apple's treatise, however, takes things as they are. He proposes
to save society from the multiplication of its Criminals by a remedy of
the most radical kind. When he was good enough to ask me to write a
preface for his book I hesitated somewhat. I read the substance of it in
MS.S. and was deeply impressed by it. But still I am in some doubt. I am
not quite prepared to accept at once Dr. Chapple's proposed remedy.
Neither am I prepared to reject it. I am simply an enquirer, trying to
arrive at the truth regarding this clamant social problem. The time has
certainly come when the issues raised in Dr. Chapple's book must be
faced. It is very desirable therefore, that the public should have these
put before it in a frank, cautious way, by experts who understand what
they are writing about, and have a due sense of the grave
responsibilities involved. Dr. Chapple's contribution seems to me very
fully to satisfy these requirements. No doubt both his premises and
conclusions are open to criticism at various points. It is, indeed, not
unlikely that the plan whereby he proposes to limit the "fertility of
the Unfit" may come with a sort of shock to some readers.

It is, perhaps, well that it should, for it may lead to thought and
criticism. In any case, this policy of drift must be dropped and Dr.
Chapple's remedy, or some other, promptly adopted. A preface is not the
place to discuss the pro's and con's of Dr. Chapple's treatise. My main
object in this foreword is to commend to the public who take an interest
in this grave problem a discussion of it, which is alike timely and
thorough and reverent. And this, I believe, readers will find in the
following pages.

RUTHERFORD WADDELL.

_Dunedin_,

_Dec. 9th, 1903._

FROM DR. J.G. FINDLAY, M.A., LL.D.

DEAR DR. CHAPPLE,--

You are aware that I gave your Treatise on the "Fertility of the Unfit"
a very careful perusal. It is a subject to which I have devoted some
attention, both at College and since I left College, and I feel
competent to say that no finer work on the subject has been accomplished
than that contained in your Treatise. I consider it of value, not only
from a statistical point of view, but also from a point of view of
scientific originality.

I have no doubt that if the work were published in New Zealand it would
be read and bought by a large number of people. I may add that I
discussed your views with competent critics, and they share the opinion
which I ha