t a few years ago it was
ascertained that there were at least six hundred or seven hundred mental
defectives in New Zealand under the age of twenty-one. I need scarcely
point out the moral danger to the community of so many of these
defectives being at large. In particular, the girls are a source of
danger to themselves and to the community, since they have little or no
will-power or sense of restraint. I am of opinion that all such cases
should be registered, and that, unless it can be shown that the mental
defective is under thoroughly safe and proper care at home, he should be
taken charge of by the State. I am certain that by this means the
increasing number of mental defectives would be reduced to a minimum,
since mental defectiveness is almost entirely hereditary."

Mr. Beck, Officer in Charge of the Special Schools under the Education
Department, cited illustrative cases, one of which may be thus stated:
"Two feeble-minded parents in New Zealand have had up to the present
time ten degenerate children, all of whom are a lifelong burden on the
State. Taking the case of these children, and assessing the cost to the
State of maintaining them, the total amount for this family will not be
less than L16,000."

The Committee are of opinion that supervision of mentally defective
children and adolescents is an important factor in lessening venereal
disease, and urge the Government as soon as possible to adopt a system
of registration and classification of mental defectives, and of
segregation where necessary, either in mental hospitals or in special
institutions where these defectives may be suitably taught, and, where
possible, usefully employed to defray the cost of their maintenance.

PART IV.--SUMMARY OF CONCLUSIONS AND RECOMMENDATIONS.

SECTION 1.--CONCLUSIONS.

Following are some of the conclusions drawn from the evidence by the
Committee:--

There is very general ignorance among the public on the subject of
venereal disease, and this has stood in the way of its being grappled
with effectively.

Syphilis not only causes loss of life directly, but many deaths ascribed
to other causes in the Registrar-General's returns are due to the
after-effects of this disease. It is responsible for many still-births
and abortions, and its evil effects are seen in such children as
survive. These effects may persist until the third generation.

Gonorrhoea, popularly, but quite erroneously, supposed to be a
comparati