MARRIAGE TREND.

Auckland Star, Volume LXVI, Issue 302, 21 December 1935, Page 22

MARRIAGE TREND.

DOMINION ANALYSIS.

MOST POPULAR SEASONS.

AVERAGE AGES OUTLINED.

(By Telegraph.—Own Correspondent.)

WELLINGTON", this day.

From a formidable volume of 150 pages of vital statistics prepared by the Government Statistician to cover the figures for 1934, many interesting things relating to human affairs can be extracted. The 11,256 marriages registered during the year are made the subject of analysis from a number of angles, first being the most popular time for marriages to take place, as marriages are by no means evenly distributed throughout the year. The figures are given in quarterly periods, and as Easter in that year covered the end of March and beginning of April, the full effect of the popularity of the Easter marriage is distributed between two quarters' figures. Another feature worth noting in the analysis of numbers of marriages during the four quarters is a definite increase in the December period, shewing, it is officially sta'-ed, a probable reflection of continued easing of economic stress. The years marriages were distributed thus: — Quarter ended March 81 2809 Quarter ended June 30 ••••••• °)>fy Quarter ended September 30 .. 2344 Quarter ended December 31 ... 3080 Fewer People Remarried. The proportion of widowed persons remarried, which was as high as 81 per thousand marriages in 1918, has since rapidly decreased, and last year waa below the level of 1914, when the proportion was 51 per thousand. Taking the same basis, 34 persons married last year were divorcees, compared with a proportion of 11 per thousand in tha pre-war year.

Another phase which is analysed is that of age at marriage. It has been gradually rising, and in 1934 was 29.3 C for bridegrooms and 25.06 for brides. A table was also prepared showing where the bridegroom was definitely younger than the bride. This was evident in 1015 cases, or 17 per cent of the total. During the war the proportion of civil marriages by the registrar was particularly high, reaching a peak of just over 23 per cent in 1918. It went down in the year under review to 17.98 per cent, involving 2024 marriages, the lowest figure recorded since 1921. Ceremonies in Churches. Marriages in churches were distribute.! as follows: Church of England, 2873, or 25.52 per cent; Presbyterian, 2992, 26.58 per cent; Roman Catholic, 1294, 11.50 per cent; Methodist, 1182, 10.50 per cent; while the Baptist Church was selected in 219 instances, the Fellowship of the Friendly Road radio station 179, Church of Christ 124, Congregational Church 143, and the Salvation Army SO.

The total marriages during 1934 showed an increase of 7 per cent, or 746 more marriages than in the depression year of 1933. ' •