Page:Statesman's Year-Book 1899 American Edition.djvu/671

 tiiStRtrCTION — PAUPiCRISM

328

Instruction.

Of the total white population above 15 years in 1891 13*20 per cent, could neither read nor write. Education is compulsory.

The following table shows the average cost per head and attendance in Government schools and in assisted schools in 1880, 1890, and 1897 : —

No.of Schools

No. of Scholars

Av. Atteudance

Cost per Head

Government Schools

£ s. d.

1880

67

2,719

2,102

3 7 \l\

1890

82

3,352

2,535

3 7 11

1897

167

12,257

8,970

3 10 6

Assisted Schools

1880

19

1,327

1,006

1 11 7

1890

19

1,662

^ 1,283

1 7 n

1897

581

4,5461

3,612

—

1 Private ychools, including those formerly assisted. Of the pupils, 1,885 were males and 2,661 females.

The grants to private schools ceased from 1895, but compensation was made to the schools that had so far received subsidy, the sum of £15,000 being divided amongst them in proportion to the i^rants received by them during 1895.

The total sum paid in salaries to teachers in 1897 was 28,774'Z.

Justice and Crime.

The following table gives the number of offences, apprehensions, and convictions for four years : —

—

1894

1895

1896

1897

Offences reported to police. Apprehended by police or sUm-

moned

Summary convictions. Convictions in superior courts

8,761

7,152 4,403

84

9,070

8,377

5,309

59

14,377

13,318

8,426

177

17,344

15,433

9,584

194

On December 31, 1897, there were 125 convicts in the colony, 70 employed on the public works, 28 ticket-of-leave hoklers in private service, 23 conditional release holders, 2 invalid in hospital, and 2 ticket-of-leave holders out of employment. The total number of persons committed to prison in 1897 was 2,575 — viz., ordinary prisoners : male adults, 2,184, adult females, 189, juvenile males, 4 ; aboriginals : male adults, 165, adult females, 29, juvenile males, 4.

Pauperism.

There are two charitable institutions — both situated in Perth — supported by public funds, with 288 inmates on December 31, 1897. Twenty-five hospitals and one lunatic asylum are supported by public funds, and there are also numerous private hospitals, whilst two Protestant and two Roman Catholic ori^hanages are partly supported by private subscriptions and partly

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