HUMAN PROGRESS.

New Zealand Mail, Issue 1747, 30 August 1905, Page 55

HUMAN PROGRESS.

THE LAW OF ISOLATION. (Lecture delivered by Dr W. A. Chappie.) Evolution is the accepted theory of the universe. Few now dispute it, and their voice is growing husky. It has changed our points or view, and clothed the phenomena of life with a new and inspiring beauty. For if a man has risen throngh countless ages from an unicellular aquatic existence to his present state, he is rising still —risen that is from a unicellular to a multireellular organism, from a simple to a complex Btate—from a state of plastic obedience to the forces, of nature, to a state in which he comprehends and modifies those forces by his own imperious will rising still beyond this mere comprehension, direction, and control, to that glorious Christian ideal, the subjugation of Belf to the good of allin this evolutionary process divergence arises and types are formed. By natural selection or the “survival of'the fittest” development or improvement takes place, hut divergence of type results from the operation of the law, of isolation. When groups of a species are isolated by any influence whatever, in such a way as to prevent free inter-crossing between these groups, the law of isolation is at wqgk and diverging types are in course of formation. A prairie fire takes place, the horses stampede, the fleetest reach the mountains, the slowest are left behind. Two groups are thus isolated, and their distinctive characteristics are developed. Or a hurricane blows all the longest winged insects from an island to the mainland, and an isolation takes place, which, in the course of time, leaves a wingless species only evolving on the island; or volcanic action, or the bursting of a lake, or land subsidence, leads to a separation of land animals into groups, which develop characteristics in harmony with the altered environments, and these characteristics can not be lost by intercrossing with those beyond the barrier; or some enterprising goats may climb higher and still higher up the mountain sides and thus become isolated from their fellows, and, developing surer feet and warmer coats, preserve these characteristics, and diverge from the original type. Free intercrossing would obliterate or prevent this divergence. 'The law of isolation is the handma'd of natural selection —by the latter the fittest to overcome the difficulties meet the dangers and control the conditions of existence, survive, and by the former such are separated from their fellows, and their characteristics preserved and accentuated. We get forms of isolation in the class distinctions of nations. One section in a community isolates itself, and elaims to be the aristocracy, and certainly develops characteristics not possessed by the whole community in common. The Bourbons of Spain and the Ptolemies are extreme examples of this classisolation. Here we find marriages of first cousins, of first cousins the children of first cousins, of uncle and niece, of brother and sister, of brother and sister the children of brother and sister, and of relations of even closer degrees of propinquity. These appalling examples of artificial isolation, rapidly led to degeneration of course, but they illustrate the application of the law of isolation from class motives. > Such an isolation took place when the Maori first left his Polynesian home in Hawaiki, braved the Southern seas, and, landed in New Zealand. Consider what this meant. . A discontent with their environment (always a hopeful sign), a wide mental outlook, a consciousness of physical capacity, a courage, a hardihood, a fearlessness of danger, a love of adventure, these were the essential attributes of emigrants who broke away from the luxurious loveliness, and enervating heat, of South Pacific seas. Destined to produce the finest race of savages the world has ever seen, they colonised an island whose stern and rugged front might well have warned off sturdier visitants. But as many a rough exterior clothes a kindly heart, beyond a wild inhospitable shore, there lay a noble country’s richest bounties, a fruitful soil and crystal springs and streams, a genial climate with just that sportive dash from grave to gay, that spurred to effort and development. Yawning valleys, swept by surging torrents, and ragged mountain peaks oft blown to atoms by volcanic thunder, to the wild nomadic spirits of the Maori, breathed of courage and adventure. Courage brought them here, endurance fed on hardship and fattened on the diet, resource became the handmaid of necessity, and the history of the Maori race is but the flash and sparkle of collision between. the rugged fronts of the noblest savage and the finest country known to man. New Zealand chose the Maori for her own, and used all her varied natural gifts to train and develop his. By the law of isolation their virtues were not lost by intercrossing with a,

