3

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The Minister of Health duly considered the representations made, and appointed the following Committee tojjinquire into the question :— The Hon. W. H. Triggs, M.L.C. (Chairman). Sir Donald McGavin, Kt., C.M.G., D.5.0., M.D. (Lond.), F.R.C.S. (Eng.). Sir F. Truby King, Kt., C.M.G., M.8., B.Sc. (Public Health) (Edin.). J. Sands Elliott, Esq., M.D., Bac. Surg. (Edin), Chairman of the Council of the British Medical Association (New Zealand Branch). Miss Ada G. Paterson, M.8., Ch.B. (N.Z.), L.M. (Dublin). C. E. Matthews, Esq., Under-Secretary for Justice and Controller-General of Prisons, &c. J. Beck, Esq., Officer in Charge, Special Schools Branch, Education Department. The function and duty laid upon the Committee was a,s follows : — (1.) To inquire and report as to the necessity for special care and treatment of the feebleminded and subnormal, and to propose the general means by which such care and treatment, if any, should be provided. (2.) To inquire and report as to the necessity for the treatment of mental degenerates and persons charged with sexual offences, and to recommend forms of treatment for the various types of cases. The Minister of Health expressed his desire that the Committee should hear such evidence and representations on the above-mentioned matters as might be necessary fully to inform the Committee on the questions referred to it, and further suggested to the Committee that the various organizations and persons likely to be interested should be notified that the Committee would, at a certain place and date, hear any evidence they might desire to tender. The following places were visited and inspected by the Committee : The Myers Special School, Auckland ; the Waikeria Prison Reformatory; the Tokanui Mental Hospital, Waikeria ; the New Plymouth Prison; the Boys' Training-farm, Weraroa ; the Point Halswell Reformatory for Women, Wellington ; the Special School for Girls, Richmond, Nelson; the Mental Hospital, Nelson ; the Mental Hospital, Stoke, Nelson: the Te Oranga Home, Burwood, Christchurch ; the Paparua Prison, Templeton ; the Special School for Boys, Otekaike; the Caversham Industrial Home for Girls, Dunedin ; the Borstal Institution, Invercargill. Sittings were held at various centres in New Zealand, and a large number of witnesses were examined, as shown in the following table : —

Places and Dates of Sittings. Witnesses examined or Work done. r - : 1 ~ Wellington, 23rd May, 1924. (Forenoon only) .. Preliminary meeting. Wellington, 30th May, 1924. (Forenoon only) .. Dr. Clark, School Medical Officer, Napier. Mr. J. Caughley, M.A., Director of Education. Professor J. Tennant, Professor of Education, Victoria College. Wellington, 2nd June, 1924. (Forenoon only) .. Mr. N. R. McKenzie, Inspector of Schools, Education Department. Miss N. Valentine, Education Department. Miss Barlow, Education Department. Dr. Elizabeth Gunn, School Medical Officer, Wanganui. Wellington, 4th June, 1924. (Afternoon only) .. Mrs. McHugh, Health Patrol, Wellington. Father McGrath, representing His Grace the Archbishop of the Roman Catholic Church. Mr. T. P. Mills, Superintendent, Presbyterian Orphanage and Probation Officer. Dr. Jeffreys, Medical Superintendent, Porirua Mental Hospital. Auckland, 11th June, 1924 £ SSL. W—g th Bdtth MM Dr. B. Robertcn j AssoMation, Auckland Branch. Dr. Mildred Staley. Dr. J. R. Macredy, School Medical Officer, Auckland. Canon F. W. Young, Council of Christian Churches, Auckland. Dr. Fitt, Professor of Education, Auckland University. Mrs. Nicoll. Mrs. Watson. Auckland, 12th June, 1924 .. .. .. Dr. Milsom, representing the British Medical Association, Auckland Branch. Professor Anderson, Professor of Moral and Mental Philosophy, Auckland University. Mr. J. Cupit, Juvenile Probation Officer. Mr. W. E. A. Gibbs. Professor Sperrin-Johnson, Professor of Biology, Auckland University. Mr. H. Binstead,Lecturer on Psychology, Training School, Auckland. Rev. Jasper Calder. Mr. W. S. J. Dales. Dr. Wilkie, School Medical Officer, Auckland. Auckland, 13th June, 1924 .. .. .. Sister Hannah, representing the National Council of Women. Miss M. Girdler, St. Mary's Home, Otahuhu. Mr. C. W. Carter. Rev. T. K. Jeffreys, Presbyterian Social Service Association. Mr. J. W. Poynton, S.M. Mr. N. Law, Headmaster, Normal School. Dr. Beattie, Medical Superintendent, Auckland Mental Hospital. Dr. D. N. Murray, Prison Medical Officer. Visit of Inspection to the Myers Special School, Queen Street, Auckland. Hamilton, 14th June, 1924 .. .. .. Dr. Douglas. Dr. F. S. Pinfold. Mr. Phillip Goodwin, Juvenile Probation Officer.