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Salient. Victoria University of Wellington Students' Newspaper. Volume 31, Number 18. July 30, 1968

Latest wisdom

Latest wisdom

Sir—The latest piece of wisdom from the famous P. J. Kelly (letter to Salient) shows as one might expect, that his racial prejudice is based on ignorance. His fear of the "seething millions" in Asia is based on the old Malthus theory of population (". . . increased population as a result of the improved living standards") which has been somewhat discredited for over 100 years now. Population growth does not just depend on economics, but also on complex social and cultural forces—often a decline in birth-rates has accompanied a rise in incomes (e.g. Japan). The best way to avoid the international instability which Mr Kelly seems to fear is for the West to help poorer countries to raise their economic growth rates above population growth rates. Making prejudiced emotional statements about Asians studying in European countries will have the opposite effect.

Yours faithfully,

David Greig.