BIRTH RATE.

Auckland Star, Volume LXIII, Issue 16, 20 January 1932, Page 11

BIRTH RATE.

DECLINE IN NEW ZEALAND. DEATH RATE DECREASES. OFFICIAL YEAR BOOK FIGURES: (By Telegraph.—Own Correspondent.) WELLINGTON, Tuesday. The fortieth issue of the "New Zealand Official Year Book" shows that the number of births registered in 1930 (20,797) was 50 more than the total for 1929, but 1138 less than the figure for 1913, in spite of an increase of over 350,000 in population during the 17 years. The rate per 1.000 of mean population (15..501 is the lowest ever recorded in the Dominion, being 0.21 per 1000 lower than in 1929, which represented ihe previous lowest level.

Although there has been a noticeable fall in the birth-rate in the last few years, the fall, however, is small when compared with the tremendous decliue between the 'seventies and 'nineties. Death-rate Declines. The decline of the birth-rate in New Zealand has been partially compensated for by a decrease in the death-rate. Nevertheless, the rate of natural increase of population has fallen from 31.19 per 1000 of mean population 5n 1870 to 10.24 in 1930. In spite of the fact that the birth-rate in New Zealand is low compared with other countries, yet, it is pointed out, so low is the Dominion's death-rate that New Zealand ranks comparatively high among the nations in regard to the rate of natural increase. A table is published showing that only eight of the forty countries it contains have lower birth-rates than New Zealand, but only eighteen have higher rates of natural increase. The Australian birth-rate has been consistently higher than that of New Zealand over the last twenty years. In 1930 the Australian Commonwealth birth-rate per 1000 of population was 19.93, as compared with New Zealand's 18.80. More Male Children.

With the exception of one year, there has always been a jirepondcrance of males in the number of children born in New Zealand. The proportions are usually shown by stating the number of births of male children to every 1000 female births. This number, the "Year Book" states, has been as high as 1113 in 1559, and as low- as 991 in IS6O. In 1930 a. ta.ble shows that there were 13,713 male births and . 13.054 female births, giving ■ the proportion of 101S male births per 1000 female 'births. t, " Ifc .,"": ou,d ;1 -PPcar," says the "Year Book/' "that the proportion of males is somewhat higher for first births than for the general average of all children. Of 53,00S legitimate first births registered during the ten years 1921-30 (excluding plural births). 42.7-4S were of males and 40,200 of females, the proportion of males per 1000 females being 1062. The high proportion docs not appear to be due to the youth of the mothers, there being a. lower rate in cases where the mother was under 25 than where the mother was between 2-3 and 3*5."

In 19.(0 the lota] cases of multiple births was 26,485. There were 305 cases of twins and two cases of triplets. The births of 1371 children (742 males, 629 fepiales) registered in 1930 were illegitimate, h<> compared with a total of 1327 in 1929. In a note on the subject, it is stated that it is only natural to expect that, as the birth rate falls, the proportion of illegitimate to total births will tend to increase.

The registration of 355 adopted children was effected in 1930, as comparer! with 402 in 1929.

The number of births of Maoriregistered with registrars of Maori births and deaths in 1930 was 2002. The births of 55 males and 07 female-? were registered under.the main Act, and the total of 2)24 represents a rate of 32 per 1000 of Maori population, a rate OS per cent higher than the general birth rate for the year. Marriages and Deaths. The number of marriages in 1930 was 11,075, and the rate per 1000 of population 7.77. In 1929 there were 10,907 marriages. The following note on marriages is published: "The rapid fall in the marriage rate after 1915 was compensated for, to a birge extent, by the high figures for 1919, 1920 and 1921 (which were 9519, 12,175 and 10,635). The number of marriages celebrated in 1920 still easily holds the record, while the rate for that year is the highest experienced since 1564. The rate for each of the last nine years, which is low by comparison with the d'Cenniuni immediately preceding 1914. follows an extraordinarily level course."

The number of deaths in 1930 (12,109}, while, not <o low as some recorded in recent years, nevertheless marked''the cessation of the annual increase in the death rate in evidence during the previous three years.