DEGREASING BIRTHRATE

New Zealand Times, Volume XLVI, Issue 10542, 19 March 1920, Page 5

DEGREASING BIRTHRATE

SMALL family tendency. ENDOWMENT OF MOTHERHOOD. At the meeting of the Women’s Christian Temperance Union yesterday, the following motion was adopted:—“That this convention of Now Zealand women view* with concern tho steady decrease of the birthrate of this country, and earnestly dean cm to draw* tho attention of the Government to the position, as follows: It considers that apart from the general modern tendency towards small families, which nothing can alter very much, there are at least two important considerations, which would, if attended to, increase tho birthrate w a certain extent, -while at. tho same time ensuring that those children who are born will be better born and cored for. . One of these considerations .‘t that the limited means of the average mother of more thaii three children make it impossible for her to ;,et suitable home help, so that after the birth of a third child, motherhood becomes • physical burden, nn£ too often suits in a permanent breakdown of the mother’s health.

The other fa that the gradual In' crease for many years past in the cost of living makes the parent of.small means look with dread upon the prospect of a large family. We therefore urge upon Parliament nnd the Government the great importance of dealing at once ivith this matter, and would suggest as part of the remedy that some practical 'and well-eafe-guarded scheme for the endowment of motherhood should be undertaken, and that tho question of the cost of living should be fairly and efficiently dealt with in this connection and without delay. .