is comprised within the lifetime of its oldest
inhabitants, is already reproducing some of the saddest problems of
civilization which perplex the people of the Old World. We started with
every advantage in the shape of a favourable climate and rich natural
resources. The original settlers were, for the most part, men and women
of sturdy determination, enterprising spirit, and strong physique.

In the "seventies" a vigorous public-works policy was inaugurated, and
great efforts were made to introduce fresh population, the result being
that undoubtedly a great impetus was given to settlement, and the
country was fairly started on the road to prosperity. But,
unfortunately, it is now only too apparent that insufficient care was
taken in the selection of immigrants.

The following extract from a statement made to the Committee by Sir
Robert Stout, Chief Justice, and President of the Prisons Board,
illustrates this point: "The Prisons Board has sometimes brought before
it several persons of one family who have offended against our laws, and
in the experience I had in 1884 and 1885, when looking after our
Hospitals and Charitable Aid Department in the General Government, I
found that people obtaining charitable aid had done so for three
generations; that is, grandfather, father or mother, and children were
all obtaining aid from the Government because they were unable to
maintain themselves. Some of the cases were traced, and it was found
that the grandfathers, or grandparents, had been originally in
poorhouses in the Homeland, and although they came to New Zealand and
had greater opportunities than they had in their Homeland, yet their
inability to provide for themselves continued."

How serious the problem has already become will be seen from the
following illustrative cases selected from a large number given in the
evidence:--

_Case No. 1._
+--------------------------------+
| Father: | Mother: |
| Weak-minded. | Weak-minded. |
| | |
+----------+----------+----------+
|Female, |
|born 1906.|
+----------+
|Female, |
|born 1907.|
+----------+
|Female, |
|born 1908.|
+----------+
|Female, |
|born 1909.|
+----------+
|Female, |
|born 1911.|
+-