PROPAGATION OF THE UNFIT.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XLVIII, Issue 3653, 18 June 1927, Page 3

PROPAGATION OF THE UNFIT.

ANGLICAN PRIMATE SPEAKS OUT. Auckland, June 16. The Primate, Archbishop Averill, at the annual meeting of the Auckland branch of the Plunket Society yesterday, uttered a serious note of warning in reference to New Zealand’s declining birth-rate. “The distressingly low birth-rate in. New Zealand is not sufficiently realised,” declared the Archbishop, who said he was seriously alarmed as to the position. “If this kind of thing goes on,” he declared, “there can only be one result; the relative positions of the peoples of the earth will be materially changed and altered.” It was essential that New Zealand and Australia should possess considerably increased native population. This was cssenfal for the preservation and well-being of both countries. “NEEDED VERY BADLY.”

“This is needed, and needed very badly,” the Archbishop emphatically declared. “What is the use of talking of a ‘White Australia’ or a •White New Zealand’ when the birthrate is so alarmingly low?” He drew attention to the*fact that New Zealand and Australia were surrounded by countries anxious for an outlet for their teeming populations. “Therefore, T regard the work of the Plunket Society in saving child life, not only as a great humanitarian effort, but an essentially patriotic move of much importance,” said the Primate. PROBLEM OF THE UNFIT.

Although he was quite aware of the difficulties in connection with the propagation of the unfit problem, said the Archbishop, he really thought this subject should be tackled in a serious manner.

“New Zealand is a young country, and excellent for the purpose of experiments in this direction. Small as we are, I think we might be able to do something to overcome this problem,” declared the Archbishop.

The propagation of the unfit and of the defective, he concluded, was a serious menace in our community.