RECORD MARRIAGES IN 1915.

Western Star, 30 March 1920, Page 4

RECORD MARRIAGES IN 1915.

RESULT OF REGISTRATION ACT. While the birthrate fell from 35.10 in 1882-G to 26.14 per 1000 in 1913, the marriage rate, on the other hand, rose in the sarnie period from 6.68 to 8.25. “But,” states the Year Book,. “ the normal tendency towards a gradual increase in the marriage' rate was rudely upset by the war of 191-1-19. Taking the years seriatim 1914 is little affected, the influence being of a counter-balancing nature. The succeeding year 1915 in spite of the increasing diminution in the number of males of marriageable age established a record in, point of marriages (10,028) and—for the last half-century—of rate also. This may be regarded as resulting almost wholly frorai the passing of . the National Registration, Act in 1915, and the desire of many men to be shown in the register as married, with a view to obtaining certain advantages or escaping, certain obligations. Many marriages which would ordinarily have taken place in later years were thus celebrated! in 1015. The result was to adversely affect the rate in 1916. The Military Service Act of 1916, which took into account only marriages taking place before May, 1915, had ai further depressing influence. The absence in increasing proportion of a large part of the men of marriageable age with the Expeclitonary Forces was feltstill more severely in 1917 and 1918. In 1917 the rate descended to a level never previously reached; a position accentuated in 1918.”