H.—3l

14

And another table is given, showing for a period of twenty-five years the numbers of married women at the quinquennial periods of age belonging to the full term 15 to 45 years, with the proportions that those numbers bear to every 100 married Women living at 15-45. . These proportions are found to have diminished appreciably at the earlier ages, 15-20 and 20-25 ; but the numbers of the living are much smaller at those ages than at the higher ones, 25-30 and onwards to 40-45, and the effect of this lesser number of wives at the lower ages in reducing the birth-rate would not be so much as might at first be thought probable. It is, however, undoubtedly a fact that to have a growing proportion of wives at the earlier productive ages is the best position, but it is not the one which obtains at present in New Zealand.

Married Women under 45 Years of Age, given according to Age-groups, as at the Censuses of 1881, 1891, 1901, and 1906; with the Proportion in each Group for every 100 of the Whole.

Legitimate-birth Rates.

Married Women under 45, excluding Chinese. Age-groups. Numbers at Census. Proportion per Gent. 1881. 1891. 1901. 1906. 1881. 1891. 1901. 1906. 15-20 20-25 25-30 30-35 35-40 40-45 1,233 8,996 13,133 12,656 11,811 9,629 750 8,862 14,540 14,576 12,959 11,478 777 10,053 17,923 19,617 16,854 14,182 928 12,153 24,030 23,025 21,453 16,622 2-14 15-66 22-86 22-03 20-55 16-76 1-19 14-03 23-02 23-08 20-51 18-17 0-98 12-66 22-57 24-70 21-23 17-86 0-95 12-37 24-47 23 44 21-84 16-93 Totals 57,458 98,211 10000 100-00 100-00 100-00 63,165 79,406 A table is given in the Si: such importance that it is repr< :ty-ninth iduced he: Annual ,eport of the Registrar-General of ingland of re :—

Proportion of Legitimate Births per 1,000 JWives aged 15—45 Years. Increase (+) or Country— (Arranged in order of rates in 1900-2). Decrease (-) per Cent. in Fertility during 20 years. Approximate Periods. 1880-2. 1890-2. 1900-2. European Countries — The Netherlands .. Norway Prussia Ireland .. German Empire .. Austria Scotland Italy Sweden Switzerland Denmark Spain Belgium England and Wales France 347-5 314-5 312-6 282-9 310-2 281-4 311-5 276-2 293-0 284-1 287-1 257-7 312-7 286-0 196-2 338-8 306-8 307-6 287-6 300-9 292-4 296-4 280-0 274-0 278-1 263-9 285-1 263-8 173-5 315-3 302-8 290-4 289-4 284-2 283-7 271-8 269-4 269-0 265-9 259-1 258-7 250-7 235-5 157-5 — 9-3 — 3-7 — 7-1 + 2-3 — 84 + 0-8 — 12-7 — 2-5 — 8-2 — 64 — 9-8 + 04 — 19-8 — 17-7 — 19-7 Australian Commonwealth — Tasmania Queensland Western Australia.. South Australia .. New South Wales .. Victoria 329-0 323-9 326-5 337-8 299-2 311-0 320-6 338-8 307-5 298-5 297-8 256-4 252-8 246-4 235-0 234-3 226-8 243-2 -23-2 — 23-9 — 280 — 30-6 -24-2 — 24-5 New Zealand 322-1 277-5 Here England and Wales for 190' European countries specified, except Fi in respect of Australia, somewhat highe 0—2 stands as ranee. New 5 :r than South . having had tl iealand shows i Australia, New ie lowest fert , little above South Wales, ;ility of all the England, and, and Victoria.