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1954
NEW ZEALAND
REPORT OF THE SPECIAL COMMITTEE
ON
MORAL DELINQUENCY
IN
CHILDREN AND ADOLESCENTS
Laid upon the Table of the House of Representatives by Leave
BY AUTHORITY: R.E. OWEN, GOVERNMENT PRINTER, WELLINGTON. 1954
20 September 1954.
The Right Honourable the Prime Minister,
Wellington.
Sir,
Having taking into consideration the matters referred to us on 23 July
1954, we submit herewith the report and recommendations upon which we
are all agreed.
Accompanying the report, for purposes of record, are four volumes
containing the evidence of the witnesses who appeared before us and a
large file of the submissions which were made in writing.
We have the honour to be, Sir,
Your Obedient Servants,
O.C. MAZENGARB, Chairman.
R.A. BLOODWORTH }
J. LEGGAT }
G.L. MCLEOD } Members.
Lucy V. O'BRIEN }
J.S. SOMERVILLE }
F.N. STACE }
The Special Committee on Moral Delinquency in Children and
Adolescents
CHAIRMAN
Dr OSWALD CHETTLE MAZENGARB, Q.C.
MEMBERS
Mrs RHODA ALICE BLOODWORTH, J.P. ( Children's Court ).
Mr JAMES LEGGAT, E.D., M.A., Headmaster, Christchurch Boys' High
School .
Dr GORDON LOGIE MCLEOD, LL.B. (N.Z.), M.B.Ch.B. (N.Z.), D.P.H. (Eng.),
Director, Division of Child Hygiene, Department of Health .
Mrs LUCY VERONICA O'BRIEN, Vice President of Women's Auxiliary of
Inter Church Council on Public Affairs: Arch Diocesan President,
Catholic Women's League .
Rev. JOHN SPENSER SOMERVILLE, M.C., M.A., Chairman of the Inter Church
Council on Public Affairs .
Mr FRANCIS NIGEL STACE, B.E.(Elec. Mech.), B.E.(Mech), President, N.Z.
Junior Chamber of Commerce .
SECRETARY
LEN JOSEPH GREENBERG, O.B.E., J.P.
Contents Page
I. Preliminary Observations
(1) Sensational Press Reports 7
(2) Press Reports from Overseas 8
(3) A World wide Problem 9
II. Order of Reference and Procedure followed 10
III. Narrative
(1) The Hutt Valley Cases 11
(2) Cases in Other Districts 13
IV. Has Juvenile Immorality Increased?
(1) Difficulties of Comparison in Absence of Statistics 13
(2) Unreliability of Available Statistics for Comparative 14
Purposes
V. A Change of Pattern in Sexual Misbehaviour
(1) Younger Groups Now Affected 18
(2) Precocity of Girls 18
(3) Organization of Immorality 19
(4) Recidivism 19
(5) Changed Mental Attitudes of Girls and Boys 19
(6) Homosexuality 20
VI. Searching for the Cause 20
VII. Some Visual and Auditory Influences
(1) Objectionable Publications 21
(2) Films 23
(3) Broadcasting 25
(4) Press Advertising 26
(5) Television 26
VIII. The School
(1) Teacher and the Child 27
(2) Co education 28
(3) School Leaving Age 29
(4) Relations with the Child Welfare Division 30
(5) Sex Instruction in School 30
(6) "New Education" 31
IX. Community Influences
(1) Housing Development 31
(2) Recreation and Entertainment 35
(3) Liquor and Gambling 36
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