Our Birth Kate. TO THE EDITOR.

Otago Witness, Issue 2471, 24 July 1901, Page 9

Our Birth Kate. TO THE EDITOR.

Sh,— l notice that this question has at last been taJsen notic2 of by the House of Parliament. Throughout the country the question has long been recogmseri as -a serious one. The press, which should yip to form and guide public opinion, is stjil ou the question—it is a non-pa} ing one, and is, jf course, left to itself. In many countiy «li«ti*cts the matter is of such a serious natuie as to mean almost the closing of the local schook. 1 know oi several schools where it is a. question of mere hanging on to put the evil day off ! The attendance has b&sa going down steadily, and not only are the schools suffering through leaving the attendance loweretT. but the teaching is Buffering also. Marriages do not seem to affect the rate, as there seems a general inclination on the part of both sexes to fhirk the natural burdens of life. It is. no use saying that education will bring about a change, or that the matter is so serious as imogined. It is serious. Farming districts, more than large centres, are beginning to feel the effect the change is bringing about m a growing scarcity of helpeis. It is useless to talk of the question of food when the colony is quite able to produce food to supply the wants of millions, instead of a few thousands, of people. The people must face the question, or very shortly it will face them. Health and sickness are behind it ; science is behind it; common sense is behind it; the well-being and prosperity of the colony are also behind it. You may taboo the question ; leading men and women may gloss the subject over and put it behind the door; our churchmen may wink at the subject of youthful vice, and our courts may try to check the evil by dealing out "five, seven, or 10 years and the lash, but the canker is in the heart ot the apple. Our courts are beginning to tell a very sad tale; otir unwritten social life tells a much — a very much — sadder story. Even the ebullition of sentiment so recently witnessed throughout these colonies partakts more of the hysterical than the patriotic. The strong, deep, and manly and womanly outbursts of loyalty thai found expression of old are wanting nowadays. The mass want the e\er-bubbling, fizzing sparkle o£ excitement to cheer their blase spirits. What ia to be done? Can we do nothing? I notice that th« Minister refuses to do anything to stay the habit of smoking among children! Our streets are shli to be disgraced by children struttmg up and down cigarette-smoking. The nervous system is to be stimulated, the seeds of insanity to be sown broadcast, and we are to look long aud askance at the asylum doors that shelter the future wrecks of youthful pleasure. The subject is urely worthy of attention, when it is seen that the future of the race is at stake. Royal commissions perform great feats. Is this matter not woithy of one? — I am, etc., CALLIOPE.