8.-4.

Dunedin District.—The total number appearing before the Courts was 200, as against 157 last year. Of the total number of boys appearing before the Court, 28 were unemployed at the time of their appearance, and all of these have been placed in suitable situations. In all cases placed under our supervision we have had the co-operation of the parents. Invercargill District —There was, unfortunately, a big increase in the number of cases dealt with this year (166), as compared with last year (108). This increase is due not only to extra by-law cases, but also to cases of mischief, breaking, entering, and theft. We find the control of children and parental discipline lamentably slack. CASES APPEARING BEFORE THE CHILDREN'S COURTS. It will be seen from Table 4 that there is a slight decrease in the total number of children appearing in the Courts as compared with the number for the previous year (2,801, as against 2,982). It will be noted that there is an increase in the number of charges of theft for last year, but a decrease in the number of charges of delinquency. The two charges, however, should be considered together, as in many instances a boy who commits theft may have been getting into mischief and generally shown anti-social conduct, so that ho is charged as delinquent instead of with theft. The number of children dealt with by the Children's Courts during the year was 2,801, and of these, 744 were placed under the supervision of Child Welfare Officers, while 10 had their supervision period extended. Of the children placed under supervision, 40 were subsequently committed to the care of the Superintendent. The number committed to the care of the Superintendent and admitted to institutions such as receiving-homes, special schools, training-farms, &c., was 501, but all these, with the exception of 186 (119 boys and 67 girls), who required further training, were suitably placed out in the community before the close of the year. The remainder (1,556) appearing before the Courts were dealt with in a manner not calling for supervision by a Child Welfare Officer (see details below). At the 31st March, 1939, there was a total number of 973 children under the supervision of Child Welfare Officers by order of the Courts. Of the number (744) placed under supervision this year, 79 had previously been dealt with by the Courts and placed under supervision. The Courts ordered 15 children to spend a period in an institution. The following is a comparative statement of the number of children that appeared before the Children's Courts, and the action taken: —

Table 3.

Note. —Convictions mostly comprise cases that came before the Courts for offences arising out of breaches of Traffic Regulations, by-laws, &c.

2—E. 4.

9

1937-1938-38. 39. Committed to the care of the Superintendent 503 501 Placed under supervision .. .. 674 718 Admonished and discharged .. .. 761 618 Admonished and ordered to make restitution 268 266 Adjourned .. .. .. 45 59 Dismissed .. .. .. 68 81 Supervision extended .. .. .. 26 19 Committed to Borstal .. .. .. 17 20 Convicted and fined .. .. .. 4 10 Returned to the care of the Superintendent 40 44 Adjourned sine die .. .. 23 10 Admonished with costs .. .. .. 9 21 Withdrawn .. .. . • .. 21 13 Admonished and fined .. .. 18 7 Convicted and ordered to come up for 6 sentence Ordered to come up for sentence .. .. 14 12 Supervision with residence .. .. 9 15 Probation .. . ■ . • ■ ■ 3 10 • Admonished and driving license cancelled .. 1 Convicted and discharged .. .. 4 3 Discharged .. .. .. • • 6 Convicted and costs .. .. .. 5 5 Ordered to pay costs .. .. .. 2 Referred to Magistrates' Court .. .. 1 3 Convicted and fined and driving lioense can- 1 celled Convicted and discharged and ordered to 2 make restitution Convicted and ordered to be returned to 1 training-farm Informal supervision .. .. .. 4 2 Convicted and discharged and driving license 1 endorsed Admonished and discharged and stolen 9 property returned

1937-1938-38. 39. Admonished and discharged and restitution 24 made Fined.. .. .. .. .. 48 54 Agreement enforced (section 13 (3), Child 1 Welfare Amendment Act, 1927) Admonished and returned to parents .. 1 Remanded to Supremo Court .. . . 1 Ordered to pay costs .. .. .. .. 2 Case struck out .. .. .. .. 2 Fined and driving license cancelled . . .. 1 Fined and prohibited from obtaining a license .. 1 Admonished and license suspended .. .. 1 Convicted and license suspended .. .. 1 Convicted and costs and license endorsed .. 2 Borstal term extended .. .. .. .. 2 Convicted .. .. .. .. .. 1 By-law cases— Admonished and discharged .. .. 169 141 Convicted and fined and/or costs .. 16 13 Fined and/or costs .. .. .. 135 91 Dismissed .. . . .. .. 4 3 Admonished and costs .. .. 22 13 Convicted and discharged . . .. 2 1 Admonished and fined .. .. 10 24 Withdrawn .. .. .. .. 1 Discharged .. .. .. .. 1 1 Referred to Magistrates' Court .. 1 Adjourned .. .. .. .. .. 1 Admonished and discharged and ordered .. 5 to make restitution Ordered to pay costs .. .. .. .. 4 Totals .. .. .. 2,982 2,801