The Stratford Evening Post WITH WHICH IS INCORPORATED THE EGMONT SETTLER. MONDAY, DECEMBER 18, 1911. EUGENICS CONGRESS.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXXII, Issue 7, 18 December 1911, Page 4

The Stratford Evening Post WITH WHICH IS INCORPORATED THE EGMONT SETTLER. MONDAY, DECEMBER 18, 1911. EUGENICS CONGRESS.

It has been decided to hold the first International Eugenics Congress in July next at University of London. The gathering will be a notable one, And it is earnestly desired by the loaders of the movement to make more widely known the results of the investigations of those factors which are making for racial improvement or decay, to discuss to what extent existing knowledge warrants legislative action, and to organise the co-operation of existing societies and workers by the formation of an international committee. The Congress is to be organised by the Eugenics Education Society under the presidency of Major Leonard Darwin, a son of Charles Darwin. The vice presidents include many well-known names such as the Bishops of Oxford and of Ripon, Mr Winston Churchill, Principal Miers, Sir William Collins, Sir Thomas Barlow, president of the College of Physicians, Professor Forel, of Switzerland, Dr. L. Manouvricr, Professor of Anthropology in Paris, Professor J. J. Scrgi, of Rome, and Dr. Alfred Ploetz, president of the Internationa] Society for Paco Hygiene, Germany. The programme is as yet not lixed in detail, nit it has been decided to group the subjects for the Congress under the bearing upon eugenics of biological research, ol sociological and historical research, of legislation and social customs, and considertion of the practical application of 'eugenic principles, it is also intended to arrange a small exhibition in connection with the Congress of charts, diagrams, pedigrees, md any objects bearing on human a.ercdiiy. That there is a field of useful work ahead of the Congress is undoubted, and it is to be Imped that me practical results may follow.

! NGONS3 D E RATE PEOPLE.

rimne settlers are complaining of the nconsidorate conduct that they re-

ceive at the hands of some people who have no respect for the rights of private property, and while they have n the past looked leniently on an rccasional visit from the sportsman or angler who might desire to fish a stream, or shoot over a property, the nuisance is becoming so great of late, bat they feel they are compelled to In bar all persons as trespassers, un-

less permission is first obtained. In one case, a settlor informed ns that whole families were making a practise of picnicing on bis property, while they fished in the streams and otherrise disported themselves, lit fires, md when satisfied, departed, leaving broken bottles and rubbish about the paddocks. In addition these visitors seriously disturb stock, so that under ill the circumstances it cannot be wondered at that the worm has turned—or is at least turning.

THE SCHOOL CONCERT.

It has been remarked that the recent Stratford School entertainment dilrerod in some features from the usual annual effort, and in at least one respect was disappointing. This was in the absence of the usual items by the school children themselves, which have always hitherto provided the main part of the nrogrammo and have been

much enjoyed by parents and friend While this is perfectly true, it

only fair to the teaching staff to point out that, owing to the destruction of h-3 school buildings by lire, and the disorganisation thereby caused, and the cramped conditions nnd.T which tuition is being temporarily carried on until the now building is available for nsc, it was utterly impossible to specially train children for the public entertainment. Having done so well in the past, naturally teachers did not care about taking the risk of hakdoing something on this occasion. That is the explanation why the little people did not take a greater share in providing the items on the programme of the otherwise excellent entertainment given last Thursday night.

MINISTERIAL INTENTIONS

Referring to ministerial intentions on Saturday last, the “New Zealand Times,’’ which journal ought to know as much in this direction as anvone,

remarks:—“Appeals to precedent will afford the Prime -Minister rather doubtful guidance next- week when, after representation of the Maori seats is decided and the results of Thursday’s voting finally revised, ho conics to consider his line of action. Neither will reference to constitutional practice he very helpful. r l he reasons for this are that no precedent exists for a position quite the same as the present and constitutional practice shows strange variation. The position of parties is, for the moment, exceedingly difficult to gauge with the accuracy demanded by a situation that may be determined by a single vote. One of our southern contemporaries appears to ho suggesting that the work of government should immediately he handed over to the Leader of the Opposition without pause. This might, conceivable, bo a judicious party move, but it is one requiring at least measured consideration. Just at present it seems to ns undesirable, and we

should imagine would not be. responded to by the Opposition. ' The position is certainly complicated, but wo have never heard of a case in which the reins of office were handed over to a party loader having a following of less than half the House. This is the plight of .Mr Massey, whoso pledged supporters number 37 in a House of SO. He may receive support from some of the members who cannot be claimed by either side; so, too, may the Ministry. It therefore seems plain that since decision of the electors lias been so incoherently expressed, Parliament itself should by a division decide the issue. The question of which way this should be done can be more profitably discussed next week than now, but there seems very little reason to doubt that it would be more satisfactory to the party leaders and the country to allow Parliament to give its decision than to commence ‘swapping horses’ in advance. So fains some rather hasty suggestions go concerning ‘the danger of humiliation to the Liberal party’ it is, we feel sure, absurd to suppose that ■■■the Prime Minister will do anything prejudicial to the future of his friends or distasteful to ids supporters in the constituencies. Common sense must in the end guide him in this business.”