E.—4.

1931. NEW ZEALAND.

EDUCATION: CHILD WELFARE, STATE CARE OF CHILDREN, SPECIAL SCHOOLS, AND INFANT-LIFE PROTECTION. [In continuation of E.-4, 1930.]

Presented to both Houses of the General Assembly by Command of His Excellency.

No. I.—EXTEACT FROM THE FIFTY-FOURTH ANNUAL REPORT OF THE MINISTER OF EDUCATION. CHILD WELFARE. Number op Children under Supervision. The total number of children under supervision of the Child Welfare Branch as at 31st March, 1931, was 7,255, classed under the following headings :— State wards— In foster-homes, hostels, and with friends .. .. .. 3 099 In situations .. .. . . .. ~ _ qqq In Government institutions, receiving-homes, &c. .. .. .. 290 In private institutions .. .... .. 214 Inmates in special schools for the mentally backward . 269 In hospitals, convalescent homes, &c. .. .. .. ~ 40 4,902 Young persons supervised in their own homes by Child Welfare Officers, by Order of Court .. .. . . .. .. _ _ 952 Infants supervised, in foster-homes registered under the Infants Act . . 1,280 Pupils at School for the Deaf, Sumner (eight of these being State wards) . . ' 121 7,255 The number of children committed to the care of the Superintendent during the year ended 31st March, 1931, was 603, classified according to reason for committal as follows: Indigent, 266; delinquent, 27; detrimental environments, 84; not under proper control, 116 ; accused or guilty of punishable offence, 87 ; neglected, 23; and, in addition, 28 were admitted by private arrangement (section 12, Child Welfare Act), while 75 were temporarily admitted, making the total number of admissions for the year, 706. Of the children committed, 58 had been dealt with previously by the Courts for other offences for which they had received terms of supervision. Classified according to the age at the time of admission, the numbers, including those admitted under section 12, Child Welfare Act, are as follows : Under six months, 68 ; over six months and under one year, 28 ; from one to five years, 118 ; from five to ten years, 123 ; from ten to fourteen years, 133 ; over fourteen years' 161. The children temporarily admitted (75) ranged in ages between four days and twenty years. The length of period of residence for these children was from one day to seven weeks. Of the children in foster-homes, 220 are over the age of fourteen years, of whom 138 are still attending primary schools, and 82 are receiving higher education. In addition, there are 16 residing in hostels and receiving secondary education. Furthermore, 23 children under the age of fourteen years are receiving higher education.

I—E. 4.