SURVIVAL OF FITTEST.

Thames Star, Volume LXV, Issue 19213, 20 September 1934, Page 3

SURVIVAL OF FITTEST.

N.Z.’S LOW DEATH RATE. Climate And Environment. SOCIOLOGICAL FACTOR. AMERICAN PROFESSOR’S VIEWS. (.By TelegrapU—Press Association). WELLINGTON, Sept. 20. A query as to whether it was not probable that New Zealand’s low death rate was due to climatic and environmental factors, rather than to any advanced sociological influences, was raised by Dr. G. A. Barker, professor of geography at Colorado State Teachers’ College, Greely, Colorado, in an interview. Dr. Barker said the low death rato in New Zealand went on from 1870, and antedated the low_ birth rate. So he did not really think the low death rate was due to advanced legislation. He said America had a very high death rate, but that part of America which had the lowest death rate had a climate somewhat similar to New Zealand’s.

After comparing the climates of various parts of the world he said that undoubtedly the lowering of the death rate all over the world was a sociological factor, because climate had not changed. Asked if a plentiful milk supply had any effect, he said it was truo that in countries where high quantities of milk were produced the death rate was lower than in other countries. Sociological selection might have had something to do with the low death rate in New Zealand. It was a long distance from Europe, and consequently only the hardier type of person would be found here. In this respect he compared New Zealand with California and Oregon in the United States. Settlement of these parts had entailed a journey of great difficulty and hardship which had eliminated all but the fittest. .