The Taihape Daily Times. AND WAIMARINO ADVOCATE WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 31, 1917. BALLOT AND BABY WEEK.

Taihape Daily Times, 31 October 1917, Page 4

The Taihape Daily Times. AND WAIMARINO ADVOCATE

WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 31, 1917. BALLOT AND BABY WEEK.

{With which is incorporated The Tar hapo Post and Waimarino News).

The ballot in connection with the Second Division of reservists commenced on Mbnday, so ran the wording of a telegram received yesterday. It goes on to state that there are 15,292 married men in the class from which a drawing of 5000 is being made; that these, with the takings over from what are left of fjhe first will constitute a draft of 6500 men to go into camp in March of next year. Attention has been drawn to the significance of the fact that in.so small a community, the total population of which comprises only about one million souls, there should be 15,292 childless marriages. It should be remembered that these arc marriages contracted prior to 1915, and do not include those which have taken place during war; what arc generally term cd war marriages form no part of the number from which the ballot is now being taken. Here, surely, is food for earnest thought during Baby Week. There arc thirty thousand young people in their child-bearing prime, married and childless, out of a population of one million comprised of all sorts old and young. To those proud of their race and zcaloiis for its perpetuation these facts arc appalling evidences of natural or designed sterility. Are the people of the British Empire becoming so engrossed with finding im dividual pleasure and freedom from a care that should be a law of nature to them, that they are consumed with a selfishness that has displaced all desire to increase and perpetuate their kind? If America finds itself in a similar position to what the ballot for recruits in our country is disclosing to us, it is little wonder, indeed, that the greatest democracy in the world should institute a “Baby Week,” the setting aside of a week to be devoted to impressing the people with the supreme importance of keeping up a natural rate of increase. If Members of Parliament instead of holding minstrel entertainments would patriotically realise this committal of race suicide, and confer with a view to saving our children’s children from extinction by subjugation to yellow and other races which their depleted strength will, not be able to resist they would show a realisation of what is in progress. Why do we boast about our civilisation while we are affected with national dry-rot, while our civilisation is dying and becoming extinct with us? Is pur

national life all a grave, unnatural \

error, suck a mistake that there should arise the thought that “survival of the fittest” means that we are doomed to national decay and death? Life is the supreme question, and the wise have stated that its preservation is the first law of nature; this statement exudes its wisdom by confining life preservation to self. We are committing race suicide from thoughtlessness and carelessness; we have not been taught or urged to think of anything beyond our self-preservation, and while the individual is struggling and striving for a life of selfish pleasure, the nation is dying a lingering death. During Baby Week we might do far worse than ponder over the fact that on our little country there are 30,584 married people in the very prime of life; 15,292 married womeil, in the hey-day of their sexual vigour who are childless. Truly a huge number to die out without leaving any to fill their place in perpetuating the race.

AN UNSEEMING EXHIBITION. The people of the British Empire have been urged to economise in every possible way. The Parliament of New Zealand, has legislated towards greater economy, Efficiency and other Boards, Commissions and Committees have been appointed for dealing with the need for economy, and yet the very spring, the fountain and source of all the talk and enactment on economy, can find nothing better to do than hold impromptu musical extravaganzas. An institution that is costing the country thousands of pounds per diem wastes its time holding jollifications in the lobbies of the House. We are not of the funereal order who act as though, it were sacrilege to laugh and look happy, but while parents and friends all over our little country are receiving telegrams notifying them that their sons, fathers, brothers or husbands have made the supreme sacrifice for their little country, or that they are wounded and laid up in hospital, Parliament, at least, it seems to us, should refrain from conducting comic ministrel shows in the same building as the notices are emanating from which are carrying full charges of deepest anguish to those anxious and waiting people in the various constituencies. Some people in the public gallery of the House while waiting to hear the result of a conference of managers with managers from the Council' were regaled (?) with excruciatingly quaint renditions of “Poor Old Joe,” “Tennessee” “Dixie, ” “Sweet By and By,” and such like, with 'a ribald gusto pregnant with ' shggestiveness. Members were no doubt moved to hilarity by the near 'prospect of a home-going after sitting,out the greatest legislative farce wyLth , ;which... this country has any knowledge. Still, we think they should, havgrendeavoured to maintain self-control • under present circumstances. To receive a message that a dear one has been blown to shreds in France, and read of variety show enactments hy Members of Parliament in the House cannot tend to the creation of the best of feeling. Some in the public gallery were led to ask what their Members of Parliament cared about their bereavements, or about the economics Parliament urged upon the people, when they could put in their time singing and gesticulating like negro minstrels. The country’s position in the war rather gives cause for rejoicing than otherwise, but we do think that a Parliamentary session is neither the time or place for such comic outbursts in public.