35

E.—l

At the end of the year the amount in the Post Office Savings-bank held in trust Jn the names of inmates and former inmates of industrial schools was £29,769 10s. 9d., the Government schools accounts having £26,228 18s. lid. to credit, and the private (Eoman Catholic) schools £3,540 11s. 10d. The total sums withdrawn from these "accounts during the year were £2,753 9s. sd. and £433 Is. respectively. These moneys represent the earnings of boys and girls in situations away from the schools, or of those in residence under training, whose services are worth more than the cost of their maintenance. According to law it is at the discretion of the Minister of Education whether payment (with interest) is eventually made to these young people or not. In practice they do receive payment where there is evidence that the applicant's record after the control of the school has ceased has been good, and that he has a proper investment for the money. In exercise of his discretion the Minister may order forfeiture of the money where a former inmate proves his unworthiness to receive it. In such a case the amount is credited to the Public Account. The following figures are taken from Tables 12 and 13 of the Appendix to 8.-4 : — £ s. d. Government expenditure on private industrial schools . . 1,036 0 0 Government expenditure on special cases at other institutions . . 87 0 0 Infant-life Protection. (See also E.-4 Report of Secretary for Education.) At the end of the year the number of foster-homes licensed under the Infants Act was 738, and the number of children maintained in them for the whole or part of the year was 1,183, of whom 454 were under one year old. The total number of deaths was 13, equal to I*o9 per cent. The report of the Secretary for Education gives detailed information as regards the various phases of the work. The expenditure for the year, amounting to £1,156 3s. Id., is accounted for as follows : — £ s. d. Salaries of Visiting Nurses and local representatives . . . . .. 791 15 1 Travelling-expenses of District Agents, Visiting Nurses, and local representatives .. .. .. .. .. .. •. 224 6 7 Payments to foster-parents for board of infants . . .. .. 92 5 3 Medical attendance . . . . . . .. . . .. 9 10 Office expenses (including rent) and sundries .. . . .. 67 7 8 Less recoveries . . .. .. .. . . • 28 12 6 School for the Deaf. Number of pupils who returned to the school in February, 1911, after the summer vacation .. .. .. .. • • • • • • .. 91 Number admitted during the school year .. .. .. .. 11 Number who left during or at the end of the school year .. .. .. 5 Number remaining on the roll after the close of the school year .. .. 97 The cost of the school for the years 1910 and 1911 respectively was as follows :— 1910. 1911. £ s. d. £ s. d. Salaries 2,958 12 6 3,380 6 7 Maintenance of pupils and sundry expenses .. 1,697 3 5 1,446 7 1 Maintenance of buildings and water charges .. 367 16 5 276 19 10 Less — Amount collected from parents by way of maintenance contributions .. .. 893 11 2 887 13 3 Amount collected from Charitable Aid Boards 35 9 0 563 8 7 Sundry other recoveries .. .. .. 7113 170 Net expenditure on the institution .. .. 4,087 0 11* 3,651 4 8* (* Including for 1910 £540, and for 1911 £235, paid from National Endowment revenue.) It has been found necessary to erect additions to the main buildings. These will provide more class-rooms, an infirmary, larger quarters for servants, and otherrooms needed for the more efficient working of the school.