11

E.—4

In connection with the foregoing table it should be borne in mind that there are really only two residential institutions in our industrial-schools system —the Boys' Training-farm, Weraroa, for boys, and a section of the Caversham Industrial School for girls. The receiving-homes and probation homes are regarded as clearing-houses, where children are admitted for short periods for observation and treatment, if necessary, prior to being placed in ordinary homes in the community or in situations. These homes are also utilized— (1.) For housing children who for various reasons are changing from one home or situation to another, or who are sent in from country districts for medical or dental treatment, &c.; (2.) For children and young persons passing through from other centres or districts ; and (3.) For girls and young women in situations who spend their weekly half-holiday and occasional week-end days with the Matron of the home. The average number of children in residence at these homes is comparatively small, but an approximation of the work of the homes is given in the following return : —

Average Cost of maintaining Industrial-school Inmates for Year ending 31st March, 1925. £ s. d. Gross cost of maintaining industrial-school inmates .. .. .. .. 113,266 16 0 Less excess of liabilities, 31st March, 1924, over those of 31st March, 1925 .. 3,510 16 11 109,755 19 1 Less. £s. d. Direct expenditure on service inmates .. .. .. 1, 185 4 6 Issues from institutions and stores .. .. .. .. 4,988 4 3 Salaries of Probation Officers, Infant-life Protection Agents, Caversham Factory, aud proportion of Managers and office staffs of institutions .. .. .. .. .. .. 10,338 10 2 Travelling-expenses of Probation Officers, infant-life Protection Agents, &c. (estimated at two-thirds of expenditure, £5,981 14s. Bd.) .. .. .. .. .. 3,987 16 5 Refund of inmates' earnings .. .. .. .. 74128 Rent, office requisites, &c. (two-thirds of expenditure, £2,115 lis. Id.) 1,410 7 5 Law-costs .. .. .. .. .. . • 57 8 10 — — 22,042 4 3 Gross cost of inmates a charge on the State .. .. £87,713 14 10 Number of inmates maintained (including inmates in residence at Government Schools, boarded out, hospitals, convalescent homes, &c.) .. 2,151 Average cost per week per inmate — £ s. d. Gross .. .. .. .. .. ■. • • .. 015 8 Recoveries .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 0 411 Net .. .. .. .. .. .. .. £0 10 9 The net cost to the State of maintaining children under the industrial-schools system is therefore 10s. 9d. per head per week.

a at u Number of Children Name of School. Aver f e .^ umber m actually Residence. passill g through. Auckland Receiving-home .. .. .. .. 14-83 186 Auckland Probation Home .. .. .. .. 15-74 184 Hamilton Receiving-home .. .. .. .. 8-34 230 Wanganui Receiving-home .. .. .. .. 10-13 68 Napier Receiving-home .. .. .. .. .. 7-87 64 Wellington Receiving-home .. .. .. .. 11-28 258 Wellington Probation Home . . .. .. 12-79 293 Christchurch Receiving-home .. .. .. .. 18-18 295 Christchurch Probation Home .. .. .. .. 13-40 167 Dunedin Probation Home .. .. .. .. 11-16 283 2,028