E.—4.

No. I.—EXTRACT FROM THE SIXTY-SECOND ANNUAL REPORT OF THE MINISTER OF EDUCATION. CHILD WELFARE. Number of Children under Supervision. The total number of children under the supervision of the Child Welfare Branch as at the 31st March, 1939, was 7,797, classified under the following headings : — State wards — In foster-homes, hostels, and with friends .. .. .. .. 2,628 In situations (includes 21 absent without leave) .. .. .. .. 864 In Government institutions, receiving-homes, &c. .. .. .. .. 259 In private institutions .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 170 In special schools for backward children . . .. .. .. .. 236 In hospitals, convalescent homes, &c. .. .. .. .. .. 125 In School for Deaf, Sumner .. .. .. .. .. .. 4 4,286 Other than State wards — Young persons supervised by Child Welfare Officers in their own homes, with relatives, or with friends, pursuant to orders of Courts .. .. .. 973 Infants supervised in foster-homes registered under the Infants Act .. .. 695 Pupils at School for Deaf, Sumner (other than State wards (4) included in figures above) .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 99 Pupils at schools for mentally backward—Otekaike and Richmond (other than State wards (236) included in figures above) .. .. .. .. 32 Children supervised as preventive cases .. .. .. .. ..1,691 Children in New Zealand Institute for Blind for whom the Department makes payment .. .. .. .. .. . . .. .. 21 Total .. .. 7,797 The total number of children that came under the control of the Branch during the year was 595. Of these, 501 were committed to the care of the Superintendent by Children's Courts. They can be classified according to reasons for committal as follows ; Indigent, 153 ; delinquent, 33 ; living in a detrimental environment, 61 ; neglected, 58 ; not under proper control, 107 ; accused of punishable offences, 87 ; and breach of supervision order, 2. The remaining 94 children came into the custody of the Superintendent for the following reasons (a) Taken charge of by private agreement (section 12, Child Welfare Act, 1925), 6: (b) Taken charge of temporarily, 73 : (c) Placed under supervision, and ordered by the Courts to be detained in an institution for a period, 6: (d) At the time of this report held on warrant, pending the decision of Children's Courts (section 13 (2), Child Welfare Act, 1925), 9. If the 595 children are classified according to their ages at the time custody was assumed there are found to be 82 under six months ; 23 over six months and under one year ; 82 from one to five years ; 90 from five to ten years ; 132 from ten to fourteen years ; and 186 over fourteen years. Of the 501 children committed to the care of the Superintendent 84 had previously come before the Courts for other offences, for which they had received terms of supervision. The length of period in residence for children temporarily taken charge of was from one day to ten weeks. A number of these were held on remand from Children's Courts. At the 31st March 207 of the children in foster-homes were receiving postprimary education and one boy was attending a University college, 48 were taking a professional course, 68 technical, 59 commercial, 3 agricultural, and 10 home science, while 19 Maori children were attending Maori colleges. In addition, 15 boys residing at a hostel at Auckland were receiving post-primary education, and 18 children were boarded at private secondary schools.

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