Report of the Special Committee on Moral Delinquency in Children and Adolescents

This volume offers an unvarnished look at post‑war New Zealand’s attempt to grapple with rising concerns about youth behaviour. Compiled by a special parliamentary committee, it records testimonies from teachers, doctors, clergy and social workers, and sets out a stark inventory of the issues then deemed most urgent—ranging from sexual misconduct among adolescents to the influence of media, housing and family life. The report does not shy away from controversial topics, presenting data, witness statements and early statistical attempts to measure a problem many believed was expanding beyond the reach of existing laws.

Beyond the raw evidence, the committee presents a series of thoughtful analyses and practical recommendations. It explores how schools, religious instruction, and community norms might help shape healthier attitudes, and it suggests reforms to legislation and child‑welfare practices. Listeners will gain insight into the social climate of 1950s New Zealand and the foundations of modern youth policy, all narrated with the careful, measured tone of an official inquiry.