Mental Defectives and Sexual Offenders
appointed by you to inquire into and report upon the necessity for
special care and treatment of mental defectives and sexual offenders in
New Zealand have the honour to submit herewith their report.

PART I.--INTRODUCTORY AND HISTORICAL.

SECTION 1.--ORIGIN AND SCOPE OF INQUIRY.

For a considerable time there has been a growing feeling of anxiety
among the public owing to the number of mental defectives becoming a
charge upon the State, and also the alarming increase in their numbers
through the uncontrolled fecundity of this class. Furthermore, owing to
the frequency of sexual offences, many of a most revolting character,
there was a strong demand that some action should be taken to prevent
further acts of this nature; it being suggested that the law should be
altered to make it possible for surgical operations to be performed upon
these offenders.

The North Canterbury Hospital Board considered the need for action in
this matter so great that they set up a Committee to go into the
question and take evidence, which was done, and various recommendations
were made to the Government.

A perusal of departmental files reveals that many persons and social
bodies have urged upon the Government the desirability of setting up a
Committee or Commission of Inquiry to go into this subject.

The Minister of Health duly considered the representations made, and
appointed the following Committee to inquire into the question:--

The Hon. W. H. Triggs, M.L.C. (Chairman).
Sir Donald McGavin, Kt., C.M.G., D.S.O., M.D. (Lond.), F.R.C.S. (Eng.).
Sir F. Truby King, Kt., C.M.G., M.B., B.Sc. (Public Health) (Edin.).
J. Sands Elliott, Esq., M.D., Bac. Surg. (Edin.), Chairman of the
Council of the British Medical Association (New Zealand Branch).
Miss Ada G. Paterson, M.B., Ch.B. (N.Z.), L.M. (Dublin).
C. E. Matthews, Esq., Under-Secretary for Justice and Controller-General
of Prisons, &c.
J. Beck, Esq., Officer in Charge, Special Schools Branch, Education
Department.

The function and duty laid upon the Committee was as follows:--

(1.) To inquire and report as to the necessity for special
care and treatment of the feeble-minded and subnormal, and to
propose the general means by which such care and treatment, if
any, should be provided.

(2.) To inquire and report as to the necessity for the
treatment of mental degenerates and p