THE FALLING BIRTH-RATE

Press, Volume LXXIV, Issue 22467, 30 July 1938, Page 20

THE FALLING BIRTH-RATE

TO THE EDITOR OF THE PRESS. Sir, —Bravoi "Self-condemned” for her spirited reply to my letter. It is time mothers of families cast, off their apathy and bestirred themselves. All the criticism of the falling birthrate comes from celibate clergy, doctors and politicians, and as “Self-con-demned” says, neither of the two latter classes have large families. I notice all these gentlemen air their views on the . . - ont pages of newspapers, but are discreetly silent when a newspaper controversy crops up. I suppose this is beneath their dignity. I should like to see a deputation of mothers with not fewer than four children (working-class mothers, not mothers with money and leisure) meet a deputation from the three classes of men 1 have named. I can assure “Self-condemned” that I have no intention of allowing any of my sons to join the army when the next war comes. Bettor a period in the “cooler,” as one honourable gentleman so aptly phrases it. If my husband had stayed at home and participated in the high wages and general prosperity of the war period we should have been bettor ofii financially and (perhaps) able to pay 32s 6d a week rent for a State house. —Yours, etc., MOTHER OF FOUR. July 29. 1938.