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Receiving Homes. —These homes, providing for young children of both sexes and for older girls, have been in existence for many years at Auckland, Wellington, Christchurch, Dunedin, Hamilton, and Napier. They serve as clearing houses for these districts and neighbouring areas by providing temporary accommodation for children pending their placement in or transfer to foster-homes or situations. Except where a need for some training is indicated, a child, as a rule, does not remain in a home for a lengthy period. Boys' Homes. —At each of the four main centres the Department has boys' homes which provide generally for boys of school age who attend the ordinary schools in the community. Boys may be kept there for a few months' training. At times, when making an order for supervision by a Child Welfare Officer, a Magistrate may stipulate that part of the period to be spent in one of these homes. Boys who do not adjust themselves to placement in private foster-homes are also admitted to the homes for a period. Provision is made for a Housemaster to assist in the training of the boys and in particular to organize their out-of-school activities. Hostels.—ln Auckland the Department has a hostel for boys under its control who are working in the city. At the 31st March there were 16 boys in, residence. This is the maximum number that can be accommodated at present, but arrangements have been completed for building extensions providing for additional accommodation and improved facilities. A Housemaster is attached to the staff. A similar hostel exists in Wellington for girls in employment and for those requiring temporary accommodation while on transit from one district to another. There were 16 girls in residence at the 31st March ; 26 were admitted during the year, and 26 girls left. Temporary accommodation was provided for 54 girls during the year. The Matron's report indicates that a full programme of recreational activities has been carried out and that the girls have shown a keen interest in play readings and in hobbies such as sewing, knitting, fancywork, and other handcrafts. Several girls are attending dressmaking classes at the technical college. Health and conduct have been very satisfactory and the general tone of the hostel has been excellent. Girls' Training Centre, Burwood, Christchurch.—This is a residential institution to which are admitted older girls who through failure to adjust themselves to life in the community require a more or less lengthy period of institutional training. The number of girls in residence at the 31st March was 64. It is the usual practice for a girl to be tried out in a private foster-home or in a receiving home before being admitted to the Training Centre, but it is sometimes necessary to send older girls direct from the Courts. The average period of training is approximately two years, and it is the practice, wherever possible, to try girls out at day service first before giving them the opportunity of taking a position in a private home in the ordinary .way. A hostel to accommodate staff and the day-service girls at the centre is nearing completion. It is hoped that this more suitable accommodation for these girls will make easier the transition from institution to the community. A comprehensive recreational and educational programme of activities is provided for all the -girls at the centre, and we are indebted to many interested private persons for their generous assistance in carrying it out. This includes instruction in physical education, handwork, music and drama, dancing, organized games, singing, and first aid. . Day-school instruction is provided at the institution for pupils of primary-school standard, and facilities are offered more advanced pupils to take secondary-school courses by correspondence under the supervision of a Housemistress. An increasing number of girls request the opportunity of taking a secondary-school course. The centre is visited regularly by the school Inspectors. The following are extracts taken from the Principal's report: — The girls have continued to be instructed in cooking, laundrywork, sewing, cutting and fitting of coats and frocks, gardening, and general housecraft. A drama class has been held and plays and tableaux produced. For these the girls, with the assistance of the staff, made period dresses and stage sets manufactured from old black-out screens and wallpaper.

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