EDUCATION: CHILD WELFARE, STATE CARE OF CHILDREN, SPECIAL SCHOOLS, AND INFANT-LIFE PROTECTION [In continuation of E.-4, 1942]

Appendix to the Journals of the House of Representatives, 1943 Session I, E-04

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1943 NEW ZEALAND.

EDUCATION: CHILD WELFARE, STATE CARE OF CHILDREN, SPECIAL SCHOOLS, AND INFANT-LIFE PROTECTION [In continuation of E.-4, 1942]

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

21st June, 1943. Sir, — In presenting my report on the work of the Child Welfare Branch for the year ended 31st March, 1943, I would again refer those interested to E.-4, 1939, for fuller' information respecting the functions of the Branch and other details. Staffing.—Although we lost the services of several officers through war service and retirement, an endeavour is being made to carry on by the appointment of temporary officers. It is recognized that it is more than ever important that there should be no slackening in the supervision of the young ones placed in our care or in our efforts to meet the growing needs for a little extra supervision and care of children during these abnormal times. Government Institutions.—Our child welfare institutions were kept fairly full during the year, and at the 3.lst March, 1943, there, were 250 children in residence. At the home at Christchurch for the training of older girls a junior section to provide for better classification of the inmates is in process of erection. The health of the inmates on the whole, was very good. Placement in Foster-homes.—lncreasing difficulty is being experienced in finding a sufficiency of suitable homes to take and care for State children. At the 31st March there were 2,034 so placed, and I take this opportunity of expressing grateful thanks to all those foster-parents who, for years past in many cases, have given homes to our State wards. The policy of foster-care of children which has been in operation in New Zealand for some sixty years has proved an undoubted success. It is proposed to renew our efforts to find special foster-homes for the placement of some of the difficult children in lieu of placing them in institutions. Education.—At the 31st March last 245 State wards were receiving post-primary education. Of these, 85 were taking technical courses, 9 commercial, 2 home science, and 13 Maori children were attending Maori colleges. The remainder were taking professional and other courses. I wish to thank the principals and teachers of schools .for their active interest in our children who attended their schools. Placement in Employment.—At the 31st March there were 1,315 children placed in employment. There were 447 in farm situations, 242 in factories, 134 in shops and offices, 228 in domestic work, and the remaining children were placed in some thirty different occupations. Of the total number, 63 are apprenticed, and 331 were receiving some assistance (board, clothing, fees, books, &c.) from the Department in the early stages of their employment. When the time comes for placing out, care is taken in choosing the right kind of employment and the right kind of employer to meet the needs of the individual child. The services of Vocational Guidance Officers are frequently utilized in this connection. Discharges.—During the year 538 children were discharged from control. The average age at discharge was seventeen years eight months. Each child is discharged as soon as. he reaches a stage where he can fend for himself and assistance from the Department is no longer regarded as essential. Honorary Child Welfare Officers. —The Branch is fortunate in having the services, of honorary Child Welfare Officers, both men and women, numbering about 200. These officers assist with child welfare work generally, and when required attend the Courts in the interests of children. The success which has attended our efforts during the year has: been due in no small degree to the gratuitous services given by these officers, for which I express grateful appreciation. Committals and Admissions>—The total number of new admissions during the year was 745, as against 674 the previous year. It will be noted in Table 4 that there was an increase in the number of children admitted to homes on warrant or placed under supervision and ordered to remain in residence for a period.

