E.—4.

said with regard to the probable existence e>f a considerable amount of evasion of the Act, the point will be of interest. The following table shows the statistics according to the several province! dis t mis :—

The District Agent at Auckland, writing with regard to the small proportion of illegitimate children appearing in foster-homes, expresses the opinion that the tact " is very little likely to bear the favourable construction which it would appear to bear to the uninitiated."' The District Agent at Dunedin says. " I cannot too strongly recommend the supervision of all illegitimate children, as. in my opinion, such children at home with parents or friends are more m need of looking after than those in foster-homes, the foster-parent knowing that at any moment she may be visited." During the year I 19 registrations were effected under the- Legitimation Act. E. 0. Gebbes, Secretary for Education.

Fmcation Department.—Infant-i.ikk Peotbction. DIRECTIONS TO FOSTER-PARENTS. (The license should be kept in this book.) I. FoeTEB-PABSNTS arc urged in their own interests to make themselves thoroughly familiar with the A< t. the regulations, and these directions. The District Agents will be pleased to give all necessary information to foster-parents. 2. If any child under six years of age is received for the purpose of being maintained for paymeni or reward apart from its parents, I he person who takes care of I be child must apply to the Dist ric! hi once, for a license unless she has the written authority o\ the Minister oi Education to maintain it without a license. 3. The license remains in force until it is cancelled. I. No greater number of infante than the license allows may lie maintained in the home at any one time for payment or reward, and any condition entered on the license as to t he ages of the children hi Iμ' maintained must lie strict Iv complied with. ■ 5. Whenever a licensed foster-parent receives a child into her home she must at once give notice to the District Agent, using the form headed " Particulars of an Infant received into a Foster-home." (i. The record-book and account-hook must be carefully and accurately kept. 7. In every ease an agreement, approved by the Secretary for Ed million, for the maintenance of the infant in the foster-home must lie entered into between the foster parent and the person who places i he infani with her. It is most important for the foster-parent to have this agreement signed and coin pleted before she i<ihi-.< charge of ihe child. The agreement should state clearly whether the foeter-pareni or the person who places the child with her is to provide necessary clothing. 8. If the agreement provides for a foeter-pareni to receive one or more lump sums to cover the cost of maintaining a child, instead of smaller payments at short intervals, these lump sums must mi no account he kept by the juste,-parent, but must be paid over by her to the District Agent, and regular monthly payments may lie made to the foster-parent from this sum. 0. If ai any time payment is not made by the parents or friends of the infant as agreed upon,the fo3ter-parent should at once make application for payment to the person who made the agreement with her, and the District Agent should lie informed immediately. 10. Any officer appointed under the Act may at any time enter and inspect a foster-home and the infante maintained in it. and refer to the record-book. lie or she may lie accompanied bj .i medical practitioner, and may remove any infant without any notice whatever if it appeals necessary to do so. Such an officer must not be hindered or obstructed in the performance of his or her duties. No one except a Government officer, a. lady Local Visitor, or some one who holds authority from the Education Department or the District Agent, is authorised to visit, enter, or inspect a foster-home or examine the foslei parent's books,

41

ProvineiarJDistricts. Illegitimate Births registered during inns. gitimate register! og 1908. •eel Number of Children aged I- Month; or less brought under the Act during 1908. Auckland .. Tar inakij . . Hawke's Bay Wellington Marlborough Nelson Westland .. Canterbury 286 10 60 311 II 29 11 192 172 63 5 20 116 1 4 89 45 ' Itaeci Totals 1,106 343