E.—4.

records give the cause of each appearance and the action taken, the numbers placed under supervision and the general results following this procedure, the number of repeaters, and generally the position so far as the court work is concerned. The tables showing the numbers dealt with in each district are given later on in the report, and the following are extracts from the officers' reports in the different districts Whancjarei District. —There is a gratifying decrease in the number of children coming before the Court as indigent. Although the total decrease in the number of cases coming before the Courts is slight, I am of the opinion that, taking the position as a whole, there is a considerable improvement with regard to juvenile delinquency generally. Auckland District.—lt will be noted that the majority of the children giving trouble are between the ages of thirteen and seventeen years. "How Employed." Pre-school age, 34; primary school, 190; secondary school, 47; working, 124; unemployed, 34 (43 were unemployed in 1938) : Total appearances, 429. Hamilton District. —Total appearances at Courts, 180, against 191 last year. There is no increase in the serious type of offences, while theft has dropped considerably. Twelve boys appeared before the Court a second time. Of these, 5 were admonished and discharged because the offences were of a trivial nature ; 5 were committed to the care of the Superintendent, while 1 was sentenced to a term in a Borstal institution. Of the total of 136 supervised, only 5 had to be committed. This is an illustration of the excellent work being carried out by our Honorary Child Welfare Officers all over this district and proves that the personal touch provides the best form of supervision. Gisborne District. —No boy or girl appeared before the Court during the year while under current supervision. Taranaki District.—With regard to the work for the past year, it is pleasing to note the large reduction of cases (50) and a corresponding reduction in the more serious offences throughout the district. Cases of delinquency are accounted for mainly through lack of parental control, lack of harmony in the home, parents living apart or divorced. Paimerston North District. —A total of 110 oases appeared before the Court during the year, and of this number 26 were girls. In the previous year 151 cases were dealt with, and it is pleasing to note a decrease of 41 cases this year. An examination of the figures shows that the decrease is largely accounted for by the reduction in the number of mischief and wilful damage cases (from 38 to 4), while theft also shows a decrease of 22. Car conversions, however, total 17, compared with 6 for the previous year. The progress made by boys under supervision has been most satisfactory. Informal supervision was arranged in 34 cases —referred either by social organizations or the parents. The causes that led to inquiry are : Irregular attendance at school, 1 ; poor environment, 22 ; wayward and difficult to control, 9 ; petty thieving habits, 2. Wellington District. —There is a decrease of 108 cases on last year's total of 467. The total number of boys placed under supervision was 98, compared with 92 the previous year. The average number under supervision was 133 for the year. The recidivists numbered 8, compared with 24 for the previous year, which is a most pleasing result of supervisory control. An analysis of the home circumstances of the 8 boys shows that in each of 6 cases there was only one parent, the father being either deceased or a deserter. The 98 boys placed under supervision were at the end of the year 31st March occupied as under : — Primary school, 32 ; secondary school, 9 ; factory hands, 8 ; message-boys, 6 ; and the remainder were occupied in a variety of occupations, there being a total of 54 in employment. West Coast (South Island). —The total number of cases appearing before the Courts for the year ended 31st March, 1939, was 119, against 57 for the previous year, but the increase was largely due to increases in breaches of by-laws. Christchurch District.—The number of children appearing before the Court was 412, as against 527 last year. It will be noted that the number of boys between the ages of eight and eighteen years was 324, against 4-20 for the previous year, a decrease of 96. There was a notable decrease of 45 and 79 in theft and by-law breaches respectively, and increases in breaking and entering offences (13), mischief and wilful damage (26), and disorderly behaviour (11). As mentioned in previous reports, poor home training and control are responsible for much of the delinquency. Timaru District. —A total of 44 cases of breaches of by-laws or traffic regulations were reported by the Borough Traffic Inspector, but were not brought before the Courts. In each case the offender was warned and parents advised that repetition of the offence would result in prosecution. It is interesting to note that during the six years in which these cases have been reported to me by the Traffic Borough Inspector only one case has been detected for a second offence, he being prosecuted and fined a nominal amount. There is a decrease (11) in the number of children appearing before the Court, with a total of 87. (Note. —A report to another Magistrate who had jurisdiction over a part of the South Canterbury district showed the total Court appearances for the year to be 28, as against 31 last year.) It is noted that there has been a decided lack of parental control in several cases which have come under notice, but when the position has been pointed out to the parents or guardians concerned a marked improvement has followed.

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