THE BIRTH RATE

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 86, Issue 62, 14 March 1942, Page 4

THE BIRTH RATE

[T' GlXti the depression many young people delayed marriage, and this naturally caused the liirlli rale to fall. This cause ami effect operated in practically every eount-y with an advanced industrial economy. Uy the year 1931 marriages in .\ew Zealand totalled 9817, compared with J 1.075 in the previous year. The nadir ol the depression was touched in 1932. when there, weie 9896 marriages. This delay on the part, of people selling up housekeeping was an important factor in spreading the depression. because people when home-making are heavy consumers and create a larger volume of work than they do al almost any other time nt their lives. Immediately the depression showed signs of lining, however, up went the marriage rale from If).51(1 in .1933. I" I 1.2. »1i in 19.>4, and to 12,1 5 , in hi 19;|(f j| rose still further Io 1.1.808. and in 11i<- following year to 14.3G4. The depression-lag in the marriage rale had been overcome hy then and the populu lion iucreasi had carried the total to its highest level. Itiriiis moved in sympathy with the marriage rale in these 'ears, falling consistently from 26.797 in 1930 to 23.965 in 1935, I but rising |o 2ii.1'14 by 193 i. Since then the tola! of* births has moved upwards consistently, viz.. 27.249. 28.833, 32.771. and 35.351. l-.ven taking into consideration flic increase in Hie total of marriages and Hu increased population living in the Dominion, if is clear that the birth rate has gathered an impetus during the war. Un the basis of 100(1 of population the birth rale has moved lip l i't 1937 to 17.93. 15.37. 21.19. and 22.97 in 1941, To what extent this iucreasi d birth rate will offset the inevitabh '“ lsl "I "’;>r will depend upon the extent ol' the latter factor.