"ENCUMBRANCES"

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXIII, Issue 22427, 25 May 1936, Page 14

"ENCUMBRANCES"

Sir,—May I be granted a little cpaee to enlighten .your correspondent "Dad," as to why there are. over .tea thousand married couples without chit dren. No doubt "Dad" has not had the experiences of many of us. We got "fed up" with the long courtshipwaiting for the depression to lift—so we got married and found that chit, dren would in every sense of the word b8 an encumbrance. Landlords with houses or flats to let. farmers with am to milk, and in fact, at every turn ire were faced with couples wanted, with, out children preferred. Also, what ia« centive was there to bring, children along? Could we see any hopes-for their future? We axe just as hum** as "Dad," but we see both sides, and see that in many cases, selfishness can bo laid at the feet of parents. Every natural being is fond of children, but why be so selfish as to ask them to into a world full of trouble and with very little hope of their being able tp enjoy life better than their parents? We certainly need population and ouron-n is the best. I would ask "Dad" to wait a while. If this Government does what it claims it can do, well, I am sure the rise in tbe birth rate will make Kia happier. Above all, give us the surety that our wives, as mothers, _will; pot have to go through the financial ordeal we have experienced for the past!few I years. . Unencumbebejj. v.v