f cost. The only persons in the community
who will be penalized by the proposed legislation are those who, having
contracted venereal disease, are so reckless and unprincipled that they
will take no pains to avoid communicating it to others.

The Committee, it will be seen, regard the legislative and medical
measures which they propose as of great importance, but with all the
earnestness at their command they desire in conclusion to emphasize the
moral and social aspects of the question. With the changing social
conditions, especially in the larger towns, we are losing the home
influence and home training which are the best safeguards to preserve
the young against the temptations and dangers which beset their path in
life. The Committee would impress upon parents the paramount duty they
owe to their children in this matter. There is also a duty cast upon all
leaders of public opinion, and upon the community at large, to do what
is possible to bring about better living-conditions, especially for
girls in the towns, to encourage all forms of healthy sport and
amusement, and to cultivate a higher moral standard. Whatever sanitary
laws may be passed, and whatever success may be attained in dealing with
bodily disease, there can be no true health if the soul of the nation
remains corrupt. If this inquiry should serve to remove some of the
popular ignorance regarding venereal disease, and to quicken the public
conscience so that appropriate steps may be taken to deal with this
dreadful scourge, the Committee feel that their labours will not have
been in vain.

W.H. TRIGGS, Chairman.
J.S. ELLIOTT, \
M. FRASER, \ Members
J.P. FRENGLEY, > of
JACOBINA LUKE, / Committee.
D. McGAVIN, /

APPENDIX.

GRAPH A.

AVERAGE AGES OF BRIDEGROOM AND BRIDE AT MARRIAGE, 1900-1921.

[Illustration]

TABLE A.

ILLEGITIMATE BIRTHS, AND BIRTHS WITHIN ONE YEAR AFTER MARRIAGE, IN NEW
ZEALAND, 1913-21.

NOTE.--The figures refer to accouchements, not to children born,
multiple cases being counted once only (Only live births are included.)

------+------------+-------------------------------------------------+
|Illegitimate| Duration of Marriage (in Complete Months) |
Year |Births +---+---+-----+-----+-----+-----+-----+-----+-----+
| | | | | | | | | | |
| | 0.| 1.| 2. | 3. | 4. | 5. | 6. | 7. | 8. |
------+------------+---+---+