THE DECLINING BIRTH RATE

Otago Daily Times, Issue 23205, 1 June 1937, Page 5

THE DECLINING BIRTH RATE

TO THE EDITOB Sir,—On the subject of the decreasing birth rate, parliamentary committees have deliberated, lectures have been given, sermons have been preached, and books have been written. All seem to agree that the prevention of births in some form or another is the sole cause of the decrease. Not a single commentator, so far as I have been able to discover, has suggested that other causes may have helped to produce the diminishing rate of human increase. I cannot believe that the whole of our married population is defiant of God’s laws. Yet, from the highest in the land to the humblest subjects of our King, the average size of family has largely decreased during this century. In spite of the formation of theLeague of Nations after the War, the ordinary person has never experienced the feeling of international peaceful security or considered that the day of warfare was for ever past. In consequence. there Is undoubtedly a subconscious instinct —shall I term it? — in the individual to hesitate raising sons lest they befall a similar fate to those sons of 1914. I make bold to say, too, that the after-effects of disease,and also those of excessive smoking, now so common especially in women, both have a deleterious effect on fertility in this generation. But let us look back beyond the immediate horizon. Our great increase of British population practically commenced with the nineteenth century, simultaneously with the nation seeking to serve God in the national and individual life. Has our nation turned nearer to hearken more to His Word since this century came in? Surely no. The road is clear. I am no pessimist. I do not foresee the day when the white population of the world is subjugated by the black, but I do foresee the dawn of to-morrow when things will be as they should, after the madness of to-day is past.—l am, etc G. Steel. May 30.