THE ANGLE OF VISION.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 18547, 6 May 1922, Page 8

THE ANGLE OF VISION.

A veky great deal depends upon the point of view. “The condition of the community shows a terrible state of inefficiency from the material viewpoint and a very terrible state of affairs from the spiritual.” These words, addressed' to the Anglican Synod by Mr E. C. Cutten, S.M., speaking on behalf of the Young Citizens’ ‘ League—an organisation the objects of which command respect and merit support—must, arrest at least passing attention. They should prompt inquiry as to„ why a community such as this, which should be a healthy community m every sense, have rendered itself open to such a charge as is expressed in Mr Cutten’s statement.' Wo accept the statement as being more or less i warranted, for the authority on which it is made compels that conclusion, but it may bo questioned whether New Zealand stands particularly in need of condemnation. Doan Inge, it may have been observed in the past few days, holding that wars make worse the moral tone of the people, has, by way of maintaining his reputation as a gloomy divine, predicted a great outbreak of licentiousness in England, similar to that characterising the periods of the Restoration and of the Regency and the years succeeding the Napoleonic wars. If Dean Inge be a true prophet the situation is a shade worse in the Old Country, as indeed a perusal of the Home newspapers ptrongly suggests, than in New Zealand. It cannot be wholly expected, however, that the era of moral bankruptcy is going to confine itself to the Old Country and leave unscathed the rest of the Empire, including this dominion. There are, of course, people who revel in forebodings who would be unhappy if they could not do so. A glance in another direction brings us to the perennial question of the birthrate. The rate is falling in New Zealand * in . a manner which we are authoritatively assured is “menacing and serious.” There is also a dwindling birth-rate to be contemplated in . the Old Country, and there is likewise a great problem of unemployment which leads to not infrequent references to the “over-population" of Great Britain. Writing concerning the Centenary of Francis Galton—-a name revered by all good eugenists—Dr C. W.' Saleeby, well known for his sociological activities, observes: “Parenthood determines the destiny of nations ; if it fails, all fails. According to my reading of history, decay of parenthood is the mortal disease of nations, and already we are suffering from the early symptoms of that' disease. Minor measures of relief wilt. not avail.” By way of salvation Dr Saleeby recommends the * Galton remedy—a return to the holding of parenthood in honour ; a renascence of •true pride of race, but not its spurious imitations; early marriage; encouragement aqd help for young parents; and welcome of the right kind 'of immigrants from other countries. To talk ob Great Britain and immigration in the same breath at the present time may well seem .somewhat quaint. A point of view entirely, different from that taken Hby Dr Saleeby has been recently presented by a very well-known publicist, Mr Harold Cox. Going boldly ,to the other, extreme, Mr Cox declares that “emigration cannot solve the*question of over-population in England,” and urges that birth-control is the only remedy. Such a conflict of opinion is , at least interesting as indicating how the angle of vision alters the aspect of the problem: where one authority secs' racial ruin another sees national salvation. What cannot' escape notice is that the prophets seem decidedly inclined to be pessimistic. Perhaps it is the case that the optimists are not so - prone to give expression to their views.