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Adoptions.—The number of orders of adoption made by Magistrates during the year was 685, this being 80 in excess of last year's total, which at the time was a record for any one year. The ages of the children adopted varied from a few days to just under twenty-one years, though the great majority were in the group from infants up to five years of age. Registered Children's Homes.—One additional home was registered during the year, making a total of 82, and these are subject to inspection by departmental officers. Some of the institution authorities who had building or improvement programmes in hand have of necessity been required to hold them over at present. Returns submitted by these homes show the number of children in residence at the 31st December, 1942, as 2,789, compared with 2,970 the previous year. With respect to parentage, it was reported that in. the case of 213 children both parents were dead, in the case of 257 the father was dead, and in the case of 561 the mother was dead. Infant-life Protection.—The number of homes registered under the Infants Act at the 31st December last was 607, and the number of children placed therein was 665. The foster-homes were visited regularly by the Child Welfare Officers to ensure that the health and general welfare of the infants were adequately safeguarded. In 16 cases a Child Welfare Officer was appointed as conciliator under the Domestic Proceedings Act, 1939. Reports by Child Welfare Officers were also asked for in 51 cases by Magistrates and Judges where the custody of the children was concerned in Court proceedings. Maori Children.—The. policy of dealing with these children in their own homes or localities, as far as practicable, is being continued with success. In many cases good results are obtained by placing the children in another district in selected homes with suitable safeguards regarding supervision. Some of the honorary Child Welfare Officers, including members of the Maori race, have given valuable help in the placement and care of such children. A proposal for the establishment of a home for the training of the more difficult type of Maori girl is at present under consideration. Edward Costley Trust, Auckland. —The number of children, including State wards, who were helped by the trustees with educational courses, apprenticeships, &c., during the year was 62. In deciding cases the trustees require a report from the Auckland District Child Welfare Officer. The help which is given from year to year by this trust has been a very great benefit to large numbers of young children. From reports furnished to the_ trustees it must be gratifying to them to know that the children concerned appreciated what had been done and made the best use of the assistance granted. Illegitimate Births— Inquiries were made by Child Welfare Officers during the year in the case of 1,198 illegitimate births which were notified to them confidentially by Registrars. It is satisfactory to report that in most instances the mother or other relatives were able to make satisfactory arrangements for the care of the infant. The Child Welfare Officers were in many cases able to arrange for assistance to be given or to help the mother with affiliation proceedings. From information supplied by the RegistrarGeneral the numbers of illegitimate births during the past, four years respectively (exclusive of Maoris) are 1,133, 1,284, 1,281, and 1,359 for 1942. Special Residential Schools.—Schools for the Deaf: Owing to war conditions, these schools continue to function at Auckland and Christchurch. The total roll number when the schools closed for the vacation in December, 1942, was 110, and when they reopened in February the number was 126. The health of the children at both places was, on the whole, very good during the year, and although the present accommodation is hardly as satisfactory as one could wish, still the teachers are doing a good job of work and the children are progressing satisfactorily. Schools for Backward Children: At Otekaike School for backward boys there were 126 inmates in residence at the 31st March, and at Richmond School for backward girls there were 57 in residence at. the 31st March. These institutions provide for those children who for various reasons cannot be catered for at special classes. Handwork is an important feature in the curriculum, and at each school provision is made for continued training to fit those who are retained beyond the ordinary school period to take their place in the community in some suitable occupation. New Zealand Institute for the Blind: This institute, situated at Auckland, is administered by a board of trustees, on which the Government is represented. Certain children not admitted by private arrangement are admitted as Government pupils. There were at the 31st March 18 such pupils in residence. Conferences of Child Welfare Officers.—During the year conferences of Child Welfare Officers and others connected with welfare work were held at Dunedin, Christchurch, and Wellington. It is proposed to hold the remaining one at Auckland in the near future. The principal subjects discussed were the amending of general regulations, co-ordination of services, improved methods in placement of children, records and case histories, leisuretime activities, and preventive work in all its phases. At one session _ of each conference, district representatives of other Government seivices concerned, including the teaching profession and the Health Department, the managers ol private institutions, and representatives of private organizations, were invited. At these sessions the chief aims were to let outside organizations know what the Depailment was doing, to ascertain what the private organizations were contemplating to meet current problems, and to invite suggestions for better co-ordination of child welfare work. It is felt that as the result of these conferences there is a better understanding by all concerned of the problems involved and that foundations were laid for fuller co-operation in the future. Preventive Work.—The work of the Branch during the year tended to increase so far as its preventive work is concerned. The total number of children supervised under

