E.—3

The total number of children that came under the control of the Branch during the year was 595. Of these, 501 were committed to the care of the Superintendent by Children's Courts. They can be classified according to reasons for committal as follows : Indigent, 153 ; delinquent, 33 ; living in a detrimental environment, 61 ; neglected, 58 ; not under proper control, 107 ; accused of punishable offences, 87 ; and breach of supervision order, 2. The remaining 94 children came into the custody of the Superintendent for the following reasons : — (a) Taken charge of by private agreement (section 12, Child Welfare Act, 1925), 6. (b) Taken charge of temporarily, 73. (c) Placed under supervision, and ordered by the Courts to be detained in an institution for a period, 6. (d) At the time of this report held on warrant, pending the decision of Children's Courts (section 13 (2), Child Welfare Act, 1925), 9. If the 595 children are classified according to the age at the time custody was assumed there are found to be 82 under six months ; 23 over six months and under one year ; 82 from one to five years ; 90 from five to ten years ; 132 from ten to fourteen years ; and 186 over fourteen years. Of the 501 children committed to the care of the Superintendent, 84 had previously come before the Courts for other offences, for which they had received terms of supervision. The length of period in residence for children temporarily taken charge of was from one day to ten weeks. A number of these children were held on remand from Children's Courts. At the 31st March 207 of the children in foster-homes were receiving postprimary education, and one boy was attending a University college, 48 were taking a professional course, 68 technical, 59 commercial, 3 agricultural, and 10 home science, while 19 Maori children were attending Maori colleges. In addition, 15 boys residing at a Hostel at Auckland were receiving post-primary education, and 18 children were boarded at private secondary schools.

37. TEACHERS' SUPERANNUATION FUND. The position of the fund at the 31st January, 1939, and the principal figures concerning the transactions for the year, compared with those for the year ended 31st January, 1938, are given below : — 1937-38. 1938-39. £ £ Balance at credit of fund at end of year .. .. .. ..834,465 975,491 Decrease over balance at end of previous year .. .. .. 103,140 141,025* Income for the year — Members' contributions .. .. .. .. ..139,835 146,231 Interest .. .. .. .. 42,759 41,315 Government subsidy 54,824 329,675t Total income .. .. .. .. .. £237,418 £517,221 Expenditure— £ £ Retiring and other allowances .. .. .. .. 328,007 329,096 Contributions refunded, &c. .. .. .. .. 36,342 41,765 Administration expenses, &c. .. .. .. .. 3,209 3,335 Eeserves for losses .. .. •• •- •• ■■ 2,000 Total expenditure .. .. .. .. £367,558 £376,196

* increase. f This amount includes £162,417 on account of 1937-38.

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