MIND AND BODY

Hokitika Guardian, 1 February 1929, Page 2

MIND AND BODY

INI ! ERI TED QUALITIES. ENVIRONMENT IMPORTANT. Accepted views on tlie question ot the inheritance ot' mental qualities were challenged by Protessor AY. GBenham, of Otago University, in a lecture delivered at the Auckland University College. The professor said great credit was due to the Government for passing the Town Planning Act and the Act relating to mental defectives.

Recent investigations into the problems of heredity were -briefly described by the lecturer, who said a new standpoint had been taken up, and the settled view of Sir .Francis Gallon and his successors, that mental qualities were inherited “in the same manner and in the same degree as man’s physical characteristics,” had failed to

satisfy biologists of the present day. The close resemblance of offspring to their parents was the subject of Prolessor Renham’s introductory remarks, and the principles of heredity discovered bv Mendel were described an illus trated by lantern slides. The problem relating to mental qualities was much more difficult to investigate than that of bodily characteristics. said the professor. In the ease of the lower animals mental qualties were either completely lacking or had not been the subject of thorough invstigations. In the case of a number of distinguished men. examples were taken from the famous Darwin family to show that the mental ability was of a wide variety of types. Marriage into noted families had, in some cases resulted in the expression of marked ability. Feeblemindedness appeared to be inherited in much the same way as the qualities of outstanding ability, and the results of the marriage of such people were lamentable. It appeared arguable,

however, that mental qualities, whether strong or weak, were largely the result of environment and opportunity and that the evidenee obtained was by no means conclusive. The removal of the cause ol feeblemindedness appeared to be, to some extent, within the control of statesmen by improving the environmental conditions. Society might be relieved of a serious menace by - this course more rapidly than by waiting improvement in the standard of mentality through a number of generations. Common ling upon the passing of the Town Planning Act, Prolessor lienham said it. should do much to improve social conditions, and would have a beneficial influence upon the health of the people. To such stimuli the mental development of the people should make a good response. I act and sympathy lie counselled in the application of the Mental Defectives Act, and suggested that the removal of objectionable surroundings might- do

much to relieve the State from the burden of unsocial members.