E.—4.

In connection with the foregoing table it should be borne in mind that there are really only two residential institutions in our industrial-schools system- —the Boys' Training-farm, Weraroa, for boys, and a section of the Cavers ham Industrial School for girls. The receiving-homes and probation homes are regarded as clearing-houses, where children are admitted for short periods for observation and treatment, if necessary, prior to being placed in ordinary homes in the community or in situations. These homes are also utilized— (1.) For housing children who for various reasons are changing from one home or situation to another, or who are sent in from country districts for medical or dental treatment, &c. ; (2.) For children and young persons passing through from other centres or districts ; and (3.) For girls and young women in situations who spend their weekly half-holiday and occasional week-end days with the Matron of the home. The average number of children in residence at these homes is comparatively small, but an approximation of the work of the homes is given in the following return

Average Cost of maintaining Industrial-school Inmates for Year ending 31st March, 1926. £ s. d. Gross cost of maintaining industrial-school inmates .. .. .. .. 115,900 16 1 Plus excess of liabilities, 31st March, 1926, over those of 31st March, 1925 .. 375 18 1 116,276 14 2 Less. £s. d. Direct expenditure on service inmates . ■ • • ■ • 1,927 1 1 Issues from institutions and stores .. •• •• 4,270 710 Salaries of Probation Officers, Infant-life Protection Agents, and proportion of Managers and office staffs of institutions .. 10,615 18 2 Travelling-expenses of Probation Officers, Infant-life Protection Agents, &c. (estimated at two-thirds of expenditure, £5,779 4s. 7d.) .. •• •• 3,852 16 4 Refund of inmates' earnings . • • • • • • • 81 6 5 Rent, office requisites, &c. (two-thirds of expenditure, £1,935 Is. 3d.) 1,290 010 Law-costs • • • • • • • ■ • • • • 66 14 8 22,104 5 4 Gross cost of inmates a charge on the State .. .. £94,172 810 Number of inmates maintained (including inmates in residence at Government schools, boarded out, hospitals, convalescent homes, &c.) .. 2,175 Average cost per week per inmate — £ s. d. Gross .. • • • • ■ • • • • • • ■ ..0168 Recoveries •• •• •• •• • • ..051 Net • • • • ..0117 The net cost to the State of maintaining children under the industrial-schools system is therefore lis. 7d. per head per week.

2—E. 4.

9

, fl , . Average Number in Number of Children Name of School. Residence. actu ( a "y , passing through. Girls' Receiving-home, Auckland .. .. .. 19-3 152 Boys' Receiving-home, Auckland .. .. • • 17-8 215 Girls' Receiving-home, Hamilton .. .. .. 8-92 243 Girls'Receiving-home, Wanganui .. .. .. 10-69 127 Girls' Receiving-home, Napier .. .. .. . • 8-08 81 Girls' Receiving-home, Wellington .. .. .. 13-18 164 Boys' Receiving-home, Wellington .. .. .. 12-04 184 Girls' Receiving-home, Christchurch .. .. .. 17-31 210 Boys' Christchurch . .. .. 11-95 141 Boys' Receiving-home, Dunedin .. .. .. . • 10-44 99 1,616