7

E.—4

because of nomadic habits, are not amenable to the control of a foster-parent or probation home, adequate provision is available at Weraroa. The number of such boys is exceedingly small, and the majority of them are fit for a trial at board after a few months in residence at the farm. These boys, who vary in age from ten to fourteen years, arc kept apart in a cottage home under a suitable married couple. During the school hours they are in the care of the housemaster, who, in addition to his ordinary school duties, takes evening classes for the older boys. Some of the lads between the ages of fourteen and sixteen years present a difficult problem. Many of them are stunted in growth, backward in their education, and weaklings generally. As such they are unsuitable for farm-work, and the confinement usually associated with a trade would not be beneficial for them. At the same time they are not usually trustworthy, so that they are unfit, probably for years, for placing out, even in the lightest situations. The older boys (over sixteen years) are generally employed on the farm, or, if they prefer it, in one of the workshops—carpentering, bootmaking, or with the engineer ; a lad with any mechanical aptitude has an excellent chance of learning engine-driving, boiler-work, or motor-driving and the care of motor-cars generally. Some of the older lads arc difficult to deal with in the absence of any definite means of keeping them at Weraroa. Under the provisions of section 25 of the Industrial Schools Act any lad under the age of nineteen years may be transferred from gaol to Weraroa. A lad who has been in prison for a few weeks sometimes proves difficult to hold at Weraroa, where the management has to depend upon moral suasion more than upon bolts and bars for the maintenance of discipline. A certain number of these lads abscond, and, in order to subsist, generally steal food and clothing from the surrounding settlers or from local stores. Generally speaking, they arc not bad lads, but they are infected with the lawlessness and wandering habits of the adolescent, and consequently find it difficult to settle down and to submit to discipline. They are not suitable cases for prison, but certainly it is necessary to provide some means of holding them for a few months until they settle down and finally lose the propensity for roaming at large. Ido not consider it would be wise to establish anything in the nature of a detentionhouse at Weraroa, for such lads, but if it were possible to obtain a ship like the " Amokura " the present difficulty would be adequately met. Such lads could then be held without fear of wandering away, could be taught useful trades, and finally placed with tradesmen under the supervision of the Probation Officers. A ship like the " Amokura " could be regarded as a section of the Weraroa institution ; the staff required would be small, and all the supplies and produce required could be issued from Weraroa. The number of lads placed out in situations from Weraroa is at present 183, and with friends on probation 83. The number in residence varies from 50 to 100. The majority of the boys prefer farmwork to learning trades, and before being placed out they are taught the rudiments of farming in all its branches. Cheesemaking, buttermaking, and milk-testing are also taught; and no difficulty is experienced in placing competent lads in factories at satisfactory wages. Under the earlier system the cost of maintenance of the three residential boys' schools (two of which are now closed), with the numbers in residence, staff, upkeep, &c, was as follows : — Boys in „, „ Annual Net Cost Residence of Upkeep. £ Boys'Training-farm, Weraroa .. .. ..230 28 7,174 Boys'Training-farm, Nelson .. .. ..160 27 6,871 Burnham Industrial School .. .. ..160 32 7,816 550 87 21,861 In addition two visiting officers were employed .... 2 575 550 89 £22,436 Under the present system there are — 1. Boys'Training-farm, Weraroa .. .. ..75 22 3,849 2. Auckland Probation Home .. .. ..12 7 1,256 3. Wellington Probation Home .. .. ..6 6 1,050 4. Christchurch Probation Home .. .. . . (i 5 970 5. Dunedin Probation Home .. . . . . 6 4 500 Also Probation Officers at Whangarei, Wa.nganui, Hamilton, Nelson, and Timaru .. .... 5 1,420 105 49 £9,045 In comparison with years prior to 1917 the. number of children dealt with by Probation Officers has increased threefold. Formerly about three hundred annually wore, committed to industrial schools ; last year nearly nine hundred children were dealt with by the Courts, but only about one hundred and fifty were actually admitted either to probation homes or to the training-farm. In addition the Probation Officers visit all boys licensed out from Weraroa in their own particular districts. Formerly this work was carried out by the Managers of the three institutions (Burnham, Weraroa, and Nelson). Assisted Service, Higher Education, and Employment of State Children over School Age. Particular individual care is taken in the selection of employment for boys and girls over school age The following figures show the numbers placed in the various occupations: At the end of 1919