E.—4

26

Deaths in Foster-homes and Exempted Institutions. Of the 1,423 infants who were at one time on the books as being in foster-homes during 1926, one died in a foster-home. This infant was under twelve months of age and was of illegitimate birth. 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 : —

Table 16.

Table 17.—Adoptions during the Year, 1926. During the year 361 orders of adoption were made ; 26 of the adoption orders provided for premiums, and 335 were without monetary consideration. The following table shows the ages of the adopted children : —

The amount of the premiums ranged from £20 to £130.

Foster-homes. Exempted Institutions. Year. Number of Number of Percentage of Number of Number of Percentage of Deaths. Infants. Deaths. Deaths. Infants. Deaths. 1908 .. .. 26 1,017 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 3-9] 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 .. .. 10 1,243 0-80 16 887 1-08 1923 .. .. 6 1,243 0-48 20 1,076 1-86 1924 .. .. 5 1,213 0-41 21 1,175 1-78 1925 .. .. 5 1,301 0-38 12 1,638 0-73 1926 .. .. 1 1,423 0-07 18 3,196 0-56

Age of Child. J With Premium. Premium Totals. Under 6 months .. . . . . . . 11 ! 47 58 Between 6 months and 1 year . . . . . . 6 34 40 „ 1 year and 2 years . . . . .. 4 ! 57 61 2 „ 3 „ .. .. 2 46 48 3 „ 4 „ .. .. 1 24 25 4 „ 5 „ . .... 1 25 26 5 „ 6 „ .. . .. .. 22 22 „ 6 „ 7 „ .. .. 1 19 20 7 „ 8 „ .. .. .. 7 7 „ 8 „ 9 „ .. .. .. 7 7 „ 9 „ 10 „ . . .. . . . . j 7 7 „ 10 „ 11 „ .. .. .. 8 8 „ 11 „ 12 „ .. .. .. 9 9 „ 12 „ 13 „ .. 7 7 „ 13 „ 14 „ .. 5 5 „ 14 „ 15 „ .. .. .. 11 11 Totals .. .. .. .. 26 335 361 The adopting parents were — Husband and wife jointly . . .. . . . . . . .. 327 Widow .. .. .. .. . . . . . . 16 Widower .. .. .. .. .. .. . . . . 3 Spinster .. .. .. . . . . .. . . . . 4 Bachelor (including one divorcee) . . . . .. . . . . 4 Wife only .. .. .. .. .. .. . . . . 5 Husband only .. .. .. .. .. . . . . 2 361