21

E.—4

Deaths in Foster-homes and Exempted Institutions. Of the 1,213 infants who were at one time or another on the books as being in foster-homes during 192-1, 5 died in hospitals to which they had been removed for treatment. Three of the five were under twelve months of age, and three were of illegitimate birth. As shown in the table above relating to exempted institutions, there were 21 deaths in 1924. The following is a statement of the number of deaths during the time that the infant-life-protection system has been in the Department's charge :—

Adoptions during the Year 1924. During the year 320 orders of adoption were made ; 32 of the adoption orders provided for premiums, and 288 were without monetary consideration. One order rescinding a previous adoption was also made during the year. The following shows the ages of the adopted children : —■

Foster-homes. Exempted Institutions. Year. I I Number of I Number of Percentage of Number of j Number of Percentage of Deaths, j Infants. Death*. Deaths, j Infants. Deaths. I I " i " ~ j j j j 1908 .. .. 26 J .017 2-56 .. No records 1909 .. .. 25 1,181 2-11 .. 1910 .. .. 26 1,183 | 2-19 •• 1911 .. .. 13 1,183 ! 1-09 47 899 5-23 1912 .. .. 12 1,228 0-98 .36 911 3-95 1913 .. .. 13 1,330 0-98 18 984 1-82 1914 .. .. 20 1,423 1-40 37 944 3-91 1915 .. .. 14 1,440 0-98 11 1,026 1-08 1916 .. .. 17 1,250 1-36 9 939 0-96 1917 .. .. 12 1.361 0-88 15 1.136 1-32 1918 .. .. 6 1,341 0-44 15 955 1-57 1919 .. .. 10 1,403 0-71 13 1,050 : 1-24 1920 .. .. 14 1.306 1-07 19 1,002 1-89 1921 .. .. 6 1,318 0-47 17 1,118 1-52 1922 .. .. JO 1,243 0-80 16 887 1-08 1923 .. .. 6 1,243 0-48 20 1,076 1-86 1924 .. .. 5 1,213 i 0-41 21 1,175 1-78 I I I

Age. With Premium. Premium. Total ' Under 6 months .. .. .. .. .. 15 59 74 Between 6 months ancl 12 months .. .. .. 5 23 28 1 year and 2 years .. .. .. 4 41 45 2 " „ 3 „ .. .. .. 4 33 37 3 „ 4 „ .. .. .. 2 34 36 4 „ 5 „ 1 24 25 5 „ 6 „ .. .. .. .. 14 14 6 „ 7 „ .. 14 14 7 „ 8 „ .. .. .. .. 11 11 8 „ 9 „ .. .. .. .. 7 7 9 „ 10 „ .. .. .. .. 4 4 „ 10 „ 11 „ .. .. .. .. 3 3 „ 11 „ 12 „ 1 8 9 12 ,, 13 .. .. .. .. 2 2 „ 13 „ 14 „ .. .. .. .. 5 5 „ 14 „ 15 „ .. .. .. .. 6 6 32 288 320 The adopting parents were —- Husband and wife jointly .. .. . . .. .. .. 296 Widow .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 12 Widower .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 1 Spinster.. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 4 Bachelor .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 2 Wife only .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 4 Husband only .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 1 320 The amount of the premiums ranged from £10 to £150.