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Appendix Note on Extent and Nature of Changes in Tabulation of Information Concerning Children Appearing Before Children's Courts The following changes will be made in the preparation of Children's Court figures from the next report onwards (1) Appearances will not be counted until decisions have been reached by the Courts. This will eliminate the item " adjourned " from Table 3. The effect on the total figures should not be important, as the number of cases adjourned from one statistical year to the next is relatively constant. (2) Appearances will not be counted unless the Court finds the charge proved or upholds the complaint. Thus cases which are " dismissed " or " withdrawn " will be ignored, and these items eliminated from Table 3. The effect of this change will be to reduce the total figures somewhat. In 1948-49 the number of such cases was 63. (3) The classification of offences and complaints will be amended with a view to giving a clearer indication of the nature of offences committed, and reducing the size of the item " Miscellaneous." (4) As part of this reclassification it is intended to classify appearances according to the offences which caused them, and not necessarily according to the complaint or charge before the Court. Thus, if a child commits theft, but for some reason is brought before the Court on a complaint that he is " a delinquent child " or is " not under proper control," the appearance will be counted under the item " theft " and not under the legal complaint. The effect of this change will be to reduce considerably the number of children listed as " delinquent " or " not under proper control " and increase the number of those included under specific offences. In general it may be assumed that those children counted under " not under proper control " have not committed any specific offence against the law, while those classed as " delinquent " may be assumed to be guilty of a series of minor offences no one of which is sufficiently important or serious to justify a specific charge. Figures for Court appearances during 1948-49, drawn up in accordance with the changes listed above, are given below to enable comparisons to be made between figures published in future years and those for this year. Table 2 (New Form) —Children''s Court Appearances, 1948-49 (Classified according to offences committed, or complaints laid) Complaints under the Child Welfare Act and Amendments— Indigent .. .. .. .... .. .. .. 92 Neglected .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 33 Living in a detrimental environment .. .. .. . ■ .. 84 Not under proper control .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 183 Delinquent .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 26 Failing to comply with the terms of a supervision order .. .. .. 12 Sub-total .. . . .. .. .. .. .. .. —430 Offences against property — Theft .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 671 Breaking, entering, and theft .. .. .. .. • • ..133 Other similar offences (receiving, shoplifting, &c.) .. .. .. . - 18 Conversion of motor-vehicles .. . . . . .. •. 40 Other conversions .. .. .. ' . . .. . . - • 43 Arson .. .. ... .. . . .. .. .. .. 3 Mischief .. .. .. .. .. . . .. .. 58 Wilful damage- .. .. .. .. . . .. .. 49 Stonethrowing (e.g., at insulators) .. .. .. •. - - 29 Other offences against property (e.g., unlawfully on premises) .. .. .. 9 Sub-total .. . . .. .. .. .. .. .. 1,053 Offences involving fraud (e.g., forgery, false pretences) .. .. .. .. 28 Offences against persons— Sex offences— Indecent assault on a female • . . .. .. . ■ . 40 Indecent assault on a male .. .. . . . . . ■ ■. 3 Other .. .. .. .. . . .. .. 19 Other than sex offences (e.g., assault, abusive language) .. .. Sub-total .. .. .. .. .. . • ■ ■ . . 91 Offences against decency (e.g., indecent exposure) .. .. .. .. .. 14 Disorderly conduct (e.g., drunkenness, idle and disorderly) .. .. .. .. 13

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