MARRIAGE STATISTICS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XLIII, Issue 13262, 22 August 1906, Page 7

MARRIAGE STATISTICS.

SOME INTERESTING FIGURES.

INCREASING BIRTH-RATE.

[BY TELEGRAPH. —PRESS ASSOCIATION.]

Wellington, Tuesday. In the advance sheets of the Official Year Book, just issued, some interesting particulars are given in the pages dealing with marriages in the colony. Of the marriages in the year 1905, 31.24 per cent, we-e solemnised by ministers of the Church of England ; 26.43 per cent, by ministers of the Presbyterian Churches; 16.76 ver cent, by ministers of tho Wesleyan and other Methodist Churches; 10.22 per cent, by ministers of the Roman Catholic Church; 6.75 per cent, by ministers of other denominations; and 15.60 per cent. by registrars. Marriage by the registrar is found to be less frequent than it was eight years ago, the percentage, tailing from 17.01 in 1898 to 15.60 in 1905.

The statistics relating to illiteracy show in a marked manner the progress of education in the country. Of the men married in 1905 18, or 2.50," iu every 1000, and of the women 28, or 5.88, per 1000. signed the register by marks. The illiteracy of the people, as measured by the proportion of mariied persons who affix marks instead of signatures to the marriage register, mm greatly decreased of late, having fallen since 1881 from 32.04 per 1000 among men, to 2.50 per 1000; and from 57.98 per 1000 to 3.88 per 1000 among women. The proportion of illiterates in 1901 and 1905 was greatest among those married before registrars. Previously tho proportion was largest among Roman Catholics, but since 1881 it has most remarkably decreased.

In regard to the ages of persons married, it is found that last year 133 bridegrooms and 1214 brides were under 21 years of age. One of the bridegrooms was between 16 and 17, five between 17 and 18, and 13 between 18 and 19. Of the brides one- was under 15, three wero between 15 and 16. and 23 between 16 aud 17 years of age.

The proportion of men married is greatest at the ages of 25 to 30, and of women st from 21 to 25 year*?.

The average ago at marriage of men in the colony in 1905 was 29.65 years and of womeu 25.75 years. Compared with the English statistics for 1903 the average age at marriage in New Zealand appears to behigher for men, but lower for women, than in England.

Summarised, it, may be stated that the marriages for 1905 show an increase on the number for the previous year. The number was 7200, or 217 moro than in 1904. The marriage late rose from 8.26 per 1000 persons living in 1904, to 8.28 in 1905, the rate for the latter year being the highest obtained since 1875. when it stood at 8.94 per 1000 persons. The improvement shown during the last 10 years sets New Zealand in a. good position relatively to the Australian States.

The number of births registered in the colony during 1905 was 23,682, or 27.22 in overy 1000 persons living. Tho rate is the highest reached since tho year 1894, the number of births being 916 in excess of those for the year 1904, an increase of 4.02 per cent. From 1882 until the year 1899 there was a regular fall in the birth-rate. The number of births registered in a year reached 19,846 in 1884, and after falling to 17,876 in 1892 has risen to 23,682 in 1905, as stated above. There wero 242 cases of twin births (484 children), and triplets were 3egistered in three instances. In 1905 the births of 1082 children were illegitimate. Thus 46 in every 1000 children bora were born out of wedlock against 45 in 190-1. Other figures are given which show the jiroportion of illegitimate births to every 10CO births for this colony to be very steady for the period 1896-1905. The difference amounts only to 0.09 per cent, on a comparison of the first and last years. The total number of births registered was 19.2&9 in 1886, and 23,682 in 1905. while the il'egitimate births rose from 602 to 1082. Tho causes that led to the fall in the birth-rito certainly did not greatly affect the number of illegitimate children. Although Nov Zealand had in 1900 the lowest birth-rale in Australasia, the rata in the colony for 1905 was higher than that of Victoria, New South Wales, and South Australia.