CORRESPONDENCE.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LVII, Issue 261, 14 April 1915, Page 3

CORRESPONDENCE.

Tine CULT OF EUKKXIUS. To the Editor. P.iv, —' Kiigonics is the study of the agouti", under social control, that may injure - impair the racial qualities of future generations, either physically or mentally." That is the definition according to present day engenists. The subject is practically new, as far as the Dominion is concerned, and is not practised extensively in Australia. I presume America is much in sympathy with the aims and objects of this "ciil-1 tore" system. In fact, certain States' are adopting this measure, together with more stringent marriage laws. By doing this they expect the race to improve physically, mentally and morally. There are a lot of faddists in America who

make themselves conspicuous by telling I everyone that the world all through is J degenerating, decaying, and declining, and that'in a few years time, if eugenics is not adopted on a sound basis, there will not be half a dozen perfect specimens of humanity left, We can't place much credence in that quarter by thcrfe alarming utterances. The world can get along quite well without the introduction of eugenics. In New Zealand one person out of every 257 is insane, that is, according to last year's mental hospital returns, and a good percentage of these unfortunates have diseases that arc hereditary. We will presume that . the country adopts eugenics and enforces more stringent marriage laws. Well, will the committals to asylums be less than hitherto? Will the birth rate be higher, the death rate lower? Will the people as a whole improve physically, mentally and morally? Will there be a decrease in the number of insane persons? These questions are open to much discussion, and the answers would probably be in the negative if put to anyone who has followed the subject up since its inception. There are physical'

culture clubs established in the 'large centres of the Dominion, and many avail themselves of these classes, and no doubt receive beneficial treatment from this course. Therefore the establishment of these clubs is quite sufficient for the country, instead of venturing out into a bold system of eugenics. A eugenist who was also styled a "social" reformer," visited the Dominion from New York a few months ago. He. said he was astounded at the immorality that existed in the large centres. We have no time for these individuals out here. Let them investigate the immorality'"of their own towns. We all know of the conditions that exist in New York. It would be better for these "social reformers" to exercise their principles there instead of coming out here to find fault with the people. According to these eugeriists no one is perfect who is of unstable mind;

lias traces of hereditary madness; by unreasonable speech betrays unwarrantable lattitude of eccentricity; has impediments physically. Refore parties are to be married they must pass a stringent examination to see if they possess any of these defects. The complications that would ensue at this procedure can only be conjectured. We can picture enthusiastic .Horace and Ms fair Matilda going through this performance. And if Horace was rejected as un.lt owing to his having a cross-eye or a disjointed ear—well, the trouble, can be imagined. No one has yet attempted to emulate the great Russian Tolstoi, who, by sending representatives all over the world, endeavored to form » new race by selecting the most perfect specimens of humanity in existence. The result of the work is not known, for at the time of his death the assemblage of the perfect people was just being arranged. An American also ventured out with this idea, but his scheme ended in a miserable failure. It is good to see that the protection of infant life in the Hominion is soundly established, and the good work carried out by the different societies should receive due recognition from the people. Therefore, eugenics is noit required, but the protection of our infant life, establishment of physical culture classes in the schools, and the extension of the present method in vogue should be adopted.—l am, etc., R. A. ITARTNKTT. Mt. Messenger, April 12th. TARANAKI COUNTY COUNCIL. To the Editor. Sir-In your report of the Moa Road Hoard meeting, in your issue of the "Daily News" of April 8. I nm reported to have said that the business of the Taranaki County Council was done in a "hole-and-corner manner." This is a most outrageous statement, as it is so very far from the truth, and I cannot think for one moment that Councillor Morton made it. At the Road Board meeting a question was asked how the merger was getting on. Mr. Bridgeman replied that it had not come up before the Council since his election. I replied that a good deal of business was done by the chairman and clerk, and never came before the Council. (The chairman's remarks re blankets confirms this). The remarks I made were not intended as any reflection on the chairman or clerk, and I am much surprised, that it should be put in such a light by one or two councillors.—l am, etc., MARK IIOPSON. April 14, 1915. BULLOCKS versus .COWS. To the Editor. Sir,—l note in your issue of the 131U inst. a paragraph dealing with butcher? killing ox beef and cow beef. The abattoir returns show that during the month of March 31 bullocks were slaughtered, of which 27 were killed for the Meat Bazaar. Ido not know who the other four were killed for, but for the information of the enquiring councillor and the general public would "vou kindly publish these facts?—l am, etc., A. ALLEN.