“IRISH IRELAND"

Dominion, Volume 16, Issue 107, 22 January 1923, Page 5

“IRISH IRELAND"

Sir, —At the Irish Race Convention held in Paris in January last it was agreed (inter alia) that organisations be formed for the study of the Irish Language, Irish history, Irish music, Irish art, etc., and also to promote Irish sports and pastimes. Although twelve months has elapsed since the holding of the convention, nothing in this respect has been done in New Zealand. Will the New Zealand delegate to the convention, or any of them, or the organisation .which nominated them, explain why |no action has yet been taken to carry into effect the resolution or recommendations of the convention in New Zealand?—l am, etc., W. KELLEHER

January 13, 1923.

THE HUMAN UNFIT Sir, —Might I, whilst the mind of Wellington is moving in the scient'fic direction, add a few’ words to the paper which I read before the social and statistical section on Saturday? The problem of the human unfit, I am aware, can only interest and concern the superior minds in any community, because the inferior and lowest are sublimely unconscious of their ignorance and Economists and eugenists are in agreement to-day, that the unfit, breeding irresponsibly and without either restraint or any sense of parental or patriotic liability, are slowly but visibly outnumbering and neutralising the productive sections of .modern nations. Simultaneously, the survival of miscalled humanitarianism sentiments, has. contrary to the law's of Nature, which include the survival of the fittest to an increasing extent, in all countries, throw’ll the cost of the maintenance of the unproductive upon the productive and tax-paying classes The extent to which this problem, of the unproductive has developed, in England and the United Statius, indicates that its continuance must produce national bankruptcy and ruin. I trust, therefore, that the Dominions will be warned in time, w’hilst it is yet possible to correct so dangerous a policy before productive exhaustion is reached. The process of elimination is, I submit, a double one. Fortunately the United States point the way. Me must first, by a combination of the Health and Education Departments, apply the Binet test, modified, if need be, to Miiit New Zealand’s peculiarities, Mo uhall thus obtain, for the first time, ii national mental stock-taking, and ascertain where our national mental weakness lies, and its percentage. Then must follow th© second curative proelimination of the unfit, commencing again on American precedents, with sterilisation, relentlessly applied in the national interest. The severity of the cure, fortunately, will decrease with each generation, so that it is we to-day who chiefly must screw up our moral and patriotic courage to apply this remedy, in meurab’e cases, and while there is yet time, and a favourable result assured. If degeneration increases at its present unavoidab e ratio, the day is not far off when, as tn the case of Greece and Borne, , 1 will be too late—ana, as tn the cases of Russia and Ireland, the cataclysm will he noon us I I do not ,•'-K- for any ren'y. Sir, to this letter. Mv obiect is solely to address mysc’f to the reflective minds innoimst' vour readers, to ask them to read up the leisure, and so prepare themselves, as citizens, to demand that the necessary curative processes be applied without unnecessary delav. —I am, etc., KENRIC B. MURRAY. IThe above letter has been condensed. J.