THE EUGENICS EDUCATION SOCIETY

Otago Daily Times, Issue 14919, 23 August 1910, Page 6

THE EUGENICS EDUCATION SOCIETY

h- may be taken as testimony to the progressiveness of this community that last night a New Zealand Branch of the London Eugenics Education Society was so hopefully and encouragingly launched as the result of the meeting convened for flie purpose in the Town Hall. 'Die several speakers succeeded in making out a good case for the establishment of such a society, and Professor Benham in particular was able to demonstrate clearly that, so far from the Eugenics Sociot-y encroaching upon the work of any of the philanthropic organisations already in existence, it should scive to stimulate every endeavour founded upon altruistic principles. The meeting last night should have at least one good result in anticipating certain objections and in removing some obvious misconceptions concerning the aims and objects of eugenics. The New Zealand Society, following the wise leadership of the parent society in London, is nledgcd

to defend—to quota tho words of one of tho speakers—" tho priceless institution of marriage." It is important to stress this point, since thero is a branch of eugenics which, hailing from America, has its following in Australia, and docs not hesitato to endorse the demoralising doctrine voiced by G. Bernard Shaw when he cxclaimcd, " What wo must fight for is freedom to breed the race without being hampered by the mass of irrelevant conditions implied in the institution of marriage." The true eugenist, far from desiring the abolition of marriage, seeks b) tho education of the public mind on eugenic principles to preserve tho sanctity, 'ind pei mauenco of the marriage tie. Another important point brought out at last night's meeting is that, while tho aid ot tie legislature may rightly be invoked for tho isolation 0 f degenerates to pro\cilt the perpetuation of the unfit, no such extremo. measure »s compulsory sterilisation » „ nder contertll)l;ltiou _ For while such an enactment is, wo believe, m forco in one or more of 'the American States, tho power thus placed m tho hands of the authorities Is too tremendous to bo tolerated in actual practice. The Eugenics Society, i( s namo implies, iiims at educating public opinion in preferenco to agitating for compulsory legislation. Tho importance of the subject at the present time brooks no denial, as any student of existing social conditions will at onco attest; and if eugenics, by painstaking research'amid tho puzzling problems of heredity, is able to reinforce public opinion it will bo welcomed as a powerful ally both by Church and State. Tho Dunedin Society is in tho fortunate position of bavin" tho wealth of material gathered by this London Society for the last three years at its disposal, and the wiso dissemination of this valuable information by lectures and through- other channels should result in considerable benefit to tho community. Tho promoters may be congratulated upon the election of a strong and representative council, since tho success of the Society's future must depend greatly upon wise and tactful action. Thero are many shoals and rocks upon which such a Society may easily como to grief. Once allow'its machinery to bo utilised as the vehicle for forwarding a fad or for emphasising a, prejudice and its counsels will cease to carry weight. Sir Francis Gallon, universally honoured a* the father and founder of eugenic-science, has ken careful to "base us conclusions upon broad prinoiples, and has thus succeeded in evoking a general response to his appeal. The Dunedin Society cannot do better than emulate -*> good an example.