ental illness, has been attributed to these two factors.

Between the two world wars much of the material of the new psychologists
began to drift into circulation in so-called popular editions. Doubtless
much of the writing was from reputable sources, but the new views, good
in origin, began to suffer as had religious faith in the past from poor
exponents.

A desire for scientific accuracy is understandable, a wish to understand
the working of the human mind wholly commendable, but many people whose
loose behaviour was instinctive, rather than inspired, now had
apologists for their conduct. The moral drift had become moral chaos.

_XIV. Changing Times and Concepts_

Since the beginning of the twentieth century the undermentioned aspects
of a changed social order have become evident. It is not within the
province of this Committee to make an appraisal of the tenets implicit
in any of them. Ecclesiastics may preach against the sins involved;
opposition may arise to the philosophy of education; commercial and
professional interests may inveigh against the inroads of the State, but
this Committee is concerned only in their effects on the sexual
behaviour of young people whose habits and characters are being
affected. It is now necessary to examine them.

=(1) Contraceptives=

Perhaps the first major shock to "respectable" society regarding sex was
when it became known, soon after the beginning of the First World War,
that the Army authorities were distributing "condoms" to troops about to
go on leave. Probably this was the first recognition by the New Zealand
Government of contraceptives. This decision by the Army was accepted by
society, not without misgivings, on the basis that it was much more
important to guard against the spread of venereal disease than to
endeavour to enforce continence among the troops. Society was obliged to
choose between two evils, and it chose what it regarded as the lesser.
Contraceptives thereafter came into common use, are now purchased by a
majority of married couples, and by many unmarried persons. Their
acceptance by the married has posed some problems which have required
the attention of the Courts in England. It was not foreseen, when they
came into use, that questions would arise as to the validity of certain
marriages where one party used contraceptives to avoid having children.

The Committee has found a strong public demand that contraceptives
should not be allowed to g