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preventive supervision at the end of the year was 1,978. The visiting and inquiry work of Welfare Officers has been rendered difficult on account of necessary restrictions upon means of transport; further, owing to the absence of a number of parents on military duties and the consequent slackening of home control, there has been necessity for increased inquiries and visits by officers to homes in the interests of children and young people, who are inclined to become unsettled under war conditions. I consider that it is in the sphere of preventive work that our best energies should be directed. Through the co-ordinated efforts of the nursing and medical profession, the churches, the teachers and welfare workers, and the parents every effort should be made to direct the children's lives in accordance with socially accepted standards and to prevent them from appearing before Courts for offences. While the Children's Courts must form a most important part of our child welfare system, still 1 am of the opinion that our work should be centred more around the preventive side of the work. From my experience I feel that many well-intentioned parents do not adopt right attitudes towards their children, and this is a predisposing- cause of child delinquency. Some parents neglect their children to the extent that decisive action becomes imperative by the authorities. In a number of these cases continued contact by the Welfare Officers often proves effective. On the other hand, it has been found that many parents welcome and adopt sympathetic suggestions and advice regarding the training of their children, and an increasing number are applying to our officers for guidance and help. In the course of its preventive work where inquiries were made regarding living-conditions, the Department was enabled in a number of cases to arrange for assistance to be given and thus preserve the family unit. In cases presenting unusual difficulties, the assistance of the clinics attached to the University colleges and the services of psychiatrists of the Mental Hospitals Department are availed of. Children s ( out ts and I)clin cfuc7icy. —Table 2 appended shows that for the year ended 31st March, there was an increase of 135 in the total number of children appearing before the Courts 3,071, as against 2,936 the previous year. This total includes children brought up on all counts, including indigency and other complaints not necessarily casting any reflection on the conduct of the child. There was not unexpectedly an increase (102) in the number of children dealt with as not under proper control. All' • those who were required to answer specific charges for offences are grouped together, and it will be noted that, compared with last year, there was an increase of only 25 in this group. At, times a child may have a dozen charges preferred against him at'the one sitting of the Court, but it has never been the practice of the Department to account for these separate charges. Also, there are times when a child coming before the Court as "not under proper control " may have committed some offence. Then, again, many minor cases—mischief, &c.—are quite properly dealt with by the police and Child Welfare Officers without recourse to the Court; this has always been the practice. After allowing for all these factors, our method of recording each year gives a fair indication of the incidence of juvenile delinquency as a whole. Of the 2,446 children appearing before Courts for offences, 364 had appeared at some time previously for offences. New Zealand has adopted what is regarded by many overseas authorities as too high a standard in assessing recidivism, since it sets no time-limit for the intervening period since the committal' of the first offence. The figures should be read in the light of this rather stringent condition. The number of children appearing before the Courts on all counts is 4-6 per cent, above the number for last year, and this is the first increase since the beginning of the war. The increase in the number of children answering charges for offences, however, is only 1 per cent., and even if we allow a margin for offences in those eases where children were dealt with by_ the Courts as " not under proper control," the increase for the year is still only approximately 3 per cent. In view of the present conditions, this increase is not suipiising; but no one connected with child welfare can be satisfied with any rise however small, and all social agencies—State, churches, and private— must increase -their efforts for our young people m these difficult times. In dealing with the children the continue to use freely the provision to place children for a period under the legal supervision of Child Welfare Officers. The results obtained in this direction are very ■satisfactory. British, Children* At the 31st March the total number of boys and girls evacuated from vreat Britain to this Dominion and under my legal supervision was 204. With one or two exceptions, these had then been residing here about two and a half years seventy-seven of them were attending primary, and 82 post-primary schools, while 45 had left school. Of those who had left school, 1 boy and 1 girl are attending University t,me ; y £ irls and 1 boy are attending teachers' training colleges; 4 boys and 1 girl were appointed to positions in the Public Service; 6 boys are farming; 2 boys are apprenticed and others placed with that object in view; and the remainder are engaged in. various occupations in shops, offices, &c. -Thirteen of the children who are working are still attending night classes at technical schools. The health of the children has been very good. In a. few cases where the children "met with accidents or required minor operations the patients responded readily to treatment. The children are eager to help with the war effort, and the majority of the older boys are connected with the national services in one form or another (Air Training Corps, Emergency Precautions Scheme, or Home b-uard). tor various causes it was necessary to arrange for the transfer of children during the year to new homes. The reason for the majority of the changes was the illness of the foster-parent or some other cause not reflecting upon either the foster-parent or the child. The reports received on all the children indicate very satisfactory progress at school or at work Ihey keep m close touch with their parents, and in this, as in other matters they have the fullest assistance from their foster-parents in New Zealand. rp, Tv . „ ~, . „ T „. J- R- McClune, Superintendent. The Director of Education, Wellington.

