FALLING BIRTHRATE

Taranaki Daily News, 13 October 1928, Page 8

FALLING BIRTHRATE

LAST YEAR'S STATISTICS MARRIAGE LESS POPULAR. TARANAKI HEALTHIEST PROVINCE INFANT MORTALITY LOWER. A further decline in the marriage rate is one of the most arresting features of the report on the Dominion’s vital statistics for 1927. The number of marriages was 10,478, a decrease of 202 on the number in the preceding year. The marriage rate of 7.62 per 1000 of mean population was considerably lower than that for 1926 (7.90 and .21 per 1000 less than the preceding five-yearly average. Related to this decline is a low birthrate, described by the Government Statistician, Mr. Malcolm Fraser, as unprecedented in the history of New Zealand. The number of births was 27,881, the lowest figure recorded since 1919, and a decrease of 592 on the previous year. The rate per 1000 of mean population was 20.29. compared with 21.05 in 1920. “The marriage rate in recent years is a long way below the average rate attained in pre-war yesfrs, and the tendency is for the rate to decline still further,” says the statistician. “This declining movement is not only noticeable in New Zealand, but is evident in most other civilised countries. During the period 1904-13 the normal tendency was toward a gradual increase in the marriage rate, but the outbreak of the war in 1914 seriously disturbed this upward movement, and the increasing diminution in the number of males of marriageable age quickly brought the rates to a level never previously approached.” WEDDING DAY SUPERSTITIONS. The June quarter, it is interesting to note, has the largest number of marriages, largely owing to the fact that Easter, always a popular nuptial season, usually falls in that quarter. With the exception of the holiday months of April and December, June has in the last five years recorded the greatest number of marriages. Wednesday is still the most popular marrying day. No fewer than 4354, or 43 per cent, of last year’s marriages, took place on that day. The next most popular day was Tuesday, with 1563, or 15 per cent. Only on six days in the year did marriages on one day exceed 100, and three of those days fell in the Easter period. That the element of superstition occupies a prominent place in the minds of prospective brides and bridegrooms is amply illustrated by the fact that only 494 marriages, or 5 per cent, of the total, took place on a Friday. The 13th of the month also appeared to be treated with respect, having an average of only 17 marriages during the year, compared with an average of 29 in the preceding year. Eleven per cent, of those married last year were under 21. With brides the most popular marrying ages were 21 (1191) and 22 (1056), but there was a wide range. One girl was married at the age of 14, while at the other extreme a widow of 85 became a bride again. Among the bridegrooms the age of 25 (921) was most usual. PREVALENCE OF ILLEGITIMACY. The proportion of illegitimate births last year was slightly less than in the preceding year. The number was 1387. In other words, of every 1000 children registered, 50 were born out of wedlock, compared with 52 in 1926. The average for the preceding 10 years wab 46. Commenting on this phase, the statistician says: “With a constantly declining birth-rate, it is reasonable to assume that the proportion of illegitimate to total births will tend to increase. Nevertheless, it is unsatisfactory and somewhat disquieting to record that this proportion in 1926 reached the unprecedented high figure of 5.17 per cent., while in 1927 it remained as high as 4.97. The previous highest rates were 4.77 in 1924, and 4.76 in 1920.” Principally on account of the entire absence of any noticeable epidemic, the death statistics for 1927 show a decrease of 206 on the total for 1926, the figures being 11,613 and 11,819 respectively. The death rate for 1927 of 8.45 per 1000 of mean population continued the succession of extremely low rates that has been in evidence since 1920. The rate for 1926 was 8.74, the decrease in 1927 thus being .29 per 1000.

The third quarter of the year invariably records the greatest number of deaths, owing to the prevalence of diseases of the respiratory system during the winter months, the effect of which upon old people especially is always reflected by an increase in the death rate during that period of the year. Of the total deaths, 1433 were of children under five. There were 218 deaths between 90 and 95, 42 between 95 and 100, while three women and one man died after passing the century. Judged by the distribution of deaths, Taranaki is the healthiest province. The North Island is apparently more healthy than the South, a fact that may be attributed to the less rigorous climate. A much more important factor, however, in the opinion of the statistician, is the older age constitution of the southern provincial districts. Over a period of three years the relative numerical position of each province has remained fairly constant. For each year of that period, indeed, the districts having the four highest death rates were identically the same. Westland was first in each year, followed by Otago, Canterbury and Hawke’s Bay. Taranaki was lowest in 1925 and in 1927, and was second lowest in 1926. RECORD LOW INFANT MORTALITY. A gratifying feature is still further diminution in the infant mortality rate. In 1927 there were only 1086 deaths of infants under one year of age, an improvement of 52, or 4| per cent, on the figure for the previous year. The rate per 1000 live births fell from 39.76 in 1926 to 38.74 in 1927, thus reaching a phenomenally low level —one, indeed, which has never hitherto been approached, either in New Zealand or in any other country in the world. The highest death rate among infants has always occurred in the first month of life. The death rate in that period in 1927 actually increased slightly, but the rates for the remaining period up to one year showed a definite declining trend. In other words, the statistician observes, the diseases that can be combated openly, such as epidemic diseases, respiratory diseases, and diseases duo to faulty nourishment, have shown tt definite response to the strenuous cam-

paigns launched against them. But, while due credit must be accorded the efficacy of those health measures, the statistician asserts that the fact cannot bo disguised that much has yet to be accomplished in the realm of ante natal treatment.