ity_, when if afterwards it is decided that he is mentally
defective or deficient in terms of the Act he can be transferred to the
proper institution; _physical condition_, when if there is any disorder
it can be remedied. If the disorder is causative (_e.g._, prostatic in
the elderly) and surgical or medical interference is necessary, it will
be carried out and its results carefully watched and reported on.

"At present the sentences vary from, say, a year to ten years or more,
the seriousness of the case being one determining factor; but often
similar cases have years of difference in their sentences, and at the
end of the sentence they once more enter the world, and a fair
proportion repeat the offence. The people in the reformatory prisons
can, with experience of a case lasting over some years, foretell the
failure fairly accurately.

"The degree of sexual perversion being measured by the amount of
interference with children, which accounts for the measure of the
sentence, means no essential difference in the intent or in the
likelihood of repetition, and therefore scientifically the sentences
should be equal. I suggest that they should be made equal by being made
indeterminate.

"Those of whom the Medical Officer cannot report favourably would
continue on. They could be given a right of revision. Those of whom he
can report very favourably could be released on probation, and so on.
The essential feature is that no hurried diagnosis is made before trial,
but diagnosis and prognosis are arrived at after months and maybe years
of close observation and by a staff gaining experience daily."

_Sterilization and Desexualization._

The increase of sexual offences during recent years and the disgust felt
by all normally disposed people when contemplating cases of sexual
perversion and assault upon young children have created a strong public
opinion in favour of dealing with these offences as radically as
circumstances will permit.

Demands are constantly made that the offenders should undergo "a
surgical operation," which is intended to imply either castration or
simple sterilization.

The British Medical Association, at their annual Conference held in
Auckland in April, 1924, resolved that the following motion be adopted
by the Council: "That this Conference can make no recommendation for
surgical desexualization in the treatment of the adult sex pervert. The
only safeguard for young children in this matter is th