MINISTER SAYS “AVERAGE TOO SMALL”— BIGGER FAMILIES NEEDED TO ENSURE SECURITY IN N.Z.

Greymouth Evening Star, 22 June 1950, Page 7

MINISTER SAYS “AVERAGE TOO SMALL” — BIGGER FAMILIES NEEDED TO ENSURE SECURITY IN N.Z.

•WELLINGTON, This Day (0.C.). Bio-ger families and more families are required if New Zealand’s national security is to be ensured. The Minister of Social Security . (Mr J. T. Watts) emphasised this point today when he reviewed statistics relating to population trends in New Zealand. “The average size of a New Zealand family is too small,” said Mr Watts. “We live in a country which is richly endowed by nature. V7e have an equitable climate and fertile soil, a superabundance of food, land and natural resources generally. “To the north of us are grossly over-populated countries, on low living standards, to whom the lowest income group in New Zealand appears to be an alluring goal,” he added.

“Unless we populate our country, others will populate it for us. A policy of full employment and a policy of social securty cannot, in themselves, give New Zealand national security if too many of our people become so self-centred that they are not read# to take on the obligations attached to family life.” Over the past ten years, the population of New Zealand had grown older, said the Minister. Number Over 65 Figures has been taken from the 1945 census returns which showed that at that time 11 per cent, of the total population of New Zealand were

aged 65 years and over. Of such people, approximately 50 per cent, were either single, separated, widowed or divorced, and it was chiefly from among such that the problems of old age arose. The percentages of single, separated, widowed and divorced, and it was chiefly from among such that the problems of old age arose. The percentages of single, separated, widowed and divorced people over 65 in the four main centres were as follows: Auckland, 53.2; Wellington, 51.9; Christchurch, 50.5; Dunedin, 54.6. The figures a quoted showed that the percentage of people 65 years of age and over had. increased by 2 per cent, in a little more than 10-years, the Minister continued. This increase in the age of the population had already thrust an increased duty upon the community. “This problem is likely to increase as the years go by,” said Mr Watts. Size Of Families Interesting figures referring- to the sizes of families in New Zealand were given by the Minister. These were ascertained from the family benefit figures in the Social Security Department and related only to families in which the children were in receipt of the family benefit. They did not take into account families where the children were all over the age of 16 or 18 years or to families where some of the children were over the age limit and others of the children were under the age limit.

The statistics revealed that at March 31 last, the number of families in each group totalled: With one dependent child, 94,776 families; two children, 78,965; three children 43,576; four children, 20,590; five children, 8906; six .children, 4078; seven children, 2143; eight children, 1178; nine children; 527; ten or more children, 371; total number of families receiving family benefit, 255,110. Mr Watts said it was apparently not possible to get the exact number of childless families but, by deduction from the figures available, it was estimated that approximately 95,000 married couples were childless.

Incidentally, Mr Watts himself has five children all under 16 years of age.