E.— 4

The average number of children in residence at any one time at these homes is comparatively small, but an approximation of the important part that these homes occupy in the Child Welfare system can be gathered from the following return, which represents the figures for the past year : —

Table 2.

The disposition of the 3,879 State wards placed out in the community or in hospitals or institutions not under the control of the Child Welfare Branch is shown in the following table : —

Table 3.—Status of Children under the Guardianship of the Superintendent at 31st March, 1928 (other than those in Residential Institutions under the Child Welfare Act).

Child-placing System. The majority of the children under school-age committed to the care of the State are boarded out in foster-homes situated mainly in suburban areas and in districts in close proximity to the smaller centres of population. At the end of the year there were 1,981 children boarded out —1,956 from Government receiving-homes and 25 from private industrial schools (Roman Catholic). Arranged according to the ages of the children the numbers at 3.lst March, 1928, are as follows : Under five years, 446 ; from five to ten years, 651 ; from ten to twelve years, 34-7 ; from twelve to thirteen years, 197 ; from thirteen to fourteen years, 210 ; and over fourteen years, 130. Of the children boarded out, 78 were over the age of fourteen years but still attending the primary schools, and 52 were receiving higher education (35 secondary and 17 technical). It is the practice to review every case when the child finishes his primary-school course, and, provided that he has the ability and has shown himself worthy, arrangements arc made for him to continue his education at a high school. In the case of girls it is generally possible for them to stay on in their foster-homes, but this satisfactory arrangement is not always possible with the boys. To meet the position, and in order to provide for boys of exceptional ability, the hostel established by the V.M.C.A. in Auckland is available. This hostel accommodates about fifteen boys at present, and, thanks to the very substantial monetary assistance given by the Costley Training Trustees, the cost to the Government for the upkeep of these boys is exceedingly small. This scheme has been very

8

Name of Receiving-home. Average Number in Residenoe. Number ot Children actually passing through. Girls' Receiving-home, Auckland Boys' Receiving-home, Auckland Girls' Receiving-home, Hamilton Girls' Receiving-home, Wanganui Girls' Receiving-home, Napier Children's Home, Miramar, Wellington Girls' Hostel, Wellington Boys' Receiving-home, Wellington Girls' Receiving-home, Christchurch Boys' Receiving-home, Christchurch Girls' Home, Dunedin Boys' Receiving-home, Dunedin 18-54 21-14 1.0-28 10-79 6-44 18-92 10-61 14-04 ,19-53 1.2-91 31-54 10-47 135 169 205 211 85 173 57 129 297 130 204 89 1,884

Status. Boys Girls. Both Sexes. Temporarily in residence in receiving-homes In residenoe, Roman Catholic schools Boarded out At service With friends In hospitals, convalescent homes In mental hospitals In refuges, or cognate institutions In children's homes Absent without leave At Borstal At Jubilee Institute Boarders at colleges In Y.M.C.A. Boys' Hostel, Auckland In Girls' Hostel, Wellington 70 29 1,123 615 348 15 2 56 38 858 287 269 13 4 53 19 2 126 67 1,981 902 617 28 6 53 32 31 2 1 2 16 ,15 13 29 2 1 2 16 15 Totals 2,264 1,615 3,879