A PROBLEM OF LIFE.

Dominion, Volume 6, Issue 1852, 11 September 1913, Page 4

A PROBLEM OF LIFE.

WORK IN PLENTY-OR ANNIHILATION 1 . "It is a striking story," said Professor Macmillan Brown, when interviewed yesterday after his return from a trip to the Caroline Islands, "that 011 poor level islands the population is increasing, while on rich volcanic forested soil tho population is declining." As an instance of how the necessity of work influenced the population, tho Professor cited tho Island of Uleai. These people arc a fine race, with stalwart men and fine, handsome women. About fivo years' ago a typhoon swept their' island, which is low and fairly level, aud they had been struggling sinco to recover their position. In their villages the children wore numerous, whilo on tho rich volcanic islands, the children were noticeable by their absence. instance of this is tho. Island of Yap, which is far to the west, and upon which tho Professor stayed a week. , The population there bad- fallen from 16,000 somo thirty years ago to 6000 at present. This was duo l'.ot to starvation, but to too much food—too great luxury and work. Tho island was a very rich one, with >7volcanic soil, and clothed with .forests. Tho samo thing was found in tho whole archipelago, and over the Marshall Islands and in. tho Gilberts. Oil the richer islands population was decreasing, and 011 tho low coral islands that compelled their inhabitants to work, the population was increasing steadily. "Tho practical moral to be drawii from this," ' said the Professor, "is simply that the first item in most Labour 'programmes—reduction of work, and plenty of food from tho State— moans tho annihilation of our raco in these islands and everywhere else."