XII.  The Influence of Religion on Morality—­
  (1) The Need for a Religious Faith 43
  (2) The Need for Religious Instruction 44
  (3) The Need for Family Religion 44

XIII.  The Family, Religion, and Morality—­
  (1) The Importance of the Family 44
  (2) The Place of the Family in the Legal System 45
  (3) The Sanctions of Religion and Morality in Family Life 46
  (4) The Moral Drift 46

XIV.  Changing Times and Concepts—­
  (1) Contraceptives 47
  (2) The Broadening of the Divorce Laws 48
  (3) Pre-marital Relations 48
  (4) “Self Expression” in Children 49
  (5) Materialistic Concepts in Society 49

XV.  The Law and Morality—­
  (1) History of the Law Regarding Morality 50
  (2) Protection of Women and Girls from Defilement 51
  (3) Consent as a Defence 51
  (4) Weaknesses in the Law 52
  (5) Proposed Reforms 54

XVI.  Child Welfare in New Zealand—­
  (1) History of Legislation 54
  (2) The Children’s Court 55
  (3) Corporal Punishment Abolished 57
  (4) Defects in the Act and its Application 57
  (5) Changes Proposed 60

XVII.  Summary of Conclusions 63

XVIII.  Recommendations—­
  (1) Proposals for Legislation 66
  (2) Proposals for Administrative Action 67
  (3) Parental Example 68

XIX.  Appreciation 68

Appendix A:  Table of Sexual Offences for Which
Proceedings Were Taken in New Zealand 69

Appendix B:  List of Witnesses, Submissions, and
Order of Appearance 70

I.  Preliminary Observations

=(1) Sensational Press Reports=

In the second week of July 1954 various newspapers throughout the Dominion featured reports of proceedings in the Magistrate’s Court at Lower Hutt against youths charged with indecent assault upon, or carnal knowledge of, girls under 16 years of age.

The prosecuting officer was reported as saying that: 

The police investigations revealed a shocking degree of immoral conduct which spread into sexual orgies perpetrated in several private homes during the absence of parents, and in several second rate Hutt Valley theatres, where familiarity between youths and girls was rife and commonplace.

He also stated that: