arly age that they are unable to guard
themselves against common physical dangers, and therefore
require oversight, care, or control required to be exercised
in the case of young children.

"_Class IV:_ Imbeciles--that is, persons who, though capable
of guarding themselves against common physical dangers, are
incapable, or if of school age will presumably, when older, be
incapable, of earning their own living by reason of mental
deficiency existing from birth or from an early age.

"_Class V:_ Feeble-minded--that is, persons who may be capable
of earning a living under favourable circumstances, but are
incapable from mental deficiency existing from birth or from
an early age of competing on equal terms with their normal
fellows, or of managing themselves and their affairs with
ordinary prudence.

"_Class VI:_ Epileptics--that is, persons suffering from
epilepsy."

This is similar to the classification in the English Mental Deficiency
Act, which also includes the following definition:--

"'Moral imbeciles'--that is, persons who from an early age
display permanent mental defect, coupled with strong criminal
or vicious propensities, on which punishment has little or no
deterrent effect."

In the opinion of the Committee it is very important that a similar
definition should be included in any amendment of the New Zealand Act.

A Magistrate may order the committal to an institution of any person
coming within these definitions if he is satisfied that such person is
mentally defective and two medical men give a certificate to that
effect. Persons coming under the description in Classes I, II, III, or
IV are committed to the mental hospitals, but there seems to be
considerable reluctance both on the part of medical practitioners to
certify and of Magistrates to commit to a mental hospital epileptics and
those described as "feeble-minded." Evidence was given before the
Committee to the effect that there would not be the same disinclination
to send these classes of patients to a special institution such as a
farm colony or an industrial colony.

Apart from the residential special schools, special classes have been
established in connection with public schools in each of the large
centres of population throughout the Dominion with promising results.

The Committee visited the special classes in one of the centres, and
were impressed with t