weaker race, and mind and body own no equal. I watched an aged Maori well past his three score years and ten, his heard all frosted with those many winters, with feeble step approach a country post-office, reoeive and read a telegram, and write another in reply. This was fifteen years ago. He must have been full forty years of age before he came in contact with a written language, but he had learned to read and write, and adapt himself to European institutions after middle life. The majestic carriage and fine physique of this noble race are in harmony with the maturity and adaptiveness of their mind. These qualities of the Maori, physical and mental, are due undoubtedly to the forces which selected him from his fellows, and ensured that he was the strongest and bravest of his kind. The forces of adversity, of danger, of hardship, of a sterner climate, aided the original selective force in testing and developing those who could stand the tests, and weeding out those who were too frail for the conflict. Our climate, our mountains, and our forests lent a .hand, and we have the Maori as we found him. Nothing ever cheers me so much as the abundant evidence everywhere of our affection for the Native race. One of two Natives, clad in the uniform of our King, at a recent Volunteer banquetrose to reply to the toast of the Maori race proposed by the Cha'rman, whose words of kindness and affectionate regard were loudly applauded. Nothing could exceed the calm dignity, the quiet modesty, the earnest eloquence of that son of wild barbarians. I listened to his polished utterances, and watched his noble hearing with wonder and admiration, and realised that the ovation which he received on rising (though a perfect stranger to us) was the expression of a deep conviction in the hearts of European New Zealanders, that the Maori,- uncontaminated, is every inch a man. Similar selective forces were in operation when European -settlers found a resting place in these hosnitable islands. It required more courage to start a voyage to New Zealand 50 years ago, than to any other part of the world. It was the extreme end of the globe—it was peopled by savage cannibals. Captain Cook’s voyages and experiences were known to those who could read or cared for stories of adventure. ~ These islands were three months weai'y sail on almost unknown and tempestuous seas. None but the brave and strong dared think of such an isolation from the home of their birth and the scene of their life’s labours. What forces drove them here? Love of adventure, consciousness of strength—the blood of heroes coursed in their veins. The world was their home; over its surface they would wander, and be free. Rugged health alone could stand the severity of the strain to which they were often put. When a weakness existed they paid the penalty of its non-detec-tion till the hour of trial. We often fail to realise the unfettered spirits, the dauntless courage, that made every difficulty or danger a stimulus to sterner effort, the sublime optimism that promised success, where all was desolate, isloate, and unknown. But they came, they saw, they conquered. No voluntary emigration from Britain ever put so severe a test on courage of mind and strength of body, as did' that of those whom we proudly call New Zealand’s pioneers. Besides these surging forces within, of courage, strength, and love of adventure there was a restiveness under the restraint imposed by British laws and customs. The oppression of wealth and privilege, the conservatism of tradition, the increase of numbers, and the pres-

sure of competition, made a-ctive minds look far beyond their limitations. They longed for liberty, and sought a freedom that distance and isolation alone could give, while in their blood there lurked that holy discontent that kept their fathers moving westward, and makes for progress in every age and people. Voluntary immigi ation into this country then, was a process of natural selection of the fittest to survive in, and conquer, a new land, and the characteristics of those selected by this process, are the best attributes of manhood and womanhood, and New Zealanders as a class are a strong, well-developed, healthy, wholesome, liberty-loving people. This we would expect, by the operation of natural laws from such an ancestry. The evidence which the following table supplies proves what would be considered a wild flight of the imagination in the absence of -the figures, the statement, viz., that New Zealand boys are the best developed in the world:—

New Zealand.—924 boys, Newtown, Te Aro, and South Wellington Schools. New South Wales. —2000 Sydney boys (vide Australasian Association for Advancement of Science, Hobart, 1902). England. Anthropmetric Commission. United States. —Report of Commissioners of Education. Tasmania. —Hobart schoolboys (Australasian Association for Advancement of Science, 1902). New Zealand—Age last birthday, height in inches in stocking soles, weight in the ordinary clothes in lbs., vital capacity in cubic centimeters. Our geographical isolation results in physiological isolation, the law we are discussing in relation to human progress has operated upon the Maori and on the European . immigrauv auiiT?. Our climate, temperate, free from great extremes, but variable, has played its part in the physical development of both races. The mountainous and sea-girt condition of -our country, has also played a by no means minor part, in physical and healthful progress and development. These latter forces are operating still and we may still hope for a continuance of the evolutionary proce&s. The original selective force has very largely ceased to act, however. Luxurious steamers, like floating hotel®, safe as a railway train, and swift as a bird compared, with the sailing craft that brought our fathers here, make the transit from the Old World to the Antipodes short, and safe, > and cheap. Embarkation now does not imply the existance of those qualities that our early settlers needed and possessed. While natural demographic forces were allowed to operate alone in this country things went well, and a good type of colonist settled on our shores, but in 1870 fools rushed in where angels feared to tread. Sir Julius Vogel’® public works scheme involved the complemental scheme of assisted immigration, and he made the fatal and almost criminal blunder of failing to provide a staff of competent selectors in Britain who would play the part previously left to the natural selective forces I have described.

Let me quote from tlie “Handbook of New Zealand” his own. account of the scheme, and from a high single-minded and courageous authority on one of its disastrous results.

On page 76, Sir Julius Vogel says:— “The conduct of immigration to New Zealand was entirely in the hands of the provinces up to the end of tlie year 1870, and the moneys expended in the introduction of immigrants were deriv-

ed from provincial revenue; each province providing according to its requirements and means.. The Public Works and Immigration ; Act of 1870 provided for the application of £1,000,000 out of the loan then authorised to be expended upon the introduction and location of immigrants throughout the colony. Energetic measures were at once taken by the Government to give effect to this important portion of the Act. The Agency in England received full instructions, and the provinces'were invited to co-operate with the general Government by setting aside and preparing land for the settlement of the immigrants. A staff of immigration officers was appointed throughout the colony, whose duty it was to receive and care for the immigrants upon arrival, house them in the depots, and forward them when required to the country districts. . . . The present position of the New Zealand immigration, scheme may be thus summarised:—l. Absolutely free passages to the colony with, in some cases, assistance for transit to port of embarkation, and outfit. 2. Reception of thei immigrants upon arrival in the colony by officers of the Government, and for a few days their housing and maintenance in comfortable depots. 3. During those few days immigrants are rationed at publie expense, and if they do* not find employment at or near the ports are forwarded to depots up-country. 4. Immigrants nominated by their friends in the colony are forwarded, if so required, free of expense, to the place of residence of the person nominating.

