REDISTRIBUTION OF SEXES

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume XLVIII, Issue XLVIII, 5 May 1914, Page 7

REDISTRIBUTION OF SEXES

The need for a redistribution of sexes throughout the Empire is urged by a writer in a London paper. There are in the United Kingdom 1,338,591 more females than males, and in the five selfgoverning British Dominions the excess of males was 761,314 in 1911. In Canada there was an excess of males of 437,296; in Australia, 168,732 ; in South Africa (whites onlv), 94,086; in New Zealand, 55,352; and'in Newfoundland, 5848. If it be asked what has become of the remaining half-million or so, the answer will be found by a reference to the balance of the sexes in the United States, where in 1910 there were 2,692,288 more men than women. The Argentine and other South American Republics are also partly accountable. "It is clear," remarks the writer, "that something ought to be done without delay to prevent the disparity between men and women in the United Kingdom from becoming even more pronounced than it is to-day. Where women are in a minority a more vigorous race is likely to result, since j only the more desirable men are able to I secure, wives. On the other hand, where there are not enough men to go 1 round the majority of women have to accept any man who may offer himself as a husband or face the alternative of remaining single. It would be neither desirable nor possible to limit the emigration of men from the British Isles. What is required is to endeavour to secure sex equality in emigration. By the grant of assisted passages to domestic servants much has been done in the last few years to stimulate the women of the United Kingdom to migrate to the lands which have attracted' their brothers,; cousins, and sweethearts for a century or more. Even so, the present ratio of four male to three female emigrants is not nearly close enough. Again the present outward movement of women is confined too much to one particular class, i The so-called middle-class, in which the , excess of women is most noticeable at the : present time, is hardlv touched by the current. It would be well if 'middleclass' girls, shedding some of the casteridden ideas to which they and their i parents cling so fondly, would investi- ' gate tlie conditions of' service J oversea. The 'lady help' in Canada, Australia, New Zealand, and South Africa enjoys a position which few jjovcrnesses in Britain can attain to, and her prospects, particularly as regards marriage, arc infinitely better than those of the average young' lady in a London suburb or a provincial town."