The Population Problem

Dominion, Volume 30, Issue 157, 31 March 1937, Page 13

The Population Problem

Sir, —At last we seem to be faced with the fact that we can manufacture everything from money to consumable goods with ease, yet we have to depend on the goodwill and faith of the young people to produce that essential link —the consumer, or, in other words, the child. The Hon. W. E. Barnard, M.P., is on a crusade to stimulate the growth or increase in population of this country. He points out very rightly how necessary it is to have a larger population, yet does he investigate the real and painful causes of the lack of it? Does he get right down to the basic facts that make the rearing of a family so unattractive to the majority of the young couples? There are far too many factors and c mditions imposed on our young people to-day. Gradually is their freedom being fi’. bed away by people irresponsible to anything else save power and finance. What incentive does it offer to young couples to rear families when the future of their children is predestined for the cannon mouth, for the crushing burden of taxation, or for the numerical increase of one section or another?

Look at it how you will, young couples expect and demand a decent standard of living when married, and the rewards of present-day marriage are an immediate lowering of the standard of living as compared with their single sisters and brothers, An appalling prospect. We are becoming a nation of old peei le. Every 'ay people are passing into the old age and dependent group with fewer of the young people to support them. Every day brings us closer to the time .. r hen there will not be enough young people to produce even necessary food for t! j old people to eat. I go so far as to say that were a number of young couples settled apart from modern paralysing repressions, in that settlement there would be no shortage of babies. But there must be modern comforts, modern amenities, and absolute freedom of thought and action. Marriage must be made attractive, th® rearing of children must be made a pride, and the sooner we realise it the better. What a crime it is for legislators, local bodies, etc., to borrow money and hand down a soul-crushing debt to posterity. They have the pleasure of spending it—■ the children have the pleasure of paying it back. The solution is simple:— (1) All newly-married couples to be freed from all direct taxation for a period of say five years after marriage. For every child born in that period an extra amnesty of one year be granted. If no children are born amnesty would cease ..t tht end of that period. This would replace to a large extent family allowances. (2) All marriages as recommended by . Presbyterian Assembly to be first ci !1 marriages and afterward the blessing of the church received if asked for. (3) All mixed marriages to be on an equality basis or else f rbidden entirely bv law. Should these proposals be put into effect then I am sure that the heartfelt thanks of thousands - ' young people anxious to marry would be offered up to those responsible, and we should see an immediate increase of population and a much-improved social life.—l am, etc.,

PERTINAX. Palmerston North, March 29.