THE BIRTH RATE.

Manawatu Standard, Volume LVI, Issue 304, 21 November 1936, Page 2

THE BIRTH RATE.

(To the Editor.) Sir,—ln niy recent letter to your journal concerning the birth rate, I dealt with the matter from a Dominion standpoint. May 1 now ask the privilege of your concession of space tor the purpose of touching on the matter from a world aspect. To my mind the world and Dominion aspects are as different as chalk and cheese, even allowing for, in the caso of the Dominions, the utilisation of empty spaces. I am of the opinion that the world to-day is - over-popula-ted, a statement that, no doubt, will bring coals of fire on my ■ head. It will, however, not have been said in vain if it succeeds only to the extent of firing people with sufficient enthusiasm to take an interest in national problems, and not leaving it entirely to people who enthuse in them only from the point of view, of profit. Let us examine the pros and cons of the world’s birth rate problem and see what we. arrive ,at. I venture to state as a conservative estimate that scientific achievement will promote longevity to the extent of adding fifteen years on to the average life. Assuming ' that to be a correct vision, an uncontrolled • birth rate, coupled with longevity would, before many decades, produce in > the world a top-heavy condition. Such a state,, no doubt, would be ideal for the .warmonger.- I am always deeply suspicious of the motives underlying the' actions of some of the .advocates of birth increase. Eor instance, we-have Hitler of: Germany averring that he has insufficient space for his people. "It may be true, but it certainly does not - tally - with; his action in giving wadding dowries and baby bonuses,' and there are others indeed of. that ilk. Is the increase sought for the benefit of ’mankind. ’or for an assured’supply of cannon fodder? We have international sports gatherings allegedly for tlio purpose of improving individual /physique, and strange as it' sounds, nations make war, and the cream of . the' world’s manhood are led like ' laihbs to the slaughter by people who advocate an increased birth rate, and we are credited with living in a sane age. The rul-ers-of nations who tolerate the slaughter of millions of God’s finest specimens of manhood must be classed as extremely audacious in crying out for more' babes. ~ The ' whole’ tiling savours of hypocrisy. Adam Smith says in Spencer’s Sociology, the rich man for luck, the poor man for children. What observant person would doubt the truth of that statement? I think it has been proved from time immemorial that the masses provide the fodder of war. The wealthy who could afford to keep children decently have very few. Some would not offend society conventions by naturally feeding their offspring, whilst some would prefer to lead a dog than take the band of a child. Others in their useless idleness find life such boredom that, they relieve the monotony by feeding guinea pigs with brussels sprouts.- But let me temper my apparent severity, and not cast a blanket of black over all society folk. I have heard of more than one society woman who would not allow the limelight of society to glare out their maternal instinct. I will now leave that phase of the question and touch ou war spoils. After the drums of ivar have ceased beating, the people start to settle down to as you were, but, sad to say, it becomes a question of as you are. The war - promoters who have shackled- the conflicting nations with a permanent war burden spent in slaughtering humanity (and the race and colour is immaterial for motherhood knows no race) proceed then to counsel economy, in the art of living by the masses wdio provided the soldiers, in order to make possible tile payment of interest on huge sums spent in the art of killing. When is world sanity arriving? When the nations of. the world are prepared to spend' the same "amount of money on peace, as they arc on war 95 per cent, of the crime of the world will disappear, for money and the crave for it is still the root of all evil,' and the greatest incentive to crime. It is only a means of exchange; too high a value is set on it. Human life is not even spared in its procuration. -The measuring of human life in terms of money must cease. Let money be the servant of the people, not its master. I think, Mr Editor, that the foregoing should convince any thinking person that the advocates of worldly birth increase are possessed of ulterior motives and that their cry is not genuine. I will conclude with the following verses which my thoughts on the subject dictate—

When will the minds of reason reign And set this old-world free Of war and its brutality On land, in air, on sea?

It’s better babe should not be born Whilst some have right to say A gallant soldier he will make In war he’ll end his day. —I am, etc.,, W. F. CUTLER. 39 Ada Street, Palmerston North.