E— 4

10

Table 9 shows the distribution and. disposal of the children committed to the care of the Superintendent during the year.

Table 9.—Admissions for Year ended 31st March, 1929, classified according to Status at 31st March, 1929.

Table 10 gives particulars of the character or state of the parents at the time of the admissions of the children. From this table has been selected the following figures, showing (1) the number of children of drunken parents and (2) the number of children of feeble-minded parents. Admission of Children on account of the Drinking Habits of one or both Parents. Drunken mother .. ... . . . . . . .. 7 Drunken father . . . . .. .. . . .. 31 Both parents drunkards .. .. .. .. 4 42 Admission of Children on account of the Mental Deficiency of one or both Parents. Mentally deficient mother .. .. . . . . 35 Mentally deficient father . . . . . . . . 3 Both parents mentally deficient. . . . . . . . 2 40 An analysis of the new admissions for last year, grouped according to the characters or state of the parents at the time of admission, is interesting, for the results seem to indicate that, generally speaking, the child who is admitted on account of destitution or orphanhood, or whose parents have deserted him, comes either from an undesirable home or from morally unwholesome surroundings ; while, on the other hand, the child who commits an offence against the law and is regarded as a delinquent comes almost invariably from a good home. For purposes of comparison three tables have been prepared showing—(l) Children admitted on account of destitution ; (2) children found to be not under proper control, or reported as uncontrollable by the parents ; and (3) children charged with offences against the law. In each case the parents have been divided into the following groups : (1) Dead, deserter, or identity unknown ; (2) good character ; (3) bad or questionable character, including drunkards, feeble-minded, or physically unfit, and character unknown. Table 10. —Particulars of Parentage : Admissions for Year ended 31st March, 1929. 264 indigent children, representing 187 families. Parents described as —

I Status. ! Boys. Girls. Both Sexes. Iii residence . . . . . . . . 79 48 127 Boarded out . . .. . . . . 222 184 406 At service.. .. .. .. .. 39 16 55 With friends . . . . . . . . 15 15 30 Refuges, or cognate institutions .... .. 6 6 Hospitals .. .. .. .. .. 6 2 8 Mental Hospitals .. .. . . . . 1 . . 1 School for Boys, Otekaike .. .. .. 9 . . 9 Y.M.C.A. Hostel, Auckland .. .. .. 2 .. 2 Borstal .. .. .. . . . . 1 . . 1 Discharged .. .. . . . . 2 .. 2 Written ofi .. .. .. .. 24 16 40 Died .. .. .. .. .. 1 .. 1 Absent without leave . . . . . . 4 . . 4 Holiday .. .. .. . . . . 1 . . 1 Orphanages .. .. . . .. 3 3 6 College .. . . . . . . . . . . 1 1 Girls' Hostel, Wellington .. . . . . . . 2 2 Totals .. .. 409 293 702

Bad, Questionable, Dead, Deserter, or „ , Drunkards Feeblei Identity unknown. &ood ' T^" ded > j Unlit, and Character unknown. Father .. . . . . .. j 47 . j 40 100 Mother .. .. .. .. J 34 57 96 Both parents (included in above) .. j 10 14 18 «k