E.— 1

16

In connection with the foregoing table it should be borne in mind that there are really only two residential institutions in our child-welfare system —the Boys' Training-farm, Weraroa, for boys, and a section of the Special School for Girls, Caversham. 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 op maintaining Inmates in Institutions established under the Child Welfare Act, for Year ended 31st March, 1927. £ s. d. Gross cost of maintaining inmates .. .. .. .. 126,339 17 6 Less excess of liabilities at 31st March, 1926, over those of 31st March, 1927 56 18 10 126,282 18 8 Less .—■ £s. d. Direct expenditure on service inmates .. .. .. 2,419 18 3 Issues from institutions and stores .. .. .. .. 3,145 2 3 Salaries of Child Welfare Officers, Infant-life Protection Agents, and proportion of Managers and office staffs of institutions 11,035 510 Travelling-expenses of Child Welfare Officers, Infant-life Protection Agents, &c. (estimated at two-thirds of expenditure, £7,706 14s. 3d.) .. .. 5,137 16 2 Refund of inmates' earnings Rent, office requisites, &c. (two - thirds of expenditure, £2,075 13s. 3s:) .. .. .. .. .. 1,383 15 6 Law-costs .. .. .. .. .. ■ • 49 19 3 23,171 17 3 Gross cost of inmates a charge on the State .. .. £103, 111 1 5 Number of inmates maintained (including inmates in residence at Government Schools, boarded out, hospitals, convalescent homes, &c.) .. .. 2,869 Average cost per week per inmate — £ s. d. Gross .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 0 13 10 Recoveries .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 0 3 8| Net .. .. .. .. .. .. .. £0 10 1| The net cost to the State of maintaining children under the child-welfare system is therefore 10s. l|d. per head per week.

. M i Number of Children Name of School. actually passing through. _ _ Girls' Receiving-home, Auckland .. .. .. 17-23 ! 169 Boys'Receiving-home, Auckland.. .. .. .. 18-85 J 150 Girls' Receiving-home, Hamilton .. .. .. j 10-37 226 Girls' Receiving-home, Wanganui .. .. .. j 10-38 173 Girls' Receiving-home, Napier .. .. .. .. I 7-43 |84 Children's Home, Miramar, Wellington .. .. ... 21-77 193 Boys' Receiving-home, Wellington .. . . .. ! 12-47 118 Girls' Receiving-home, Christchurch .. .. .. j 20-72 314 Boys' Receiving-home, Christchurch .. .. .. j 13-34 164 Boys' Receiving-home, Dunedin .. .. .. .. j 9-6 78 1,669 I