THE NEWLY WEDS.

Auckland Star, Volume LXVIII, Issue 22, 27 January 1937, Page 8

THE NEWLY WEDS.

MORE HOMES WANTED.

YOUNG COUPLES' PROBLEM.

INCREASE IN MARRIAGE RATE

(By Telegraph—Own Correspondent.)

WELLINGTON, Tuesday

"The problem of the future bride and bridegroom in Xew Zealand will be to find a home,"' said the Parliamentary Under-Secretary, Mr. J. A. Lee, who is busy these days dealing with the State housing scheme "As a matter of fact, the marriage rate is becoming abnormal,"' continued Mr. Lee.

'"The registrations for the last financial year disclose a marked increase in the number of marriages throughout the Dominion since the advent of the Labour Government with its policy of increasing the earning and purchasing power of the people.

"For the year ended March last there were 14.<M»0 marriages of Europeans performed in Xew Zealand. That represented a substantial gain on the annual total in recent years. There were 12,187 marriages in 1935; in 1934 there were 11,25(1; 10,510 in 103.1; 957« in 1932; and in the acute depression year, 1931, only 9817. In the two depression years 1931 and 1932 the marriage rate was the lowest recorded in New Zealand for close on 20 years. "There has been an increase also in the number of Maori marriages under the regulations of the Native Land Act. Last financial year there were 498 marriages so registered, compared with 489 in 1935. In addition, there were 68 Maori marriages under the ordinary Marriage Act.''

Mr. Lee also mentions that the actual registrations this financial year were such as to suggest that by" the end of March the total would exceed 14,000. Already there were close on 500 for the new year.

"All these married people want homes, and the majority prefer a dwelling for themselves, instead of sharing a house with others, or beginning married life in an appartment or Hat," said Mr. Lee. "Higher wages, with the feeling of occupational security, have had a stimulating effect on what has been called rather sordidly and quite erroneously 'the marriage market.' Such material gain as may be desired by most young married couples is a home to themselves. The fact that a real effort k being made to provide more houses has encouraged thousands of young men and women to marry and become responsible citizens, with no terror as to their economic future."