BOYS AND GIRLS.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 11578, 23 December 1915, Page 4

BOYS AND GIRLS.

WAR AND THE BIRTH-RATE, Mr Knibbs, Commonwealth Statistician, states that there is no- significance to be attached to the cabled statement that a higher proportion of boys than girls are being born in Great Britain .siboo the war started. "For each-100 girls bom in England and Wales 103.6 boys were born in 1905-8, and 104.1 in 1906-9/' said Mr Knibbs. << In Xew South Wales in 1906 no fewer than 1060 boys wero bom foxeach 1000 girls; in 1910 the figures were 1058 to 1000. In Victoria it was as high as 1064 to 1000 in 1905, and 1009 to 1000 in 1908. "For the Commonwealth the bov birth-rate was 1064 to 1000 girls in 1910, and 1060 to 1000 in lnOtH It is an interesting fact that although a larger number of boys than girls are born the mortality of boys in the first year is markedly greater than that of girijs, (and thus 'bhto numbers are brought nearer to an equality. 1 'The allegation is ma die," Mr Knibbs added, "that after war nature puts forth some special provision to make up the loss of males. Thero is no statistical evidence of this. The experience of France five vears before and five years ,after tho Franco-Prus-sian war gives no warrant whatever thai*- war 111 any way increases the birth-rat o of boys. Roughly speaking, of the_ still-born children, there are from 15 to 35 per cent more bovs than girls. Mr Knibbs considers that tho suggestion that not only Avar, but- severe epidemics are followed by an increase in the masculine birth-rate is based on unreliable testimonv.