BIRTH-RATE OF NEW ZEALAND

Southland Times, Issue 23331, 15 October 1937, Page 8

BIRTH-RATE OF NEW ZEALAND

RELATION TO LIVING STANDARD EFFECT OF LUXURIES AND PLEASURES (From Our Parliamentary Reporter) WELLINGTON, October 14 “A gambling Government indulging in an economic spree” was the description applied to the Labour administration by Mr W. P. Endean (Nat., Parnell) during the financial debate in the House of Representatives today. “The Budget we are discussing is a gambling Budget,” said Mr Endean, “and the biggest gambler in the present Cabinet is the Minister of Finance (the Hon. W. Nash). He has gambled with the dairy products all the time and now he is gambling on the fact that overseas prices for our production will remain indefinitely at their present level. We have been told that everything can be excused as long as we have a high standard of living. At the same time concern is expressed at our low birth-rate and the smallness of our population. There is ample evidence that countries with a low standard of living have large and increasing populations. I may be unpopular for saying so, but a high standard of living can offer too many luxuries and too many opportunities for pleasure. In an atmosphere such as that people will not rear large families and it means the beginning of a decline.” As Mr Endean was nearing the expiry of his time Mr A. G. Osborne (Nat., Manukau) rose to move an extension, but Mr D. McDougall (Ind., Mataura) immediately voiced an objection. “We want some work,” he said. Mr Endean concluded by discussing the Government’s defence scheme. It was satisfactory as far as it went, he said, but no really good results would be obtained until New Zealand reverted to the system of compulsory military training, which represented by far the most just and democratic method. The young men of New Zealand required a lead in the matter and the report of the general officer commanding made melancholy reading, showing that it was impossible to get volunteers under the present system.