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Table 1. —Number of Children under Control and Supervision The total number of children under the supervision of the Child Welfare Branch as at the 31st March,. 1943, was 8,747, classified under the following headings, the corresponding number for the previous year (ended 31st March, 1942) being also given

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

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11)41-42. 1942-43. 1941-42. 1942-43.. State wards Other than State wards— In foster-homes, hostels, and with friends 2,563 2,641 Young persons supervised by Child Wei- 1,123 1,301 In situations (includes 20 absent without 1,106 1,103 fare Officers in tlieir own homes, with leave at 31st March, 1942, and 21 at relatives or with friends, pursuant to 31st March, 1943) Orders of Courts In Government institutions, receiving- 231 223 Infants supervised in foster-homes regis- 6oo homes &c. tered under the Infants Act In private institutions .. . • 127 98 Pupils at the School for the Deaf, 110 126 In Roman Catholic institutions recognized 98 95 Sumner under the Child Welfare Act Pupils at schools for mentally backward 52 4o In special schools for mentally backward 131 138 (Otekaike and Richmond) (see also children (see also pupils under " Other under " State wards ") than State wards") Children supervised as preventive eases 1,960 1,978 In refuges or cognate institutions .. 36 59 Children in New Zealand Institute for the 19 18 In hospitals, convalescent homes, &c. .. 26 36 Blind, for whom the Department makes In residential colleges . • • • 12 15 payment — o j Ot/X 4 j loo 4,330 4,410 Total .. •• •• 8,221 8,543 British children in New Zealand .. 203 204

(Classified according to complaints or charges laid) 1940-41. 1941-42. 1042-43. . v Complaints under the Child Welfare Act— Indigent •• •• 208 141 159 Not under proper control . . .. .. • • ■ • I 75 212 314 Living in a detrimental environment .. .. • • 97 83 106 Neglected .. .. 30 79 46 510 515 625 Offences— " Offences against morality .. .. .. .. •• 9 25 11 Offences against the person .. .. .. • • 81 30 63 Other offences — ,„_ (a) Theft 1.121 1,037 1,127 (6) Conversion of motor-vehicles .. .. .. • • 133 87 01 (c) Other conversions .. .. .. . ■ \ 507 / 83 8.) (d) Miscellaneous, chiefly mischief .. .. f \ 396 Delinquent .. 66 207 246. Breaches of Court supervision orders .. .. • • 10 19 20 Breaches of special Acts or regulations— Railways .. .. ..... .. .. 40 33 10 Fire brigades .. .. .. •• •• •• 4 i2 12 Acclimatization.. .. .. .. •• •• 9 ° * Licensing .. .. .. . • • • • • 23 2 ... Arms . *3 34 34 Post and Telegraph .. .. .. •• •• 08 81 86 Shipping .. . • • • • ■ • • • • • • * J Traffic— (a) Regulations .. .. .. •■ \ 173 62. 4 ' (6) Cycle .. .. . • / V <S1) Motor-vehicles .. .. .. .. •• ■■ 55 H City or borough by-laws — (a) Other than cycling .. .. . • \ 82 215 -f no ((') Cycle / 1 f Emergency War Regulations .. .. .. ■• •• •• J " 2,424 2,421 2,446 Total .. .. •• •• ■• •• 2,934 2,936 3,071

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Table 3.—Comparative Statement showing the Action taken in respect of Children who appeared before Children's Courts

Table 4.—Children placed under Supervision of Child Welfare Officers by Courts during Years ended 31st March, 1942 and 1943

