THE MARRIAGE REGISTER

Sun (Christchurch), Volume II, Issue 566, 2 December 1915, Page 11

THE MARRIAGE REGISTER

AND THE NATIONAL REGISTER.

CONTEMPORANEOUS ACTIVITY. Press Association. WELLINGTON, December 1. ; During the period of the year ended November, 1914, 969 marriages were registered in Wellington. For the same period ended yesterday the number was 1171, although births and deaths showed only slight differences. From information gathered by a "Post" reporter, it seems that the increase began to assert itself as soon as the National Registration papers were issued. While thQse papers were in circulation,the rate of marriages registered was doubled, and when the day had come for the final collection of papers the figures resumed the normal. Before that, so great had been the run on the Wellington registrar's office in the marriage line that he had had to obtain assistance. Since then he has managed easily to get along with the ordinary staff. National registration closed on November 9; and from November 1 to November 9 no fewer than 63 marriages were registered. For the remainder of the month only 18 marriages were registered. "They were mostly young men," said the registrar, "from 21 to 23 years of age."

DUNEDIN FIGURES.

Precs Association. DUNEDIN, December 1. The vital statistics for November, compared with November, 1914, are: 1914, 1915. Births .. ... .. .. 146 140 Deaths .. '.. 70 .67 Marriages .. .. .. 29 , -69 For the 11 months of the present year the marriages show an increase of 16, compared with 1914. The Registrar says there is no rush on the part of young men seemingly eligible for active service, to get married, and he is quite certain that evasion of military responsibilities by marriages is practically unknown here. There have been quite a number of lads in khaki who have got married before leaving for the front. CHRISTCHURCH FIGURES. WiHY THE INCREASE? A great deal has been heard of late of young xhen getting married before they filled in the National Registration form, so as to avoid possible conScriptibn; The vital statistics for the •Christchurch registration district for; November of this year ait first glance rather bears out the assertions made. The figures, as compared with the same period last year, are as follow: 1915. 1914. Births (excluding stillbirths) 186 174 Deaths .. .. .. * .. 60 70 Marriage notices .. ... ... .. 107 73 IMarriages in office .. .. 20 15 Mr Evans, Government Registrar of Births,' Marriages, and Deaths, Avas interviewed this, morning by Sun representative, and asked if ithere were any special circumstances to warrant the rise in the marriage figures. Mr Evans did not think that the difference w;as .caused by young men wishing to fill in the registration form as married men. He pointed out that the National Registration came into force oil October 26, and was concluded on November 9. He thought that the increase was attributable to the fact that many young men were being married before leaving the country for the j front. He had married several men in uniform in his office, and had issued licenses to other soldiers. Some men might take the suggested I means of avoiding possible conscription. The following table of figures for 1914 and 1915 will allow the public to judge for itself, thought it is advisable to bear in mind that the marriage figures always rise about Easter, Christmas, and New Year:— 1915. 1914. January .. .'. .. 78 69 February ...... 78 66 March 122 100 April .. 85 128 May .. 67 76 June .. .. .. .. 109 89 July ........ 78 67 . August .. .. .. 88 77 September .. .. .. 87 79" . October'. ~ .. .. 83 68 I November .. .. .. 107 73

It will be noticed in March of this year and in April ojF 1914 the figures are at the highest in the respective years, and Easter was celebrated in. these monthi. .