MR M'CABE’S LECTURES.

Evening Star, Issue 18335, 24 July 1923, Page 6

MR M'CABE’S LECTURES.

IO THE EDITOR*

Sir, —The peculiarly New Zealand practice of replying to mo when I have reached a safe distance compels me to ask a special courtesy of editors. Mr Mac.Manus is amusing. In my lectures I confined myself, as any sensible educator would, to the position of science to-day. Yet In- digs up poor -old Qnartrefages and Virchow and Pasteur, and- throws them at us as if science had made no progress whatever in the last fifty years. Mr M-aeManus should either read 1 books a little nearer the twentieth century or tell the public plainly what lie is attempting to do. He knows* absolutely nothing about these matters, however, and may bo under tile impression that Qualr-efagos is a professor at London to-day, and Virchow a shining light at Paris. One would be prepared to listen to him a little'inoro seriously on the. other points if he would bo more honest in staling the position ho assails. It is ludicrous to say that 1 tried to “ frighten people away' from tho Church” by urging overpopulation. It is cither gross ignorance (in a Labor man) or gross misrepresentation to say that 1 or any other Malthusian recommends abortion. It is humorous to find a procession of clergymen, representing about 2,000,000 AngloCatholics, urged as any disproof of my statement. A few elementary doses of science and sociology would make your correspondent spare his ink. —I am, etc., Joseph M’Cabb. Christchurch, July 22.