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1940-41. 1941-42.. 1942-43. Committed to the care of Superintendent .. .. .. .. 548 564 596 Placed under supervision .. • .. .. .. .. 862 | 867 991 Supervision extended .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 23 32 *26 Supervision with residence .. .. .. .. .. .. 7 14 29 Informal supervision .. .. .. .. .. .. 1 Admonished and discharged .. .. .. .. .. .. 798 582 665 Admonished, discharged, and ordered to make restitution .. .. 198 242 264 Admonished and ordered to pay costs .. .. .. .. .. 31 20 17 Admonished and fined .. .. .. .. .. .. 10 36 45 Adjourned .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 43 91 90 Adjourned sine die .. .. .. .. .. ,. 24 29 18 Dismissed .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 70 47 59 Committed to Borstal .. .. ,. .. .. .. 40 36 42 Convicted and fined .. .. .. .. .. .. ,, 4 3 7 Convicted and discharged .. .. .. .. .. ., 5 1 1 Convicted and ordered to come up for sentence .. .. .. 1 .. 1 Returned to the care of the Superintendent .. .. .. .. 60 68 42 Withdrawn .. . . .. .. .. .. .. .. 11 23 15 Ordered to come up for sentence .. .. .. .. .. 16 6 5 Probation .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 13 10 21 Referred to the Magistrates' Court .. .. .. .. .. 1 4 1 Pined .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 85 65 66 • Ordered to pay costs .. .. License cancelled .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 1 2 1 Remanded .. .. .. .. .. .. .. ,, 6 By-law cases— Admonished and discharged .. .. ,. .. .. .. 34 105 26 Admonished and ordered to pay costs .. .. .. .. .. .. 4 Convicted and fined and ordered to pay costs or convicted and ordered to .. 2 pay costs Fined and ordered to pay costs or ordered to pay costs .. .. 41 77 39 Dismissed .. .. .. .. .. .. ,. . . J 6 Adjourned .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 3 Convicted and discharged .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 1 Total .. .. .. .. .. .. 2,934 2,936 3,071

(Classified according to reasons for appearance) Boys. Girls. Totals. 1941-42. 1942-43. 1941-42. 1942-43. 1941-42. 1942-43. Charged with an offence .. .. .. 596 616 53 80 649 696 Delinquent .. .. .. .. 136 132 19 32 155 164 Not under proper control .. .. .. 40 96 27 47 67 143 In detrimental environment .... 1 8 8 11 9 19 Indigent .. .. .. .. 4 .. .. 1 4 ] Neglected ........ 10 3 10 6 20 9 Total .. .. .. .. 787 855 117 177 904 1,032 Note.—Table regarding Court records shows 991 placed under supervision. The difference is accounted for by the number of adjourned cases from the previous year being dealt with during 1942-43.

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Table 5.—Causes of Committal and Admission, 1942-43

Approximate Cost of Paper.—Preparation, not given ; printing (873 copies), £14 10b.

By Authority: E. V. Paul, Government Printer, Wellington.—l 943.

Price 6d»\

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Boys. Girls. Totals. 1941-42. 1942-43. 1941-42. 1942-43. 1941-42. 1942-43. Indict 79 «» W 139 159 Not under proper control .. • • 68 78 65 77 133 155 Delinquent .. .. .. • • 33 31 4 16 37 47 Charged with an offence .. .. .. 122 109 13 19 135 128 Livfitg fii a detri'Weftfeal envirtjnttient .. 31 24 30 37 61 61 Neglected . . . . .. .. 22 17 27 17 49 34 Breach of supervision order .... 1 5 9 5 10 10 Supervision with residence .... 11 14 3 15 14 29 367 370 211 253 578 623 Temporary admission .. .. .. 11 14 7 16 18 30 Adiimft'ed under flection 12, Child Welfare 11 6 .. 7 11 13 Act, 1925 Admitted on warrant .. .. .. 23 30 24 39 47 69 Admitted under Section 127 of Education Act 8 8 12 2 20 10 53 58 43 64 96 122 420 428 254 317 6'74 745 Note. —Of the total in 1942-43 172, or 23 per cent., were illegitimate.