“The number of immigrants introduced by the general Government under the Public Works and Immigration Acts up to the 31st March last (1873) amounted to 17,879 souls, of whom 7,738 were nominated by their friends. In bringing these to the colony 91 ships were employed, the average length of voyage being under 90 days.” Dr MacGregor says in one of his admirw able reports:—

“Many causes have conspired m our history as a colony, to intensify the good nature of our people, at any rate, so far as extravagances in vicarious charity is concerned. Our sensitiveness to suffering has been greatly stimulated by the comparative absence from otUP towns of those sights of misery and squalor, that deaden the feelings by familiarity ; and the earnest life we have led since 1870, has made us free-handed to the poor, and impatient of the trouble required to find out, whether our charity was , wisely or mischievously given. During our years of plenty, when borrowed money was being largely spent and the prices of wool, etc., were high, I was in charge of the Dunedin Asylum* and remember with what forebodings I regarded the quality of the immigrants that- were being poured into the country after the despatch of instructions in October 1873, to the Agent-General, To grant free passages and also if necessary advance expenses to port of embark kation and outfit.’ Twenty thousand immigrants were, if possible, to be sent out in six months. With powerful rapidity the results became apparent. From all parts came reports of the evil quality of the imm'grants. The immigration Minister writing to the AgentGeneral in June, 1874, says:—*l have already called your attention to the fact that the shipment by the ship included a number of girls out of the Cork Workhouse, and I took the opportunity of remarking on the very undesirable character of such immigration. A perusal of the report of the Immigration Officer at Dunedin will, I think, convince you how very disastrous it is likely to prove to the cause of immigration, if such modes of selection as those adopted by Mrs [who was paid per immigrant] are under any circumstances permitted. The result in the colony of the landing and distribution of such women as these complained of, and of such immigrants as the “young men,” whom Mr Allen states he has ascertained to be professed thieves (and one of these a ticket-of-leave man) is naturally a feeling of indignation and dismay.’ No doubt this was an extreme case; but nevertheless it is plain that what with the great influx of a low class of navvies during the height of our public works, and the vicious and degenerate people, of whom so many were introduced at this time, the average of our population in point of quality was considerably deteriorated. My experience as Medical Officer of our largest asylum for so many years has convinced me that the ultimate cost of this degraded class of people to this country is enormous.” Now, this is the conclusion of the whole matter—we need population, but quality is of the first importance. We must have farmers and country hands from the farming districts of the old land. Ali other immigration helps to swell the ranks of tire unemployed in the cities, and increases the competition, in labour markets at present overstocked. Tender present conditions the laws of natural selection and isolation have lost much of their force, and artificial control of immigration must keep off the weak and degenerate and enewm-ge the strong and willing, and when assistance is needed to stimulate the inflow of immigrants only picked families from farming districts, should receive it. <hat in vogue in England*-

rf . a c3 £ nd - i -4-> c3 0 •t-i » <d «s bo o> cS V NI r A ■' £ & OQ a th <£j t»a £ fi 0 Height 43.5 44.5 41. 5. 1\ e.giit 43,5 44. 40. Vit. cap. 832.2 * 620. Height 45.8 45.2 44. 44.7 6. Weight 48.2 46.1 44.4 45.3 Vit. cap. 920.7 710. Height 48.5 46.9 46. 46, 7Weight 50.9 50.1 50. . 47.7 Vit. cap. 1015.1 775. Height 48.1 48.5 47.1 47.8 48.1 8. Weight 57.3 54.8 54.9 51.5 51.6 Vit. cap. 1205.2 830. Height 51.1 50.2 49.7 49.7 49.6 9. Weight 62.7 59.4 60.4 56.2 55.2 Vit. cap. 1415. 1050. Height 52.6 52. 51.8 51.7 51.7 10. Weight 67.5 64.2 68. 61.5 61. Vit. cap. 1534.9 1215. Height 54.2 54.1 53.5 53.2 52.7 11. Weight 72.6 69.2 72. 66.3 62.7 Vit. cap. 1712.2 1395. Height 56.3 56. 55. 55.1 54.9 12. Weight 78.5 75.7 76. 72.7 70.4 Vit. cap. 1864.6 1585. Height 58.4 57.5 56.9 56.8 56.8 CO r-i Weight 87.8 83.4 82. 79.4 78. Vit. cap. 2094.2 1760. Height 60.4 59.8 59.3 59.1 57.8 14. Weight 91.2 92.5 92. 88.3 83.S Vit. cap. 2133.7 2045. Height 60.7 62.5 62.2 61.8 60.8 15. Weight 95. 103.1 102.7 101. 96.8 Vit. cap. 2408. 2345.