24

R—4.

age of twenty-one years. An order for a further period of control for four years was made in each case. Thus a beginning has been made by the Government of this young Dominion of New Zealand towards checking the multiplication of the unfit. In the future all those children who by reason of their mental incapacity are unable to control their own lives, and are also incapable of contributing to future human progress, or are even 'incapable of standing the stress and strain of present-day conditions, will be carefully trained to become useful members of a colony where it is possible to brighten their lives, and render them more or less efficient workers, and so make it possible for them to offer a contribution of service in return for their guardianship and maintenance. The fundamental point in this scheme is prevention. We can feel justly proud in this young country that the Legislature has taken this bold step of ensuring the detention of all those feebleminded children whose liberty would be a menace to the well-being of the race. I have, &c, The Inspector-General of Schools, Wellington. Georcse Benstead, Principal.

APPENDIX.

Particulars of Deaths in Foster-Homes during 1911.

Particulars of Deaths in Exempted Institutions during 1911.

Locality. Date. Sex.; Age at Death. Birth. Time in Foster-home. j Foster- Under home. Control. Cause of Death. Remarks. Christohurch 1911. Feb. 2 Mar. 6 A! M Y. M. 0 2i 0 7 Illegitimate Y. M. D. 0 0 13 0 18 y. m. d. 0 0 13 0 6 8 Gastro-enteric toxaemia Broi chitis and heartfa lure Mara-mus .. Br mchitis and pneumonia Z\motic diarrhoea Pneumouia Inquest. * Wellington Curistchurch April 20 21 M F 0 1| 1 5 0 10 0 11 0 0 1 0 0 11 0 No inquest. Auckland Wanganui Onehunga Ctiristohurch Dunedin .. Gisbnrne Christohurch Duaedin .. 28 May 8 June 11 12 26 27 Aug. 5 Oct. 2 M M M M Jl F V M 1 0J 1 H 0 9| 0 2| 0 1J 0 1 0 1J 0 1| 0 11 28 1 3 26 0 6 13 0 1 10 0 14 0 0 21 0 0 22 0 0 23 0 11 28 1 3 26 0 6 13 0 1 10 0 14 0 0 21 0 0 22 0 0 23 Acute bronchitis Natural causes Bronchitis .. General wasting; marasmus Meningitis .. Inquest. No inquest. Inquest. No inquest. Invercargill Dec. 28 F 6 0 5 7 28 5 7 28

Date of I s Death. ! 8<HC ' I Age at Death. I Birth. Time in Institution.! • Cause of Death. Inquest or not. St. Mary's Home, Otahuhu. 1911. Y. M. D. Y. M. D. April 26 .. M. 0 8 16 Illegitimate | 0 2 26 | Gastro-enteritis; collapse .. | No inquest. St. Vincent de Paul's\ Foundling Home, Auckland. Feb 2 .. M. 0 5 0 Illegitimate 0 3 14 Acute enteritis Sept. 20 .. M. 0 5 0 Legitimate 0 0 10 [ Gastro-colitis; broncho-pneumonia .. Oct.' 7 .'. F. 0 3 0: Illegitimate 030 Marasmus: enteritis Oct! 31 .. M. 0 10 0 Legitimate 0 3 0: Pneumonia; heart-failure.. Nov. 20 .. i M. i 0 2 21 Illegitimate 0 2 14 Marasmus .. j No inquest. • • I »i " Door of Hope," Auckland. May 27 F. I 0 0 25 Illegitimate 0 0 25 Premature birth; atelectasis pulmonum June 6 !! M. i 0 3 0 „ 0 3 0 Enlarged thymus gland .. _ .. Oct. 8 .. i P. | 0 7 0 Legitimate 10 0 1. Otitis media; cerebral thrombosis .. No inquest. Inquest. ■ • t »»