The Stratford Evening Post WITH WHICH IS INCORPORATED THE EGMONT SETTLER. THURSDAY, OCTOBER 12, 1911. BRITAIN'S VITAL STATISTICS.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXXI, Issue 49, 12 October 1911, Page 4

The Stratford Evening Post WITH WHICH IS INCORPORATED THE EGMONT SETTLER. THURSDAY, OCTOBER 12, 1911. BRITAIN'S VITAL STATISTICS.

A very serious problem is' again brought prominently before the pub■it* by the issue of the quarterly returns of marriage, births, and deaths by the Registrar-General. They may a ell occasion much uneasiness among, those who study the problem of population. The decline in the birthrate, which commenced about eight years ago, still remains a marked feature. I lie births during the quarter which ended at midsummer were in the proportion ol 25 annually per 1000 of the population. These figures show a decline of three pa’ 1000 when compared with tiie mi an birth-rate in the ten preceding second om rters, and this rate is the lowest recorded in

uiy second quarter since the establishment of civil registration. The returns as a whole show ti at the

sponsibility lor the decline in the national rate lies not with those living m the great industrial centres, but rather with people of the wealthy and leisured class. Apart, however, from the general decline in the birth-rate there is another feature to ho noted n the returns, and one which may ultimately still further lessen tpe average rate. The marriages for the piarter were at the rate of only ten

arsons per 1000 per annum, ns coin):ired with an average of 11.4 in the corresponding quarter during the past decade. \\ hat explanation can he diored for this reduction it is difficult to suggest, unless it ho that the stress ot modern life is making people ■imre chary of taking upon themselves the responsibility of matrimony and d parenthood. The remaining feature in the returns is, happily, of a noro satislaetory character. 'The to hies show that all rates—birth, mar- ! riages, and deaths—are on the decline, and that although fewer children are born into the world, the infantile mortality is gradually being lessened. The figures supply ample evidence of the value of the work done by national and local authorities during the past few years for the protection of infant life. The coat of the work is heavy, hut the saving in human life achieved has amply vindicated those who have championed expenditure in this direction.