of the evidence placed before the Committee was that
which showed the very small amount of professional prostitution in New
Zealand. This was supported by the valuable evidence of Mr. W. Dinnie,
ex-Commissioner of Police, and Mr. A.H. Wright, Commissioner of Police.
The latter witness stated that there were only 104 professional
prostitutes in the Dominion.

It would appear also that the professional prostitute, as a result of
her knowledge and experience, is less likely to transmit venereal
disease than the "amateur." It is therefore principally to clandestine
or amateur prostitution that one must look for the dissemination of the
disease, and inquiry into the conditions which tend to the production of
the amateur prostitute is a direct inquiry into the causes of the
prevalence of venereal disease.

The evidence before the Committee shows that this promiscuity is very
prevalent, and that it is not confined to any particular social strata.
The fact is also strikingly demonstrated by Table A in the appendix.
From this table it will be seen that during the period 1913-21 there
were 10,841 illegitimate births and 33,738 legitimate first births
within one year after marriage. If to the illegitimate births we add the
total number of live births occurring within the first seven months of
marriage viz., 12,235--which may be safely considered to have been
conceived before marriage, we get a total of 23,076 births in which
conception took place extra-maritally. In other words, more than 50 per
cent. of total first births occurring within twelve months of marriage
result from sexual contact prior to marriage.

Some factors which contribute in a greater or less degree to the moral
laxity which leads to promiscuous sexual intercourse are:--

(1.) The relaxation of parental control, which was emphasized by
many witnesses. Girls stay less at home and assist less in the work
of the home, preferring whenever opportunity offers, to go to the
pictures or some other form of entertainment.

(2.) Lack of education of the young in the facts pertaining to sex.
Especially the Committee would call attention to the unfounded
belief of many that continence in young men is injurious to health.

(3.) Bad housing and general conditions of living. When members of
both sexes are crowded together in restricted accommodation in
which often insufficient conveniences are supplied, it is easy to