POVERTY PROBLEMS.

Evening Star, Issue 8719, 11 January 1892, Page 2

POVERTY PROBLEMS.

SO SHI IDITOBi Sib, —Those moat competent to judge tell us, from compiled statistics, a vast improvement has been made, more particularly amongst the middle classes, in the physique and general appearance of our men and women during the past fifty years. This is attributed to the maternal care of the children being better. More milk food is given, and the milk is purer, the latter being brought about by a better breed of the cow. On all sides lamentation is expressed at the enormous increase of poverty. Royal commissions sit from time to time and collate evidence. The papers teem with talk about charity; but to seek a remedy is altogether another thing. One often questions whether we are really in earnest. Looking forward to our future race, one sometimes thinks the “unborn millions” will look backward and say how little men and women must have known of themselves. Man has been aptly described as an animal who cooks bis food. We belong to the animal kingdom, yet how little we think of improving our race, We spend vast sums in improving the lower ones, but no attention do we pay to the higher—ourselves. Marriage is surrounded with certain forms—age and residence, etc.—before allowed by the law. Now, law is simply public opinion. Could it not be possible to make this more strin-gent-say in the direction of a certificate of health from an approved medical examiner before the usual permission were granted. Would this not save much misery springing from vice and ignorance ? Is it fair to society that those who cannot pass an examination for a life insurance policy can freely contract marriage with a view to issue. Possibly it may be urged such a system would diminish population. All thoughtful men apply themselves to the progress of the race. We want quality, not quantity. We are weighed down and crushed by the masses, and this is the mistake democracies must guard against. In the slums of large cities the population is found to be about five times as prolific as in other parts. Surely a nation would be a greater one with, five or ten millions of choice inhabitants than with double the number of ill-bred and vicious ones. Probably our Parliament may see the wisdom of improvement in our marriage laws in thus attempting at least to devise some means of checking pauperism.— I am, etc , Ldmpeb. Dunedin, January 9.