E.—4.

No. I.—EXTRACT FROM THE SIXTY-THIRD 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, 1940, was 8,043, classified under the following headings State wards — _ In foster-homes, hostels, and with friends .. .. • ■ • • ' | In situations (includes 29 absent without leave) .. .. • • • • 931 In Government institutions, receiving-homes, &c. .. .. • • • • 238 In private institutions .. .. . • • • • • ■ • • • In special schools for backward children .. .. • • • • • • In hospitals, convalescent homes, &c. .. . • • • • • • • In School for Deaf, Sumner 4,320 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 .. .. 1,041 Infants supervised in foster-homes registered under the Infants Act .. .. 623 Pupils at School for Deaf, Sumner (other than State wards (3) included in figures above) .. .. • • • • _ • ■ , ■ ■ • • • • Pupils at schools for mentally backward: Otekaike and Richmond (other than State wards (207) included in figures above) . . . . • • ■ • 33 Children supervised as preventive cases .. .. • • • • • • 1 > 906 Children in New Zealand Institute for Blind for whom the Department makes payment .. .. • • • • • • • • • ■ • • Total 8 ' 043 The total number of children that came under the control of the Branch during the year was 596. Of these, 509 were committed to the care of the Superintendent by Children's Courts. They can be classified according to reasons for committal as follows : Indigent, 147 ; delinquent, 36 ; living in a detrimental environment, 62; neglected, 27 ; not under proper control, 139 ; accused of punishable offences, 96 ; and breach of supervision order, 2. The remaining 87 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), 18 : (b) Taken charge of temporarily, 52 : (c) Placed under supervision, and ordered by the Courts to be detained in an institution for a period, 5 : (d) At the time of this report held on warrant, pending the decision of Children's Courts (section 13 (2), Child Welfare Act, 1925), 12. If the 596 children are classified according to their ages at the time custody was assumed there are found to be 78 under six months, 13 over six months and under one year, 77 from one to five years, 106 from five to ten years, 134 from ten to fourteen years, and 188 over fourteen years. Of the 509 committed to the care of the Superintendent, 88 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 forty-two weeks. A number of these were held on remand from Children's Courts. At the 31st March, 228 of the children in foster-homes were receiving postprimary education and one boy was attending a training college, 55 were taking a professional course, 84 technical, 54 commercial, 3 agricultural, and 15 home science, while 17 Maori children were attending Maori colleges. j *

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