ I® i 8 11 v™™® Totals - — Months. g* $$ !►. ££ Years. CD 3 H (M ffO On books at 31st December, 1938 .. 62 65 127 96 101 101 88 ■ >•> 69o Placed in foster-homes or transferred 236 88 86 60 33 30 from other districts during 1939 — 77" Totals .. ..298 153 213 156 134 131 107 55 1,247 Removed from homes during 1939— By parents or guardians .. 30 34 48 42 35 32 14 JO 245 Adopted without premium .. 63 53 31 22 17 8 3 2 199 In homes to which exemption was 4 9 6 3 1 granted „ o i 99 Brought under operation of Child 7 4 6 1 Welfare Act 8 8 3 2 4 96 129 For various other reasons o o o o o Total withdrawals .. 77 56 45 23 108 623 On books at 31st December, 1939 .. 54 65 111 108 77 83 96 30 624

g I In the Homes at 31st „ | Admissions during 1939. Deaths during 1939. December, 1939. o o . _ — t-i — * ~~ Hi • • Denomination. "> A Js | S <o ■ »! ® £2 HI & ® § T! 1 "3 m 1| || 1£ si II || |1 |§ J * s,® || i< *•= 21 i» Ss si ss £w ss ;i I* °* I Q I 1 J — - . ,. 9n OQ 17 97 ]86 323 1 1 2 8 116 505 631 Catholic :: 5 66 S 1» 422 696 1.3 2 6 28 19 172 712 931 Salvation Army .. 14 195 .. 71 117 383 2 2 ° 54 413 467 Presbyterian .. 17 . . • ■ 38 104 i4 m m Methodist .. 4 1 i 1 2 14 16 Plymouth Brethren 1 .. 1 2 ■■ g Ba P tist • • • • I ■■ • • 1 « 8 ■; ;; ;; ;; ; 2 20 22 Undenominational 14 11 '9 335 638 993 .. .. • ■ 6 2 60 197 265 Totals .. 85 295 46 751 1,521 2,613 4 .. 3 2 9 86 29 508 2,350 p, 973

E.—4.

ILLEGITIMATE CHILDREN. Under section 41 of the Child Welfare Act, 1925, Registrars of Births notify nominated Child Welfare Officers of all illegitimate births, and the latter, in pursuance of their statutory duty, make confidential inquiries with a view to ensuring that suitable provision is made for the infants and that the mothers are assisted to obtain suitable employment or to initiate affiliation proceedings. SCHOOL FOR THE DEAF, SUMNER. Hie administration of this institution the only residential institution for deaf children in New Zealand—is, under an arrangement with the Director of Education, entrusted to the Child Welfare Branch, but the Director and officers of the Inspectorate visit the institution regularly. Normal children of both sexes between the ages of five and seven years are admitted as pupils and remain until they complete their education. Ever since the institution opened in 1880 the instruction has been on the pure oral principle. At the 31st March, 1940, there were eighty-nine children (fifty-two boys and thirty-seven girls) resident at the school, while a further fourteen children (eleven boys and three girls) were attending as day pupils. Details relating to the School may be obtained from E.-4 for 1939. THE EDWARD COSTLEY TRUST, AUCKLAND. The Trustees continued their policy, initiated many years ago, of helping deserving children (other than wards of the State) taking post-primary and higher education courses by grants for textbooks, fees, &c., besides giving financial assistance in apprenticeship and other cases. A total of fifty-one children were assisted during the year. EXPENDITURE. The following tables give some figures relating to the expenditure on child welfare, &c., during the year ended 31st March, 1940: —

Table 12. —Expenditure on the Education of Backward Children.

Table 13. —Expenditure on School foe the Deaf, Sumner, for Period ended 31st March, 1940. £ £ Salaries .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 7,080 Advertising, &c. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 26 Maintenance of pupils and sundry expenses .. .. .. .. ..2,312 Travelling-expenses .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 716 Maintenance of buildings, furnishings, &c. .. .. .. .. 3,890 14,024 Less — Parental contributions and amounts received from Hospital Boards .. .. 1,807 Board of staff .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 559 Miscellaneous .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 4 2,370 £11,654 The net expenditure for year ended 31st March, 1939, was £9,425.

2—E. 4.

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Item. Otekaike. Richmond. Total. £ £ £ Salaries'.. .. .. .. .. .. 10,758 3,537 14,295 Advertising, &o. .. .. .. .. .. 4 2 6 Maintenance of buildings .. .. .. .. 3,349 874 4,223 Maintenance of institutions .. .. .. 6,985 2,845 9,830 28,354 Travelling-expenses .. .. .. .. .. .. 638 Postage and telegrams .. .. . . .. . . .. 138 Less— 29,130 ~ Board of staff .. .. .. .. 1,442 417 >. j 1,859 Recoveries (parental contributions and revenue from farm, sale of articles manufactured, &c.) .. 1,549 3408 25,722

4.

Table 14.—Child Welfare. £ Net expenditure on upkeep of child-welfare institutions .. .. •• •• 22,714 Salaries of staffs of Homes and Child Welfare Officers .. .. .. •• 42,952 Boarding-out of children— £ Payments to foster-parents .. .. .. • ■ • ■ • • 82,171 Payments to Post and Telegraph Department as commission .. .. .. 695 Issues of clothing, &c.— £ From institutions .. .. .. . • ■ ■ .. 1,919 From central and branch stores .. .. . • • • 758 2,677 Medicine, medical attendance, dentistry, clothing, &c. .. .. 5,520 91,063 Inmates at service— Issues of clothing, &c.— From institutions .. .. .. • • • • .. 1,325 From central and branch stores .. . . .. ■ • 541 1,866 Miscellaneous payments (clothing, medicine, &c.) .. .. .. 5,549 7,415 Refund of maintenance payments . . .. . . • • • • • ■ • • 321 Refund of inmates' earnings .. . . .. . . • • • • • • • • 413 Rent, office requisites, postage, &c. .. .. .. • • • • • • .. 5,756 Maintenance of inmates in private institutions .. .. .. ... •• •• 6,037 Travelling and removal expenses (including transit of children) . . . . .. • • 8,551 Wages of inmates .. .. .. ■ • • • • • • • • • • • 518 Legal expenses .. . . .. • ■ • ■ • • • • • • • • 56 Sundry expenses .. .. .. ■ ■ • • • • • • • • • ■ 59 185,855 Less recoveries— £ Board of staff and others .. .. . . • • ■ ■ 2, 960 Parents and others .. .. • • • • • • • • 1?,518 Sale of farm-produce .. .. ■ • • • • • • • 1 > 509 Inmates' earnings for clothing, &c. .. .. .. • • • • 6,018 Miscellaneous .. .. .. • • • • • • • ■ 1 > 238 29,243 £156,612

Approximate Cost of Paper.—Preparation, not given : printing (960 copies), £17 10s.

Authority: E. Y. Paul, Government Printer, Wellington. —1940.

Price 6d.]

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