Greymouth Evening Star. AND BRUNNERTON ADVOCATE. MONDAY, AUGUST 11th., 1930. DOMINION’S POPULATION

Greymouth Evening Star, 11 August 1930, Page 4

Greymouth Evening Star. AND BRUNNERTON ADVOCATE. MONDAY, AUGUST 11th., 1930. DOMINION’S POPULATION

’J’IIE population of this country is approaching one million and a-half, and although Ihat is a small number compared with the extent of the Dominion and its natural resources, it is gratifying to note that there is an increase. The total would have been greater but for economic conditions minimising immigration. In due course New Zealand should have one million people for each hundred thousand it can at present boast, but it would be unwise to flood this country with more inhabitants than it can profitably accommodate. There is no desperate hurry to fill all vacant spaces, and until the Dominion’s secondary industries, greatly de-

velop, or intensive farming is conducted on a big scale. New Zealand need not be anxious about hastening slowly in the matter of population increase. Better to have too few than too many, although, of course, without due increase of inhabitants, desirable industries cannot mull i ply. The Director General of Health (Dr. Valintine) in his annual report expresses anxiety about the falling birth-rate, last year’s being the lowest on record in New Zealand. There can be no two intelligent opinions that the most welcome arrivals are baby New Zealanders, but those pessimistic about the latest statistics must not overlook that quality is more important than quantity. the death rate of infants, must also be considered. New Zealand’s record in this latter respect is agreed to be excellent, and continually improving, and this fact must be considered when discussing relative birth rates. How many babies are born must not bo considered without also taking' into’aceoiint how many lixe. Hitherto, the women have been blamed for evading maternity. but it will be-noticed Dr. Valintine places the responsibility also on the men, and that is a fairer imliclment.

'll is inconsistent lor the Public Health Department Io lament a. falling birthrate, and at the same time, lake no steps to hinder the sale ol‘coni raeept ives. Birth-control is a topic upon which varied opinions are held, ami the subject, perhaps, is not an appropriate one lor discussion in newspaper columns. However, it can be claimed that it is not in the interests of national welfare that blatant announcements of the sale of certain drugs should be permitted to increase as they have done in recent years, without any

serious attempt, being made to keep this traffic under adequate control. The old days of larger families have gone, prohal.ly never to return, "and for Ihe sake of the mothers, there need be little regret, over this. It is not wise from the national viewpoint to go to the other extreme, for the race that is not sufficiently fruitful must face extinction. Economic difficulties

and the ever increasing cost, ot maintenance are partly responsible for the limitation of families, and the new’ “freedom” of women has its influence on the marriage market, and, consequently on the birthrate. Vital statistics should not be. dealt with as if they stood alone, independent of national conditions. Childless families are not always a

matter of choice, for many households have tragic disappointment m this respect. Neither is New Zealand peculiar amongst nations m having a lower birthrate. Most lands

statistics tell a similar story, and the whole question becomes comparative. Meanwhile, the Dominion can congratulate itself on having all the population required to meet immediate wants, and that the standards of intelligence, physique, anc character are so high.