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. |
------+------------+---+---+-----+-----+-----+-----+-----+--

---+-----+
1913  |       1,173| 96|122|  145|  241|  255|  350|  398|  306|  327|
1914  |       1,291| 83|122|  146|  216|  247|  354|  398|  294|  335|
1915  |       1,137| 56| 96|  158|  231|  219|  288|  353|  286|  336|
1916  |       1,139| 63| 95|  135|  170|  212|  269|  326|  266|  343|
1917  |       1,141| 68| 66|  119|  137|  184|  216|  291|  264|  250|
1918  |       1,169| 42| 64|   99|  141|  148|  215|  259|  213|  212|
1919  |       1,132| 52| 98|  101|  125|  161|  202|  258|  222|  238|
1920  |       1,414| 69|125|  167|  220|  295|  347|  445|  377|  407|