THE FUTURE OF THE RACE

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LXIV, 29 March 1930, Page 8

THE FUTURE OF THE RACE

(To the Editor) Sir. —If the lone of my recent letter appeared too egotistical for "Victorian" I am sorry, but it' was not/ written with any such intention. It was an honest, endeavour to place a dispassionafc survey of a difficult subject before your readers lo the best of my ability. So far ;is blowing hot. and cold in the same breath is concerned the intention is misunderstood again. The letter look no sides, but tried to show the results of two lines- of conduit when carried to the logical conclusion. Your correspondent says that in actual fact Nature is not concerned even with bodily survival. A few lines further down he says "Self preservation being the ruling law of Nature." He instances the fact that it is natural for leeches to suck the blood of a beautiful woman, and so cause her death. and Nature does not care. This is most interesting, and if "Victorian" will bring along his leeches and-attach them to one of the beautiful women 1 know (alternative names supplied by request) any one of them will be pleased to demonstrate in the clearest possible manner that Nature docs care, and moreover has provided them with excellent means of defence. The barrage of questions that is next encountered would provide more material for correspondence than your readers could stand, [but 1 must briefly try and counter a ' few shots. He asks whether 1 think that New Zealanders can reach the. goal of happiness by persisting in their present mode of life. My reply is that the New Zealanders are the happiest people I have so far met ,and i have been in several countries. Thcv are also well up the scale of physical well being. Our adult population is becoming nervy, irritable, and weak, says "Victorian." Even if this is so, which I doubt, may it not be due to general causes such as increase of business worries, uncertain employment and all the general speeding up of life, and not to the effects of practices under discussion. As to the natural maternal instincts of our womankind, this will not bo so easily eradicated, but usually undergoes considerable modification after a few years of the results that follow its gratification. The conclusions reached by "Victorian" at the end of his letter appear as logical as one could wish for, hut perhaps are not carried far enough. The growth of the black, yellow, and brown races is contrasted with our own slow progress, and it is inferred that we shall oventually be swamped by numbers. This is doubtful, for to attain these enormous numerical superiorities means that the individual must live a humdrum, toilful existence, and if they had enough go to/wish to conquer us they would not put up with their stupid existence any longer, and so soon as they tried to better it their numerical superiority would have to bo sacrificed as part of the purchase price of individuality.—l am, etc., DARWINIAN. Nelson, 28th March.