The greater the competition the keener
the effort, and the higher the accomplishment; while to ensure an
adequate supply of labour in time of great demand there must always be a
surplus.
The waste of life must always be greater; but what of that! National
wealth is the ideal--the maximum amount of production. Child labour, and
women labour, are called in to fill the national granaries, though
misery and death attend the process.
If this be the ideal of the State, life is of less value than the
product of labour, for it can be more easily and readily replaced.
But the ideal of the perfect state is not wealth but the robust
happiness of its members.
The happiness of its members is best promoted by the maximum increase in
its numbers, consistent with ample space and food. With ample space and
food multiplication works automatically, being kept up to the limit of
space and food by the procreative instinct.
If it can be shown that multiplication is not sufficiently stimulated by
this instinct, then it must be concluded that, _in the minds of the
citizens_ the space and food are not ample.
In New Zealand the procreative impulse does not keep multiplication at
an equal pace with the apparent supply of food and space, and this is
due, as has been shown, to the fact that our citizens are not satisfied
that the supply _is_ ample.
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