THE RIGHT TO LIVE.

Dominion, Volume 6, Issue 1722, 12 April 1913, Page 19

THE RIGHT TO LIVE.

NATIONAL EUGENICS AND THE CASE OF THE FEEBLE-MINDED. Mr. David Heron, speaking at tho Galton Laboratory oil heredity in feeblemindedness, said that tho cardinal principlo of national eugenics was the clearcut distinction between tho right to livo aud the right to parenthood. National eugenics denied to no one tho right to live. It declared, however, that there wero certain classcs to which tho right to parenthood must bo denied. .In the ease of the feeble-minded, it declared without hesitation that their children were better not born. Much yet remained to be discovered regarding the inheritance of mental defect, but on the basis of our present knowledge wo were justified in asserting that a substantial reduction in tho numbers of mentally defective could be obtained. lie repudiated in strong terms the advice givon on tho basis of tho Mondelian theory that tho mentally defectivo and the insane should marry those who were normal, and showed that one-quarter of tho children of such niatings ultimately became insane. Such advico could only bring the wholo eugenic movement into disropute.

Messrs. .T. 11. Bflthune anil Co., Featherslon Street, announce, in our auction columns of to-day, that on l (, rulay, April 18. at 1 p.m., at I lie residence, No. !M2 Tlio Terrace, they are holding an important auction nalo of liigh-elass furniture ami appointments. Anion!»st tho articles lo be submitted arc:—Axminstcr and Brussels carpets, Chesterfield couch, dining suite, upholstered in morocco, Cloissonne and beaten copper vases, etchings and en-Ri-avings, book-shelves, chest? of drawers, sewing machine, lawn mower, cooking utensils, and sundries. Tlio furniture will bo on view 011 Thursday afternoon next and (in imiriillitt 'if :.<iti'.. T'ult piilUeuhuij appear in the adYortiseiuenti