Page:Statesman's Year-Book 1913.djvu/461

 RELIGION — INSTRUCTION — JUSTICE AND CRIME 339

Eeligion.

The religious division of the population was as follows at the census of 1911 :— Church of England.. 109,435 ; Methodists, 34,348; Presbyterians, 26,678; Congregationalists, 6,203; Baptists, 4,801; other Protestants, 18,189 ; Roman Catholics, 56^616 ; Catholics (Greek and undefined), 5,754 ; other Christians, 1,736; Jews, 1,790; Mahometans, 1,517; Buddhists, 1,795; other nou- Christians, 748; indefinite, 1,555; no religion, 1,260; not stated, 9,689.

Instruction.

Of the total white population of 15 years and upwards in 1911, 170 per cent, were stated to be unable to read. Education is compulsor3\

The following table shows the average cost per head and attendance in Government schools and in private schools in three years : —

—

No.of Schools

No. of Scholars

Av. Attendance

Cost per Head of av. Attendance

Government Schools

£ s. d.

1909 1910 1911

445 468 504

31,374 32,591 35,476

26,673 27,442 29,448

5 6 7 5 6 11 5 10 6

Private Schools

1909 1910 1911

121 119 123

8,506 8,910 9,423

7,209 7,563 8,015

—

The grants to private schools cea.:3sd from 1895, but compensation was made to the schools that had so far received subsidy, the sum of 15,000Z. being divided amongst them in proportion to the gran ts received by them during 1895.

The total sum spent on education aud schools during the financial year ended June 30, 1912, was 239,565Z.

Justice and Crime.

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

— 1908 1909 1910 I 1911

Apprehended or summoned. Summary convictions. Convictions in superior courts

On December 31, 1911, there were 5 prisoners undergoing penal servitude in the State. The total number of distinct persons committed to prison in 1911 was 1,464; the number of commitments totalled 2,561 — viz.: male adults, 2,172, adult females, 385, juveniles, male 4, female nil.

All the above figures are exclusive of aboriginal crime.

Pauperism and Old Age Pensions.

There are three charitable institutions, one situated at Claremont, and two at Fremantle, both supported by public funds, with 496 inmates on

■A 2