The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1899-03-06
STATE CHILDREN OF AUSTRALIA.
How They Are boarded out and
Cared For.

How They Are boarded out anu
Cared For.
In John Plummer's Australian Core
spondence.
Australia, with its immense territory
and scattered population, considerably
less than that of the British metropolis,
affords numerous facilities for success
fully dealing with social problems which
in older and more densely peopled coun-
tries. appear to battle solution by the mag
nitude of the interests involved. In New
Zealand the adoption of the old age pen
sion system is regarded as largely super
seding the necessity for the introduction
of that of the poor-house as in the United
Kingdom, with its inevitable paupersing
results. In like manner, the state in New
South Wales has taken upon itself the
charge of destitute children, with view
to removing them from the evil influences
to which they would otherwise inevitably
be exposed. This has been effected by the
establishment of a state children's re-
lief board" which, since 1t commenced
operations in April, 1881, with "a boys and
80 girls, has been productive of an meal
culable amount of good. During the is
years of its existence, the board has dealt
with no less than 1858 children, who have
been boarded out from the state institu-
ported by public contributions The rates
of payment range from 5s to los per week,
the higher rates being paid for infants I'M
der 1 year. who require more than ordi-
nary care.
A strict supervision is exercised by the
officers of the board, in order to see that
the children are not lll-treated or neglect
ed; in addition to this, there are volunta-
ry lady visitors in all parts of the colony
who keep a constant watch on the young
sters. In addition to the boarded out child
rem there we've in April 1898, fifty-one girls
and sixty boys who had been adopted
without payment, and In the main, treat
ed by their foster-parents as their own
kith and kin. There were also eighteen
boys and twenty girls boarded out with
out remuneration, and 554 boys and 1854
girls serving terms of apprenticeship I'M
der the control of the board. All the girls
are In domestic service, while the boys are
employed by bakers blacksmiths, boot
makers, butchers, carpenters, chemists,
coach-builders, dairymen dealers drap-
ers, farmers, gardeners, grooms, grocers
hair-dressers, orehardists, plumbers prin-
ters, saddlers, tailors and vigernons etc
A large proportion of the young children
placed out as boarders are under license
with the wives of laborers, miners, me
chanics and others. and with widows hav-
ing small incomes. Approxima tely, half
are located in the metropolitan suburbs
and the other half in the country towns
and districts. In ALL there are 2,287 houses,
containing 1906 children. Weekly relief,
on limited scale is also afforded deserv-
ing widows and deserted mothers, to as
sist in the support of their offspring The
social antecedents of the children boarded
out emphaticaly illustrate the usefulness
of the system, many being the neglected
Offspring of drunken, criminal or immoral
parents utterly careless respecting the fate
of their children. The system practically
bridges the abyss into which the children
without its assistance would have help
lessly fallen. The total number of child
rem under the control of the board In April
1898, was 3,709; and the expediture for
the year then ending, GAG, 236, of which
amount over fS3 900 represented the ex-
pense of maintenance. The total expendi-
ture of the board during the eighteen years
of its existence was about f417 49S. The
ages of the 9,053 children at the time of be-
ing placed out by the board, were as fol-
lows Under one year, 272; one and under
two, 908; two and under three, SIS; three
and under four, 1856; four and under five.
752; FIVE and under six, 8l5 six and under
seven, sos; seven and under eight &8:
eight and under nine, 1913; ten and under
II ,735; eleven and under twelve 1884;
twelve and over, 7l3. 1t will readily be aeen
that no portion of the state expenditure OF
New South Wales is more worthily en-
ployed than that devoted to the social sal
walton of the neglected little ones of the
oo1nDU