£—4.

1 butcher, 1 printer and bookbinder, 1 monumental mason, 1 sheet-metal worker, 1 wireworker, 1 glass-beveller, 1 motor-car painter, 1 range-maker, 1 nurseryman, 1 typewriter mechanic, and 1 bricklayer. Boys otherwise employed (not apprenticed) totalled 161, as follows : 33 labourers, 30 factory hands, 30 shop-assistants, 15 telegraph messengers, 13 clerks, 4 message-boys, 3 seamen, 3 orchardists, 2 fishermen, 2 butchers, 2 drivers, 2 H.M. Navy, 2 waiters, 2 electrical engineers, 2 schoolteachers, 2 porters, 2 motor mechanics, 1 baker, 1 motor-panneller, 1 electrician, 1 saddler, 1 tailor, 1 plasterer, 1 circus hand, 1 woodworker, 1 painter, 1 window-dresser, 1 civil engineer, and 1 railway fireman. Nature of Employment at 31st March, 1926, of Girls having left School. There were 288 domestics, 37 factory employees, 8 apprentices (4 dressmakers, 3 tailoresses, and 1 bookbinder), and 9 in other employment, as follows : 3 shop-assistants, 2 typists, 2 waitresses, 1 clerk, and 1 bookbinder. This gives a total of 342 girls in employment. Preventive Work. The following table shows the number of preventive cases notified by officers in the various districts during the year ended 31st March, 1926 : —- Number of Number of Dlatnot ' Families. Children. North Auckland .. .. .. .. 3 18 Auckland .. ~ ~. .. 23 33 South Auckland .. .. .. .. 15 30 Wanganui .... .. .. .. .. 1 1 Hawke's Bay .. .. .. .. .. 10 20 Palmerston North .. .. .. .. .. 9 13 Wellington ~ ~ .. .. .. 19 23 Nelson .. .. .. .. ..34 37 West Coast . . . . .. . . . . 7 15 Canterbury .. .. .. .. .. 42 79 South Canterbury .. .. .. .. 3 3 Otago .. .. ~ .. .. 21 33 Southland .. .. .. ~ .. 34 93 Totals .. .. .. .. 221 398 Admissions classified according to Age at Admission. The following table shows the new admissions according to age : — Boys. Girls. Total.' Under six months .. .•• .. .. 23 19 42 Over six months and under one year .. .. 9 9 18 One year to five years .. .. .. 55 45 100 Five years to ten years .. .» .. 55 45 100 Ten years to fourteen years .. .. .. 84 25 109 Over fourteen years .. .. .. 40 31 71 Totals .. .. .. ..266 174 440 Table I 4 attached to this report shows the new admissions classified according to the causes of admission. Of the total number (440), 160 were destitute, 202 not under proper control, and 72 had been charged with punishable offences. Of the children admitted under these headings all except 83 were placed out in foster-homes before the 31st March. The following figures show (1) the number of children of drunken parents, and (2) the number of children of feeble-minded parents Admission of Children on account of the Drinking Habits of one or both Parents. Drunken mother .. .. .. .. .. 4 Drunken father .. .. .. .. .. .. 26 Both parents drunkards .. .. .. .. 5 35 Admission of Children on account of the Mental Deficiency of one or both Parents. Mentally deficient mother .. .. .. .. 20 Mentally deficient father .. .. .. .. ~ Both parents defective mentally .. .. .. .. 1 21 For purposes of comparison three tables have been prepared showing—(l) Children admitted on account of destitution ; (2) children found to be not under proper control, or reported as uncontrollable by the parents ; and (3) children charged with offences against the law. In each case the

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