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Appendix JSTote on Extent and Nature oe Changes in Tabulation oe Information Concerning Children Appearing Before Children's Courts The following changes have been made in the preparation of Children's Court figures commencing with this report:— (1) Appearances are not counted until decisions have been reached by the Courts. This has eliminated the item " adjourned " from Table 3in previous reports. The effect on the total figures is not important, as the number of cases adjourned from one statistical year to the next is small and relatively constant. (2) Appearances are not counted unless the Court finds the charge proved or upholds the complaint. Thus cases which are " dismissed " or " withdrawn " are ignored, and these items eliminated from Table 3. The effect of this change is to reduce the total figures somewhat. In 1948-49 the number of such cases was 63. (3) The classification of offences and complaints has been amended with a view to giving a clearer indication of the nature of offences committed, and reducing the size of the item " Miscellaneous." (4) As part of this reclassification, appearances are classified according to the offences which caused them, and not necessarily according to the complaint or charge on which the child appears before the Court. Thus, if a child commits theft, but for some reason is brought before the Court on a complaint that he is "a delinquent child " or is " not under proper control," the appearance is counted under the item " theft " and not under the legal complaint. The effect of this change is to reduce considerably the number of children listed as " delinquent " or " not under proper control " and increase the number of those included under specific offences. In general it may be assumed that those children counted under'"not under proper control" have not committed any specific offence against the law, while those classed as " delinquent " may be assumed to be guilty of a series of minor offences, no one of which is sufficiently important or serious to justify a specific charge.

Approximate Cost of Paper.—Preparation, not given ; printing (1,444 copies), £4O.

By Authority: E. E. Owen, Government Printer, Wellintrton.—1950.

Price 6d.]

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