E.—4

4

general rule this is carried out; but the Department arranges a further safeguard by obtaining confidential reports every quarter from the: headmasters or class-tcache:rs of the schools which the children attend. Whe:re:ver possible arrangements are also made for local honorary Lady Visitors to visit the foster-homes monthly, or oftencr if necessary, and generally to keep a friendly eye on the children concerned. For certain types of dependent children there is no question that the boarding-out system is superior to all other systems of dealing with them. The fact that under the boarding-out system children have the opportunity of growkig up as ordinary members of the community under decent conditions is in itself sufficient to commend the system apart from any other consideration in its favour. Associated with boarding out, it is essential that there should be cottage homes where a preliminary training in correct habits and discipline may be carried out. This is provide:d for in the receivinghomes for children and older girls, and in probation homes for boys. As these homes are of limited capacity, the period for which any one child is kept in residence is necessarily limited, but further provision is made at the Boys' Training-farm, Weraroa, and at the Cavershani Industrial School for the accommodation for periods up to twelve months (or longer if necessary) of boys and girls respectively who after a trial at board fail to do well. Juvenile Probation System. The results obtaincel during the past live years have: proved be:yond doubt the e:fficacy of probation under propesr supervision as a means of reforming tho largo number of boys and youths who, on account of the lack of proper home conditions, woulel, but for the intervention of the Department, drift into a career of crime and general lawlessness. Difficulty has been experienced, however, in obtaining the services of capable Probation Officers. To be successful as a Probation Officer a man must have exceptional qualifications : lie: must possess initiative, be sympathetic though firm, and must at all times be: prepared to de:votc the whole of his time to his work. For the man who carriess out his eluty properly there can be no fixed hours he must be pre:parcd to respond at all times to any call for assistance or advice. Probably the most important part of a Probation Officer's work lies in home-visiting, and in many cases he is called upon to insist on reforms on the part of the pare:nts and in the home conditions as a necessary aid in the reformation of the boy. The numbers dealt with by the Juvenile Probation Officers in the main centres during last year are shown in the following table : —

Children dealt with by the Courts in the various Districts in the Year 1921.

si! Plf *£6 CD bD « ■as d oj lis .Ii p I 8 a B S « oS • hS a xi-f a a ! £ ra co >> a .R I ch I £ R I 8P 02 fi Ph «S M j £ T3 a • a m bo.a Ii i 3 o 4C» oo "p -a § bu d CD UJ J-d d o 02 I S «S oi -a -a .2 » a <3« SPB o II I 1 P Ei p North Auckland Auckland South Auckland VVanganui Hawke's Bay Palmerston North Wellington .. Nelson West Coast .. North Canterbury South Canterbury Otago Southland 5 If 1 6 1 5 3 5 20 9 6 3 i i 15 92 25 16 25 15 113 3 7 65 25 65 19 5 44 4 1 32 22 1 ii 9 1 i 2 3 n 16 2 4 i 8 2 i i 3 12 13 7 6 4 11 '7 2 4 1 i 2 43 6 4 i 1 3 18 18 II i 9 1 2 2 14 2 2 1 29 3 3 3 2 2 2 1 5 2 i 2 i 2 2 i Totals . . 21 36 9 1 12 1 3 18 26 n 140 59 485 140 47 43 i O +- 1 61) cp d w f p II 0 m i <§« of? ° P p 60 bt EC g a a E co co cj3 a O ,-! H be g> ■g I s % M « O «{ S.3 £ £.1 bo cd fi O M i a a CO CO •^ e cfl fi . oj d w .2 PR SB eg p. s H ti ■5? .16 5 d CD I 8 "a ©• H North Auckland Auckland South Auckland Wanganui Hawke's Bay Palmerston North Wollington Nelson West Coast North Canterbury South Canterbury Otago Southland ' 5 1 1 5 !! 2 .. .'! I !! i i .. '.'. '.'. i 1 1 2 .. 2 i i 13 2 1 i 30 303 46 23 56 19 226 6 17 139 51 152 44 i 4 i '3 i i i 2 .! .! 4 3 3 i 2 Totals . . 14 I I 2 I 6 3 I 3 1 4 i i I 1 13 2 1,121 i