RACIAL DECAY.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXV, Issue 10713, 15 October 1913, Page 4

RACIAL DECAY.

The topicf of "racial decay" came under the notice of the ScKuth Australian Anglican Synod last week in connection with the discussion of the report of the Social Service Committee. The Rev. 1). J. Knox referred to the work with that title, the epitome of the larger unpublished report of the Commonwealth Commissioner (Mr Beale) on the birth-rate. He said that Mr Beale estimated....that the population lofct to the Commonwealth during about 40 years ;by the : practices which came within the purview of the commission numbered nearly 500,000. He felt impelled reluctantly to draw at- ' tention to the matter. It accounted enormously for the stagnation in.the spiritual life <H thel community. The commissioner over" and over again had censored the Church and the clergy because they were not outspoken enough on the subject, and because they did not seek to educate the people on it. The matter lay very hear the heart of the moral condition of the people. He commended it to the careful consideration of the Social Service Committee. He would deeply value the committee's opinion with reference to the truth of the statements of the commissioner. If what Mr I Beale had said were.true, tho moral condition of Australia was appalling; if it were not true, itf .should be offi- , cially contradicted.