MIND AND BODY.

Evening Post, Volume LXXXI, Issue 111, 12 May 1911, Page 3

MIND AND BODY.

-■ ■- ♦ EFFORTS TO IMPROVE THE RACE EUGENICS SOCIETY FORMED. "A WISE THING TO DO : TAKE STOCK." A well attended meeting was held at the Town Hal l last evening to consider tho formation, in Wellington of % Eugenics Education Society. Dr. IT. M. Mason, formerly chief health officer, presided. There w«re a<«>o present:— J>s. -Begg and Cameron, Messrs. R. A. I Wright, ' M.P., A. H. Hindmarah (city j councillor^ and Rev. Jallic. Apologies were received from the Chief Justice (Sit- Robert Stout). Dr. Izard. Revs. J. J. North, J. R. Glasson, and W. A. Evans, and Dr. Hardvrieke-Smith, and the Mayor (Mi. T. M. Wilfbrd, M.P.). Miss England acted as secretary. Dr. Mason, said it must be admitted that all was not well <vith the world. There were features in the body-weal that should give them a)) grave cause for reflection. . There was one important feature about such a society as was proposed to be formed, and that was that men and women of all sorts and" conditions of opinions might join hands, if they believed that it was a, wise thing for them to do, as any good business men did : to take stock. "MEN BEHIND THE GUN." "Stand back and take stock of th<a wayfarers of the Temple," said Dr. Mason. "The scientific man— such as my learned friend, Professor Kirk, who, between, ourselves, is really tho man behind the gun to night — the medical man, who sees, perhaps more clearly than most, the seamy &ido of human, nature, albeit his horizon may bo a narrow one; the deric, who views the question from tho moral side; the teacher of children and tho rising generation, the men and women ujion whom really depend more than any other tho Wmation in its fullest sense, of the future citizen, t am certain . schoolmasters do not always receive the credit and sympathy they deserve in the important and responsible work they carry out. All these enquirers can find a common platform in such a society as this. "LET THEM ALL COME." "There is even room for the enthusiast who would reform the world just as a Wall-street broker disposes of his 'quick lunch.' Let them all come! • The hard and fast and somewhat unscientific rule laid down by the Queen's Bench in the M'Naughton case was being modified, and crime was coming to be regarded more and more as an evidence of disease. The AttorneyGeneral, with the help of Dr. Hay, had given evidence of this change in the re cent laws which were placed upon the Statute Book. The proposed provident legislation foreshadowed by Mr. Lloyd George showed clearly how the tide was turning. In New Zealand much could be done to place upon a clear and logical basis the value or otherwise of those social and economic problems. A care ful medical inspection of school children would, in Dr. Mason's view, lay sure foundations of data which would be of incalculable value to the Eugenist of the future who tried to assess the influence bjr the better climatic and easier economic conditions Which obtained in New Zealand on the growth and development of a section of the Anglo-Saxon race. The work done in Now Zealand by Mr. Enipson (of Wanganui College), Miss Marchant (of Dunedin), Dr. Ogston, and Dr. Truby King whs deserving of the highest praise. THE GENERAL CODE. As Kipling had said, "Morals is often a matter of latitxide" ; but whether one was guided in those matters by the Christian teaching.or by the humanitarian edicts of Budda or Mahomet, they did know that there was a general code to which they must subscribe as > soon as they* became units in the community. The control and treatment of any whocared to break through that code was a fit subject for discussion in such a society as was proposed to be formed. On this aspect of the work much help might be expected from such men as Mr. Hogben and Mr. Pope. Then they must have within their ranks some who would act the part of a brake to the car. THE ENTHUSIAST'S PART. The enthusiast" who wanted charge of a human stud farm to guarantee to give a nation of physical and intellectual fiants, Dr. Mason did not believe in; ut the enthusiast had had his part in the great game wherein the pawns were men. He would point to the care with which the stockbreeder selected his flock and the carelessness with which he handed over his cherished daughter to the syphilitic bridegroom; but, though, love and liking could bo subordinated, which, thank God, it never would, yet would this improvement of the human stock have an impossible task. To what standard would he breed? Long-haired men and shorthaired women — both (to Dr. Mason's mind) monstrosities. If physical stature was his aim, Nelsou, Wellington, or Napoleon would have been passed over in the selection of sires. If physical stamina only was his aim, they would never have had a Stevenaon, a Tom. Hood, or a Mrs. Browning. PROBLEMS -FOR SOLUTION ? Those were some of $he problems they would have to tackle. But if they did no more than send valuable data to that great clearing-house set up in London by the munificence of Galtou, then tho proposed society would have deserved well of its time and generalion. THE DISCUSSION. Professor Kirk announced that Mr. Joshua Johnson, of Picton, had sent £5 to the proposed society. (Applause.) He then explained that there had been and were still those who aimed at Eugenic ideals, but they bad not been realised. Sir Robert Stout had done a most distinguished public service in his advocacy of the indeterminate sentence and in its becoming law. If only reliable statistics were collected in New Zealand by the society, it would have justified its existence. Professor Kitk urged calmness of utterance and avoidance of extravagant statements. Mr. T. King moved — That- an Eugenics Edacation Society be formed in Wellington, to be affiliated with the Eugenics Education Society of London. He referred to the deplorable ignorance on the subject in Wellington, educated people, even, not knowing the meaning of the word "Eugenics!" Mrs. A. '11. Atkinson seconded the motion. She thought the searching out of pedigrees would be most interesting ■work. Tho list of objects of the society gave a sufficiently wide ranc;© to luturest all classes of the community. A gentleman present suggested enlisting tho interest and support of legislators. To this Mr. Wright replied there would bft no difficulty in interesting membei'a of Parliament on the objects of the society. There had been a want j oi organised effort in the past to bring j the important matters to be considered by the society before the public and before Parliament. ■ Marriages had taken place in families where there was a strong taint of insanity, and most people had seen the evil results of such. Such things were not only crimes against the individual, but againtt society v well.

Dr. Cameron, Mr. E. Kennedy, Mr. W. Gray, and Mr. Hindmarsh also spoke, advocating the aims of the society. Tho proposal to form a society waa carried, and the objects, aa framed by the Dunedin society, were adopted. The subscription was fixed at 5s per annum, and was collected in the room. Tho following committee was elected by ballot :— Sir Robert Stout, Rev. W. A. Evans, Mrs. A. R. Atkinson, Miss M. iL. Richmond, Professor Kirk, Professor Mackenzie, Dr. Platts-MOls, Dr. Mason, Dr. Hardwick Smith. Dr. Cameron. Dr. Begg, Dr Hay, Messrs. T. Kirn?, R. A. Wright, M.P., A. 11. Hindmarsh. T. M. Wilford. M.P., A. Hamilton, G. Hogben, G. A. Stuckey, and \V. Gray. To the committee was entrusted tho framing of bylaws and the election of president and vice-presidents.