E.—l

34

influence over him, and thus direct his life into a proper course. Such a system as this is in operation in other countries, and it is claimed that many children who would otherwise have to be removed from the parental guardianship and placed in institutions, are encouraged, by this means, to do well; further, the natural tie between parent and child is maintained, and expense to the State is substantially reduced. This important matter is now engaging the earnest attention of the Government. Children under State Guardianship. (See also E.-4, Special Schools Report.) The number under the control of industrial schools at the end of 1911 was 2,617, an increase of 163 during the year. Of this total, 868 were resident in the institutions, 246 being in the private (Roman Catholic) industrial schools, 856 were boarded out with foster-parents, and 893 were earning their living in situations, placed with friends on probation, &c. The numbers of children on the books at the end of the years 1910 and 1911 respectively whose maintenance was a charge against the public funds were as follows : — 1910. 1911. Boarded out from Government schools .. .. .. 792 855 Boarded out from private schools .. .. .. .. 2 1 Number resident at schools .. .. .. .. .. 805 868 At other institutions .. .. .. .. .. 30 37 Total .. .. .. .. .. 1 : 629 1,761 1910. 1911. £ s. d. £ s. d. The amount of parental contributions was .. 5,575 8 6 6,969 6 6 Eate per head for children maintained .. 3 8 5 3 19 1 Details respecting the number of children on the books of industrial schools at the end of the year are given in Table 15 of E.-4. The net expenditure on account of industrial schools during the year showed a decrease of £1,217 os. 4d. as compared with the preceding year. The following statement gives particulars : — 1910. 1911. £ s. d. £ s. d. Cost of maintenance of schools.. .. .. 17,960 8 2 23,630 3 0 Boarding out (exclusive of cost of administration, inspection, &c.) .. .. .. .. 13,962 16 5 14,844 15 2 Salaries .. .. .. .. .. 8,816 2 2 10,466 19 1 New buildings and works, and purchase of property 10,330 6 2 3,082 2 9 Salaries, travelling-allowances, and expenses of certain departmental officers (Inspectors, visiting officers, &c.) .. .. .. .. 1,458 19 4 1.396 3 3 Sundry payments .. .. .. .. 107 711 108 14 2 Gross total .. .. .. .. .. 52,636 0 2 53,528 17 5 Eecoveries .. .. .. .. .. 15,701 5 2 17,811 2 9 . „ Net cost .. .. .. .. .. £36,934 15 0* £35,717 14 8* (* Including for 1910 £3.225. and for 1911 £1,660, paid from National Endowment revenue.) Further details of the expenditure on industrial schools during the year are contained in Tables II and 12 of E.--4. Payments by Charitable Aid Boards for mainten- 1910. 1911. ance of children who came into Government schools owing to indigence (included in the total sum recovered) .. .. .. £9,336 19 6 £10,681 5 4 Number of children at the end of the year belonging to Government schools who were so paid for .. 678 713 Number maintained at the expense of Charitable Aid Boards at private industrial schools .. 98 106 The amount paid by the Charitable Aid Boards on account of children sent to the private industrial schools as indigent is not stated Here, as the managers of these schools make their claims upon the Boards without reference to the Education Department,