New Zealand.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XXVIII, Issue 3573, 16 September 1905, Page 3

New Zealand.

A DECAYING MAT TON : A KEJUOUS i'RUBLEM., Tho headlines arc si.o.rl ami we intend them 'a in;. We do not consort with those who, like tho ostrich when clangor is around, hide the heed to cloud fche vision. T i: : poople of this colony should to A,, r, • effort to shake off the lethargic easy feeling which seems to 'sit so tightly on nil whore matters affecting tho general health of tho people is concerned. What do wo find to-day ? An increased physical stamina of our people? NO. An increased moral stamina? NO, Is the race happier than of yore when comforts were fewer? Undoubtedly no. Let us give some lacts and figures to help the; arriving at a fair decision on this matter. First, then, we find tho birthrate, the true test of a country’s happiness, has been going down steadily ami alarmingly since 1880. In that year New Zealand hold the proud position of having the highest birthrate in the Australasian colonies, viz., 40 per thousand. Now she lias Only 2(1 births per thousand annually to report. To make tho m; ttov plainer in its aoriousnosss, we may say that if the rate were maintained that obtained in 1880, there would have been 11,620 more births in the colony in the year ending March, 1004, than there were. Consumption and cancer, those terrible scourges upon civilised communities in comparison to the extent of their civilisation, and unknown to ran - cavedwelling plain living progenitors, is making steady progress in spite of our Treatment Homes and expectoration notices. Even in blindness there has been an increase in cases by more than double during the period 1H74---1901. Crime, mainly a mental disease largely accentuated by environments, is also still increasing, and so is our Police Force and concomitants. Take the moral stamina, and the reports in the current press are sufficient to justify the statement that here again there is no change for tho better. Perjury, a crime rightly looked upon ns next to murder in gravity, is practised every day in every court in the colony unchecked. The courts reveal too frequently that filial affection and parental love and authority are lamentably absent. Our grandfathers were loved, obeyed, and respected by their children. To-day the “ old man ” and the “ old woman ” have to sit tight and say little. One hundred years ago, fifty years ago, perfection in physique was not uncommon in civilised mankind. To-day an erect man or woman in full blush of rosy health is a curiosity outside barbarism, and one turns in the road or street to enjoy a second look at such. 1 jook into the mouths of our children if yon want to have our contentions brought forcibly home to you. As soon nowadays as a child gets its teeth so soon docs it need attention. We have stood near some children who when laughing, revealed miniature blackened forests, and whose breath reminded one of the opposite of eau —de—cologne, Recently the teeth of tho Waltham School children, numbering some 200, were at the instance of Mr T. Tk Taylor, M.H.li., dentally examined, and it was tound that only one solitary mouth w.n eve from decay, and the owner of that mouth was not New Zealand born. We feel sorry to have to give those telling facts, hut truth hidden is evil stored, and we could give columns oi instances further hearing on tin; subject but will refrain. Suffice it to say that the average man to day is not the man his,father was, and his grandfather again was a better man than ho. We- have our own ideas as to the reason for the alarming condition of tilings revealed, but do not intend at this juncture to ventilate them, hut just invite discussion through our columns upon tho various points outlined, with the hope that such discussion may ensue and will bring an intelligent and beneficial light to bear on the situation. To-day Australasia is alarmed at the prospects of a so-called yellow, invasion. The way to repel invaders is to see our people are kept as mentally fit as our invaders. Sec if we come up to that standard. Alien Restriction Bills and artificial fences known as tariffs are merely an evidence of a decaying people, and when Home went down centuries ago their follies were our present ones. —llokkuiga “Times.”