The Native Welfare Act 1954 (Act no. 1954/064 (3 Eliz. II No.64) was passed on 30 December 1954 and commenced on 20 May 1955. It was ‘An Act to amend the Native Administration Act, 1905-1947.’ The Act changed the titles of the Commissioner and Department of Native Affairs to Commissioner and Department of Native Welfare. Under the Act, the Commissioner remained the legal guardian of ‘native’ children except where the child had been already made a ward under the Child Welfare Act 1947. The Native Welfare Act 1954 was replaced by the Native Welfare Act 1963 when it commenced on 1 July 1964.
Under the Native Welfare Act 1954, The Commissioner could ‘from time to time direct what person is to have the custody of a native child of whom he is the legal guardian, and his direction shall have effect according to its tenor’.