FALLING-OFF IN THE BIRTHRATE.

Evening Post, Volume LXVII, Issue 55, 5 March 1904, Page 5

FALLING-OFF IN THE BIRTHRATE.

REPORT OF A ROYAL COMMISSION. [press association.! SYDNKY, 4Ui March. Tho Commission which was appointed to enquire into the Mibject of Hio declining birth-rate lias presented an exhaustive rtpott. Tho Commission laments tho existence- ol grave disorders sapping tho vitals of a new poople. Tfr estimates tlmt tlio State within recent year* bus, by preventive caus.es, lost 260,000 inhabitants. D rd.it ie remedies arc uigi-d. SUPPOSED CAUSES OF THE DECLINE, VAHIOUS REMEDIES SUGGESTED. (Received March 5, 10.2 a.m.) SYDNEY, Thin Day. The Birth •rale Cnmnwwion is satisfied that statistic.* show there has been v marked dot-lino in tho birth-rate of New iSonth Wales irinco 1889, with a definite tendency to decline commencing some jew years anterior to thai. date. Tho decline characterised all tho States of Australia, New Zealand, ttye United Kingdom, and most countries of Europe; abw many largo cities in tho United States itud South America. The immediate causes of the decline arc dealt with in detail, tho principal one bcin^ deliberate interference with reproduction, through a dewiro to limit tho •number of families. This «is attributed to uuwillingiUAHS to submit to the strain and worry of children, 'and dislike of interference. Avith pleasure and comfort. Startling facts aro given as <lo tho injurious effects of certain practices upon UlO health of women, and tho movement of tho insanity rato is whown to bo in tome measure related to tho decline- in tho birth-rate. A great number of suggestions are- offered with tho view of mitigating tho evil. Among theso aro increased public hoffpital accommodation, <v Public Health Act in certain respects, the licensing of lying-in homes, and private hospitals., the making iudictablo certain offences, the formation of an admiuiMrativo body to bo witrusted with the examination and certification of obstetric nurse*. Tho (JommkssMon afoo suggests the prohibition of the sulk of various contrivances and of advertisements relating to tho Kinie, amendment of tho Poisons Art in several directions, the provision of adequate sanitary accommodation, with, full privacy, in aH buildings in which women arts employed, *ho prohibition of thp sale or display of imtnoral indecent, and ob.scoue literature, and of the* publication of improper advertisements, combined with a crusade l\v the churches, and the .settlement of people on the land in order to check tho tendency towards concentration of the population in towns, with its many ovil results, and a vigorous policy of encouraging immigration. COMPARISON OF VARIOUS STATES. {Recoiml March 5, 10.33 a.m.) SYDNEY.. This Day. Tho Commission saya: "Tho time must como when there will be a cruel awakening. Wo already sec in injury to henlth and the wrecking of life that Nature has begun to avengo herself. We find that tho practices and nabils which Iho doctrines of limitation inculcate tend to undermino moiality, loosen tlie bonds of religion, and obliterate the influence of those higher sentiirwMil.s for condilct with which tho development of a high national character i& over associated." Tlk> i-oport states that had it not been for the reduction of tho birth-rate- and tho excefw of mortality among illegitimate children over legitimates which occurred in the period lrom 1861 to 1902, the population of New South Wales would bo moro than two hundred and fifty thousand greater thnn it is. It embodies a table comparing the birth-rale per thousand in various Australasian Stetts, England, and tho Continent in tho years 1891 and 1900, which shows that tho'birth -rato of Kcw South Wales i» the third highest m point of decline on tho list. South Australia leading and Victoria being second. Tn the ton years tin* rate has fallen from 34.66 to 27.4. whtlo Novr Zealand, Which is fifth on tho list, fell from £9 lo 26.6.