Are We a Declining Race ? 



in 1893, if was found necessary to appoint a 

 Government Commission to inquire into the 

 cause of the decrease of the native population. 



What I have but hinted at here was fully 

 borne out by the investigation. The methods 

 adopted by the Commissioners was the issuing 

 of a circular note to all the principal Europeans 

 and the native chiefs, soliciting their views on 

 the subject. 



Some of the answers sent in were very sugges- 

 tive of its being an entirely moral problem. As 

 might be expected, the answers and opinions 

 received varied a good deal ; some were very 

 elaborate and wide of the mark, others more 

 simple and to the point. 



Yaqona (or Kava) drinking and tobacco 

 smoking seemed to occupy the most attention. 

 Yaqona used to be considered quite a harmless 

 beverage, its chief effect being to induce sleep, 

 while the use of tobacco, although not com- 

 mendable, would scarcely lead to such disastrous 

 results. A few of the letters however, throw 

 some light on the subject. 



On page 8 of the Commissioner's Official 

 Report, we read : 



" Four writers indicate as the primary cause 

 the circumstances arising from the abolition of 

 polygamy, on the introduction of Christianity. 

 Others cite that event, but only as a minor 

 cause. One ascribes it to 'the more frequent 

 bearing of children by the mothers ! ' Another, 

 ' That the mother is not so well cared for as 

 under the old regime, when she was allowed four 

 years to nurse her child, and was relieved during 



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