PERFECTING THE RACE

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXIII, Issue 7849, 11 July 1911, Page 1

PERFECTING THE RACE

DR MASON’ ON EUGENICS. The City Council free library lectures opened last night at the Town Hall concert .chamber, when Dr J. M. Mason, formerly chief health officer of New Zealand (president of the Wellington branch of the Eugenics Society), addressed a fairly large audience, dealing with tho aims of eugenics. Professor Kirk presided.

l>r Mason defined eugenics _ as the science which deals with ail things tliat improve the inborn qualities of the race, and those that develop them to their utmost advantage.' This was a platform wide enough to embrace all men and women who cared for humanity’s welfare. One of the paramount duties of the newly formed society was to collect data, and not until that was done could it suggest a cure. A great' help would be rendered by members who ©et out truthfully their family records. The battle as to which was more potent, heredity or environment, was still going on, and he was inclined to declare that environment was more important than heredity. Surroundings and education told as surely as blood. In the "microscopic world, where the life-story of millions could bo reviewed in a month, th© most virulent of organisms,, such as the plague bacillus, could by changed environment be moro effectually tamed than lions ever were tamed by human beings. He doubted if It was wise to accept the theory that the unfit should be absolutely prevented from continuing their species- Some of the men who had don© most for the progress and advancement of the race had conic from stock which might bo regarded by some people—tho modern moralist, for instance—as unsafe and unclean. Tho task of deciding oa tho standard of humanity was anything but simple, and could not safely bo left to reformers and extremists. ' r Tho traveller who would accomplish his journey quickest would have tho earth flat/* commented Dr Mason. As for the advice to keep the cradles full, he doubted if one citizen had been added to the Commonwealth as a result. If love of children would not do it, he had no hope that pride of nationality or fear of a Japanese invasion would cause families to grow, (Applause). ‘ The eugenist was on far surer ground when ho urged all who were interested in racial well-being to help to keep alive those children who were born into the State. (Applause.) In Kew Zealand, with its superior climatic conditions—and he was almost inclined to say "'economic conditions.'” but for recent Arbitration Court procedings— w© should try to negative tho bad which cam© to us by inheritance, and leave the sterilisation of the unfit until we had decided on clear and honest grounds who are and who are not lit, A vote of thanks to the lecturer was carried with hearty acclamation.