BRITAIN’S SURPLUS WOMEN

Patea Mail, Volume LII, 2 March 1931, Page 3

BRITAIN’S SURPLUS WOMEN

BOV BIRTH-RATE INCREASING. 20 YEARS TO EVEN UP, By the 'time Ike young British schoolgirls of to-i lay are of marriageable age, there arc likely to lie husbands for all who want them. Provided, of course, another war does not occur. The last one cost_ Groat Britain the lives of .12,317 men. At till events, it is certain that better times are coming for women who

wish to many. Six years ago "surplus’’ women numbered 1.000,000; today it is estimated in a Board of Trade Blue Book that figure has been reduced by 400,000. ’Within the next two or throe decades that excess of women over men, so far as those below 15 years of age are concerned, will probably disappear altogether. Scientific and statistical evidence points that way. What is the reason for the reduction of women in excess of men by 400,000 in six years'? Professor A. L. Bowley, of the London School of Economics, an expert on population problems, said: "In 1924 the population figures suggested that the excess of women over men would not increase any further; and that, in fact, tiho excess would decrease as the loss of males during the war merged in the population. "Already, if these Government estimates are correct, the excess has been diminished, but causes cannot be definitely decided until we know from the 1931 census the distribution of people according to age. "Two possible causes of the diminution in excess women are: (1), The saving of infant life, which has reduced the loss of males relative to females. It is well known that more boys are born than girls, but that the greater difficulty of roaring boys has formerly caused them to die in far greater numbers. This point will be clear when we have the census figures for young boys ami girls. (2) Reduction in emigration, which was one of the main reasons for the deficiency of males of early middle age." Another expert said; "Woman’s marriage problem will persist longer than it would otherwise, because of men desiring to marry women younger than themselves.”