Greymouth Evening Star. THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 18, 1943. BABIES AND ROSES.

Greymouth Evening Star, 18 November 1943, Page 4

Greymouth Evening Star. THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 18, 1943. BABIES AND ROSES.

“POPULATE, or perish” is one of today’s slogans, and the idea is widely endorsed, many suggestions being forthcoming as to the best means of increasing the birthrate, now more than ever necessary owing to the ravages of the war. Not all the schemes outlined are supported but there is unanimity that the babies that are born should be given every care and their mothers every assistance. New Zealand has led the world to some extent in baby welfare, the Plunket Society’s work in this direction being now an established national institution. Appreciation of the Society’s efforts should be accompanied by realisation that the good work cannot be continued without funds. The annual Rose Day appeal, to-morrow, in the West Coast district gives all an opportunity of displaying practical sympathy with the Plunket Society’s crusade to achieve healthier babies and happier mothers. The objective in itself is sufficient cause why all should help, and it is to be hoped that a record sum will be collected in Greymoutli, to-morrow.

Coming from the particular to the general, this question of more and better babies will be one of the most important of post-war aims. Heavy debts will be the legacy of the war, and the more to share the burden, the lighter it will be. National resources and markets must be developed and this is best done by increased population. Competition for immigrants will be keen, and few European lands will have surplus people to spare. New Zealand would be well advised to encourage what is termed the best of all immigrants, namely, Dominion babies. Defence of the country against future attack will be handicapped if New Zealand continues to be scantily populated. It is estimated, for instance, that Japan’s annual increase in population is one million. Defeat of the Japanese in the present Avar will not be accepted by them as final, if they see that desirable lands in the South continue to be thinly peopled. China, India, Java, and other Asiatic nations will also be interested in any-avail-able “wide open spaces.” For many years birthrates in most White countries have been falling, and much thought lias been given by patriotic enthusiasts to remedying the regrettable tendency. At one time, families were overlarge, but the swing has gone too far in the opposite direction. Economic pressure is one of the chief causes of too small families, and remedy for 1 his .should not be difficult if the importance of sufficient native-born is realised. Meanwhile, the utmost should be done to assist physically all mothers and babies. Medical and nursing research in. modern time has prevented much pain, and weakness, and the death rates have been considerably reduced. This is a valuable, but not yet sufficient, set-off against the fewer births. The Plunket Society justly claims to have been greatly responsible for this saying of life and lessening of suffering, and declares that it would be able to do more if funds were available. What about it?