E.—4

2

Reforms and Improvements effected. The reforms and improvements in the system carried out during the year may be summarized as follows :— (1.) Purchase of properties in Auckland and Christchurch for the purpose of receiving-homes for children. (2.) Establishment of boys' probation homes at Wellington and Auckland. (3.) Closing of the Burnham Industrial School in accordance with reorganization scheme. (4.) Preliminary work in connection with the closing of the Boys' Trainingfarm, Nelson, as an institution for the detention, of boys of school a § e \ (5.) Establishment of cottage home on the Weraroa Estate for the reception of boys under fourteen years, and appointment of teacher as housemaster in charge of cottage. (6.) Providing at the Caversham Industrial School for the detention and training of elder girls, and also for the housing of children and young girls in a cottage home entirely separated from the main institution. (7.) Extension of scheme for the development of the farming operations in connection with the Boys' Training-farms at Weraroa and Nelson. (8.) Establishment of central office in Auckland, and provision also in Dunedin, for carrying out on improved and more economical lines the official work connected with industrial schools and receivinghomes, infant-life protection, and juvenile probation work. (9.) Appointment of Assistant Probation Officers (male) for Auckland, Wellington, and Timaru, thereby increasing the efficiency of the supervision over all juveniles on probation and of all boys placed out in situations from industrial schools and training-farms. (10.) Extension, of the boarding-out system to the Wanganui and Hawke's Bay districts involving the appointment of lady Boarding-out Officers, one at Wanganui and the other at Napier. (11.) Better supervision of children boarded out in foster-homes by providing for a second lady visiting officer. (12.) Appointment of Lady Inspector of Children's Welfare with the object of (a) co-ordinating the efforts of the numerous social agencies dealing with children and of preventing overlapping as far as possible ; (b) providing for the efficient supervision of all dependent children under fourteen years of age who are maintained apart from their parents or guardians either in private institutions or in foster-homes ; (c) inspecting orphanages and similar institutions for children. (13.) Separation of the work' connected with the supervision of infants and foster-homes licensed under the provisions of the Infants Act from the supervision of children committed by the Courts under the provisions of the Industrial Schools Act. Separate officers have been appointed as District Agents in each of the four centres for the purposes of Part Vof the Infants Act. The four officers appointed have all been selected on account of their experience and special knowledge of the feeding and care of infants. (14.) Initial preparation for the establishment of special day classes in each of the large centres for deaf or hard-of-hearing children, and for mentally backward children who are incapable of receivingefficient instruction in an ordinary public school. Uncontrollable and Delinquent Children and, Juvenile Offenders. The policy of the Department is now in the direction of supervising young delinquents and uncontrollable children in their own homes, provided that the conditions are favourable and that the conduct and characteristics of the children are not considered of such, a nature as should debar their attendance at a public school. To provide for children who, while requiring stricter disciplinary treatment