certain modern forms of
dancing. There appears some grounds to suppose that dances
conducted under undesirable conditions contribute to sexual
immorality, but the Committee see no reason to condemn dancing
generally because the coincident conditions under which it has been
or is conducted in some cases have contributed to impropriety. The
cinema was stated by some witnesses to have an immoral tendency
both in the nature of the pictures presented and in the conditions
under which they are viewed by the audience. The Committee suggest
that a stricter censorship might with advantage be exercised, and
should include the posters advertising the films.

It has been stated that venereal disease has increased in New Zealand
with the return of the Expeditionary Force from overseas. Ample
evidence, however, was given to the Committee that there has been no
increase of the disease due to returned soldiers. These men were treated
prior to their discharge until non-infective.

PART III.--BEST MEANS OF COMBATING AND PREVENTING VENEREAL DISEASE.

SECTION 1.--EDUCATION AND MORAL CONTROL.

There is no question that the most effective way of avoiding venereal
disease is to refrain from promiscuous sexual intercourse. The problem
which the Committee have been asked to consider has very important
medical aspects, but, while these must not be neglected, it is essential
to the health and well-being of the nation that the enemy should be
attacked with every moral and spiritual weapon:--

Self reverence, self-knowledge, self-control,--
These three alone lead life to sovereign power.

The absence of proper training and instruction of the young is
undoubtedly responsible for a great deal of the evil which has been
shown to exist. Children are led into bad habits through ignorance, and
young men and young women grow up with utterly false ideals of life, and
in many cases fall into deplorable laxity of conduct.

There is an impression among many young men that chastity is either
impossible or at least is inconsistent with physical health. There is
the highest medical authority for stating that this notion is absolutely
wrong, while there is no difference of opinion whatever as to the
serious risks of contracting diseases of a very loathsome character
incurred by those who do not restrain their passions. Apart from this
aspect of the question, it must be obvious to every thin