MORE POPULATION

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXV, Issue 23201, 22 November 1938, Page 11

MORE POPULATION

NEED IN DOMINIONS. RAISE BIRTH RATES BRITISH SUGGESTION EMPIRE PRESERVATION By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright LONDON, Nov. 18 "How much longer can the colour bar be maintained in Australia and New Zealand?" asked the noted physiologist, Sir Leonard Hill, in a speech to the Constructive Birth•Control Society. He argued that for the preservation of the Empire, birth-rates of the Dominions must be raised. "Australia cannot hope to defend herself, because of lack of men; therefore she depends on the British Navy," said Sir Leonard. "There are no slums in Australia and New Zealand. Life is very sunny and very pleasant, smd the standard of living very high; yet the birthrate has fallen from 35 per thousand in 1877 to 17.4. "On the other hand, Japan has increased her population, since building her first railway in 1872, from 33,000,000 to 70,000,000. "Her natural increase in the next decade will be equal to the total populations of Australian and New Zealand. .."There are 2,100,000,000 people in the world, of whom 34 per cent are white. The white world is not overcrowded, because the 2,100,000,000 could find standing room on the Isle of Wight. "The democracies are at present lagging in the race for population. It is estimated that youths twenty years old in 1940 will number 350,000 in France, 433,000 in Britain, 636,000 in Germany, 740,000 in Japan and 1,400,000 in Russia." A change of heart was necessary throughout the Empire, Sir Leonard Hill added. The Governments must follow the dictators, and teach that it was a national duty for married couples to have three or four children. The Governments should also give financial assistance to young married couples, and reduce repayments according to the number of children born. "They must act immediately to preserve their own welfare and save the British Empire," the speaker concluded.