BIRTHRATE FALL

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXXII, Issue 21830, 28 September 1945, Page 3

BIRTHRATE FALL

BRITISH _PROBLEM FAMILY LIMITATION CAUSES TO BE SURVEYED (11 a.m.) LONDON. Sept. 27. Evidence before the Royal Commission on population amply confirms the generally accepted view that the immediate cause of the fall in the birth-rate is the widespread practice of family limitation by birth control, savs a White Paper issued for the commission by the chairman, Lord Simon. “Birth control in all probability will spread and become more effective." says the White Paper. “This means that the numerical strength and even the survival of the nation depends on the individual decisions that men and women make about the number of children they will have.” Momentous Problem The White Paper points out that this, on the present scale, is a new thing in history. The momentous problem is shared by Eritain the Dominions, the United States and many European countries. The commission hopes to encourage the pooling of knowledge and experience among them. One and a half million British mothers will be visited in the next few months -m behalf of the commission. The women will be asked to give their age, their husbands’ occupation, and dates of birth of their children and similar information. It is hoped that the answers will throw light on some of the mysteries of the population trends and enable the commission to advise the Government on family allowances, the size and distribution of houses, domestic help and other problems.