ever seen, not only in
physical strength, but in character and spirit. It also revealed that an
inferior strain had crept in and that New Zealand was already getting
its share of weaklings. Surely our aim should be to prevent, as far as
possible, the multiplication of the latter type, and to increase the
elements of the mental, moral, and physical strength of the nation. In
these beautiful and richly dowered islands we have a noble heritage--to
be in keeping and to ensure the full development of their resources and
enjoyment of their blessings the inhabitants should be of the highest
type obtainable by human effort.

This is the lesson which has been impressed upon the minds of the
Committee during their investigations, and they have been sustained in
their saddening experience by the hope that this lesson will be taken to
heart by both the Parliament and the people of the Dominion.

W. H. TRIGGS, Chairman.
D. MCGAVIN.
F. TRUBY KING.
J. S. ELLIOTT.
ADA G. PATERSON.
CHAS. E. MATTHEWS.
J. BECK.

J. W. BUCHANAN, Secretary.

APPENDIX.

PAST MISTAKES IN IMMIGRATION.

EXTRACT FROM REPORT ON HOSPITALS AND CHARITABLE INSTITUTIONS OF THE
COLONY, 1888, BY THE LATE DR. MACGREGOR, INSPECTOR-GENERAL.

Many causes have conspired in our history as a colony to intensify the
good-nature of our people--at any rate, so far as extravagance in
vicarious charity is concerned. Our sensitiveness to suffering has been
greatly stimulated by the comparative absence from our towns of those
sights of misery and squalor that deaden the feelings by familiarity;
and the lavish life we have led since 1870 has made us free-handed to
the poor and impatient of the trouble required to find out whether our
charity was wisely or mischievously given.

During our years of plenty, when borrowed money was being largely spent,
and the prices of wool, &c., were high, I was in charge of the Dunedin
Asylum, and remember with what forebodings I regarded the quality of the
immigrants that were being poured into the country after the despatch of
instructions in October, 1873, to the Agent-General "To grant free
passages, and also, if necessary, advance expenses to port of
embarkation and outfit."

Twenty thousand immigrants were, if possible, to be sent out in six
months. With wonderful rapidity the results became apparent. From all
parts came reports of the evil quality of the immigrants. The
Immigration Minister, writing to the Agent-General i