FILLING THE BLANKS

Southland Times, Issue 17655, 12 February 1916, Page 9

FILLING THE BLANKS

HUNS FACING AVAR LOSSES. STEPS TO SWELL BIRTH KATE. That science is being called to the rescue of Germany on account of "alarming decline” in her birth rale is discussed by a Borne correspondent. German scientists, ho writes, not only are engaged in finding new devices for slaughter or in inventing substitutes for tiie necessaries of life, of which the British navy is depriving their country, but some of them are studying the problem of increasing Germany's population. It is stated that a substantial rise in flu' birth rate is an urgent need for the future of Germany, and it is characteristic of German thoroughness that several scientists and soriologisls have been detached from war service to deal with a matter which cannot yield any profit ih a. military sense, in the shape of conscripts for tiie army, until 1935. For several years the percentage of births has been decreasing in all parts of Germany, and particularly in tiie largo centres of population, and the loss of enormous numbers of men in the war, combined wilh its economic effects, will tend inevitably to a still further reduction in tiie birth rate. The outlook in this direction is considered to be very serious, and recently a committee was formed in Berlin to investigate tiie problem in all its aspects and draw up practical recommendations for legislative and other measures to stimulate the healthy growth of tiie population. This committee included one Government official, two men witli experience in municipal administration, two physicians, two women with experience of charitable work among the poor and two professors. Similar committees, whose members were for the most part drawn from the same classes, were formed in other German towns to work independently on their own lines. It is now possible to summarise some of the results of their labours and to record a few of the recommendations made to increase the population of Germany, and thus provide soldiers for the wars of tiie future. PREMIUMS FOR CHILDREN.

A beginning should be made in the upper forms of all the State schools of the country, according to a proposal elaborated in detail hy one of the committees.

“ The boys and girls who are educated in our schools should ho taught that the family is the basis of the State,” it says. "Instruction in this sense should ho given to both sexes from the age of 14 or 15 onward. Every boy should learn that it is his duty not only to be a soldier for Germany and to develop into a worthy citizen of our empire, hut also to marry and to become the father of a number of children. Every girl must learn that motherhood is the most sacred duty of women.

" These ideas should be impressed on young Germany alike hy the teachers of our State schools and hy pastors and priests. Ministers of religion of ail denominations in particular should make a special effort to yireach the holiness of fatherhood and motherhood to hoys and girls and to young men anil .young women. Pastors and priests may also do much good in this respect hy urging parents to instruct their sons and daughters in this sense; every German must he taught to feel that he has failed to perform a pious and patriotic duty if he is not a father, and every woman must he made to understand that she lias failed in her obligations to Germany if she does not become a mother.”

According to other recommendations, the influence thus exercised on the rising generation should he supplemented by direct or indirect premiums for children. Other suggestions included proposals for a special tax on bachelors and for tlie reduction of the taxes levied on parents in proportion to the size of their families. JTivate employers, it is suggested, will recognise the necessity of following the Government's example in apportioning salaries and wages, but if they lail to do so, and if persuasive measures do not sufliee, legislative compulsion is proposed in order to make them oflcr these financial rewards Cor large families. TO ABOLISH t’OM PIT.SORT CJ3LIBACY "Germany needs children, and every conceivable inducement must bo offered in order to encourage large families, 1 declares one of the reports. Here is another recommendation selected from several dealing with the sjair.o point: " There must he an end to all compulsory celibacy in certain positions in Hie service of the Government. Some of onr teachers are now compelled to he single, and this harmful restriction must he removed. Women employed by the Govern-, incut in any capacity whatever must be permitted to marry ami to become mothers without losing their posts. Special measures must he taken to care lor the young children of women who arc wageearners, whether in the service of the State or of private employers. It means expenditure, and liberal expenditure, but Germany needs children, and no price is too high to pay for them." One drastic proposal demands that "it shall he a penal offence for any employer to make the engagement of an employee conditional to the latter being and remaining single. Advertisements can ol'len he read offering Hus nr that position lo a singh- man. Kmployers should ;,, fninie In- prohibited Irnra imposing a i,y sneli lit ion and newspapers from publishing advertisements containing any conditional offer of tin- kind. fanployi rs must In- made to understand that their own convenience must he subordinated to Germany's need of babies."