BIRTH RATE IN N.Z.

Press, Volume XCVII, Issue 28630, 5 July 1958, Page 14

BIRTH RATE IN N.Z.

Survey Nearly Ready

(New Zealand Press Association) WELLINGTON, July 4.

The Department of Statistics will publish soon a report on a detailed survey of the New Zealand birth rate, with an assessment, based on demographic factors, of likely future trends.

In an address today to the annual conference of the New Zealand Statistical Association Mr E. A. Harris, of the department’s staff, described the re suits of the survey relating to the behaviour of the birth rate during the last 80 sears. The falling trend which was common to most Euopean countries and countries of European settlement from the 1870’s was unexpectedly reversed in the middle thirties, he said. From a rate of 42 live births per 1000 in 1876, the New Zealand rate fell to 16 in 1936 and had now risen again to about 25. The history of the birth rate was the greatest single influence on the age structure of the population, and conversely it had been shown • that the principal causes of the rise in the birth rate between 1951 and 1956 were the increase in the proportion of married women in the population, and a rise in the marriage birth rate.

“It is particularly noteworthy. ’ he said, “that in this period there has been a decrease in the num ber of extra-nuptial births in the 15-20 age-group. This illustrates the social significance of the comparative post-war stability.” But for a full understanding ot future trends in New Zealand an analysis of demographic factors was not enough. It should be complemented by a consideration of economic, social and political conditions, and much more remained to be done before the effect of these factors on the birth rate could be adequately explained.