VITAL STATISTICS

Dominion, Volume 10, Issue 2917, 1 November 1916, Page 6

VITAL STATISTICS

WAR AXI) THE MARRIAGE RATE. Tho most striking feature of tho vital statistics for tho month ei'ded yesterday was the marked failing-ojf in mairiages compared witli the uu?iibcr registered in Wellington in October lart year. Hie number of marriages solemnised during that month last year was nearly <ioublo tho number celebrated last month. And tho reason-tho Compulsory Service Act. This was a theme for general discussion .'ll Octoi ber last year, na it was still i::ilvuc\vn how the regulations would lo shaped as to'classes, so in order to take all reasonable precaution Against net being called up among the single men, a proportion of men resolved- to become othorwiso, and the marriage roll was rushed, as probably it has never been in the history of the City. As sson as the regulations were gazetted it was soon that those men married sinco August 4, 1914, were placed in the same section with single men of military age, so that the Hymen's altar has hardly proved to be tho rock of ages anticipated. _ A rjance at tho figures below tolls its own tale. Marriages' have fallen away to normal—half tho number recorded for October last year —whilst the births for last month; as is only natural, ore largely in excess of Ihoso registered in October, 1915. The figures for the month are as follow :— 101 G. 1015. Births 172 Deaths 87 79 Marriages _ 87 164 Marriages (in oiT'ce) 21 48 For tho ten months of the current year the figures .ire:— 1916. 1915. Births 2054 1719 Deaths 857 779 Marriages 978 1030 Marriages (in office) .... 265 271 RECORD DUNEDIN BIRTHS. By Telegraph—Press Association. Dunedin, October 31. The births registered in Dunedin during October constitute a record for tho district, reaching 200, compared with 135 in October last year. Tho next best was in July, 1879, when 190 births wero registered. Tho deaths total 75, tho same as in October, 1915. Marriages numbered 38 this month, compared with 63 a year ago. , Chrlstchufch, October 31. Vital -statistics for October show:— Births 187, against 185 in October, 1015; deaths 86; against 81; marriages, 78, against 99.