E.—4

PRIVATE ORGANIZATIONS. A list showing the institutions registered as children's homes under the provisions of the Child Welfare Amendment Act, 1927, is appended to this report. These, in conjunction with other private organizations, continue their beneficent work among orphans and dependent children. COSTLEY TRUST. Under the will of the late Edward Costley, of Auckland, a sum of money was set aside to assist in apprenticing State wards in the Auckland District. Later the terms of the will were varied by legislation to include assistance towards the education or training for employment of any child recommended by Child Welfare Officers in Auckland. Although the funds are comparatively small, it is a most beneficent trust in that the funds are made available by the controlling authorities to assist approximately 60 children annually either to enter a profession, learn a trade, or receive assistance towards secondary or technical education. Some are helped for short periods, some longer, according to the needs of the cases. By this means the trust funds, comparatively speaking, benefit a very large number of children. CASES APPEARING BEFORE THE CHILDREN'S COURTS. The number of children dealt with by the Children's Courts during the year was 2,982, and of these 697 were placed under the supervision of Child Welfare Officers, while 26 had their supervision period extended. .Of the children placed under supervision, 41 were subsequently committed to the care of the Superintendent. The number committed to the care of the Superintendent and admitted to institutions such as receiving-homes, special schools, training-farms, &c., was 503, but all of these, with the exception of 133 (89 boys and 44 girls) who required further training, were suitably placed out in the community before the close of the year. The remainder (1,756) appearing before the Courts were dealt with in a manner not calling for supervision by a Child Welfare Officer (see details below). At the 31st March, 1938, there was a total number of 910 children under the supervision of Child Welfare Officers by order of the Courts. Of the number (697) placed under supervision this year, 58 had previously been dealt with by the Courts and placed under supervision. The Courts ordered 9 children to spend a period in an institution. The following is a comparative statement of the number of children that appeared before Children's Courts, and the action taken : —

Table 2.

Note—Convictions comprise cases that came before the Courts for offences arising out of breaches of Traffic Regulations, by-laws, &c.

6

1936- 1937-1 1936- 193737. 38. | 37. 38, Committed to the care of the Superintendent 432 503 Convicted and ordered to be returned to .. 1 Placed under supervision .. .. 636 674 training-farm Admonished and discharged .. .. 600 761 Informal supervision . . .. . . 4 Admonished and ordered to make restitution 278 268 Convicted and fined with costs .. . . 1 Adjourned • • ■ • • • 56 45 Prohibited from obtaining driving license for 1 Dismissed .. .. • • 52 68 a period Supervision extended .. .. 37 26 Dismissed with costs . . . . . . 1 • • Committed to Borstal .. .. •• 30 17 Convicted and discharged and driving license .. 1 Convicted and fined 29 4 endorsed Returned to the care of the Superintendent 22 40 Admonished and discharged and stolen Adjourned sine die 19 23 property returned Admonished with costs . . .. . . 16 9 Admonished and discharged and restitution . . 24 Withdrawn .. .. 10 21 made Admonished and fined .. •• 9 18 Fined.. .. •" " ' „ '' . Convicted and ordered to come up for 8 6 Agreement enforced (section 13 (3), Child . . I sentence Welfare Amendment Act, 1927) Ordered to come up for sentence . . .. .. 14 Admonished and returned to parents Supervision with residence .. .. 4 9 Remanded to Supreme Court .. . . .. 1 Probation • • • • • • 4 3 By-law cases— Admonished and driving license cancelled .. 4 1 Admonished and discharged . . .. 147 169 Convicted and discharged .. .. 3 4 Convicted and fined and/or costs .. 130 lb Discharged 3 6 Pined and/or costs 135 Convicted and costs 3 5 Dismissed 18 4 Ordered to pay costs 2 Admonished and costs .. .. 11 22 Referred to Magistrates'Court .. .. 2 1 Convicted and discharged .. .. o 2 Convicted and driving license cancelled . . 1 .. Admonished and fined . . . . * 10 Convicted and fined and driving license can- 1 I Withdrawn . . celled Placed under supervision .. . . 1 Convicted and discharged and ordered to 1 2 Discharged . . .. make restitution Referred to Magistrates Court .. . . 1 Driving license endorsed . . 1 9 kqa 9 o»9 Acquitted . • • 1 • • Totals 2 > 584 2 ' 982 Admonished and discharged and driving 1 license cancelled