FERTILITY OF THE UNFIT.

Southland Times, Issue 14633, 25 January 1911, Page 5

FERTILITY OF THE UNFIT.

A NATIONAL PROBLEM. SPEECH BI DR FIXDEAI. (Per United Press Association). DUNEDIN. Jan. 24. Dr Findlay in a lecture on urbanisation and national decay, before the Eugenics Society to-night said in connection with the fertility of the unfit that the modern tendency of drift with towns was largely accountable. Nearly 77 per cent, of the population of Britain liyed in cities and towns. In New Zealand four years ago the rural population exceeded the borough population, but today the position was reversed. In all the large cities the birthrate was maintained mainly by the least fit. In the poorer part of Berlin there were 214 children to every 1000 married women, in the richest parts 121. In London the difference was about the same. He desired to mark three things; (1) That the birthrate was dwindling fastest in cities; (2) that the reduced rate was chiefly maintained by the fertility of the least fit; (3) that the population of New Zealand was steadily drifting to the towns and cities. The prospect justified a bold statement that for them the future meant either eugenics or extinction. One family of defectives, in all its branches prolific, would in a few years cost us in asylums, gaols and homes some £20,000. Two imbecile girls had produced 15 Illegitimates, and every one of these would be dependent during the whole of their lifes on the State for everything, including ultimate burial. Among the suggested eugenic remedies was a new marriage law which would prevent juvenile marriages specifically. The State should cardinally aim (1) to keep people on the land; (2) to enforce and assist the most approved method of town planning. Land for settlement must be found and country life must be made more attractive. If this country was to rise to greatness it must check the agents of degenratlon and promote those that would improve the physical and mental qualities of the people.