POPULATION

Dominion, Volume 12, Issue 113, 6 February 1919, Page 6

POPULATION

INCREASE THE BIRTHRATE.

Sir,—ln your "Notes of the Day" of January 17 there is a short article on thei above subject. 'The article in question leads off by saying: "No one in authority nowadays appears to- have the time to give much, if any, thought to the question of population, let in most countries it is regarded as a vital question." The article ends up by making a statement, and asking a question as follows:—"We want population of,the right sort. What are we going to do about it?" Sir, Ido not profess to be an authority on.the population question; but as you have asked for information on the matter, I hope to be allowed to express some of my .views, and that they may be taken for what they are worth. In the first place we live too fast' now to think about how the nation is to be kept up on.a population basis. When the motor came into general use it gave lifo a big flip onwards, and man began to "ran to and fro;" but what will it be .like when the aeroplane comes into general use? Why, there will be no children born at all. There will be no time for children Ido not know if I nm right, but my opinion is that the continuous round of excitement in which most women live now tends to render them sterile. When the "flyer" comes, into common use, as it certainly will do' in a few years at most, instead of more babies being born there will bo less, and those few that nro born will be of a delicate, nervous temperament, and will not be fit subjects to perpetuate the race. This sounds all -Very pessimistic, but it is no use to shut one's eyes to facte. We cannot get away from the fact that we are subject to me same laws re the propagation of. the species as all the rest of the animal kingdom, and one who has been breeding and studying animals for years knows thai; like begets like. If we are ,to be a healthy and vigorous race, our women must adopt a different mode of life, or we perish. Woman being of a more emotional and nervous temperament than man, this fast life reacts on her more than on man. How can we account for a strong, healthy married man and woman having no children, or only- one? For my part, I would sooner see none «t all than only one, as tho poor little being is doomed to an unnatural life. It has no playmates, and consequently becomes prematurely old, and usually has a careworn, fretful expression.

Now, Sir, I will answer your question in my own way. 'Probably my suggestions may not be feasible to solve the whole problem, but I think they will do something towards it. Ido not think it is of much use to look to outside sources for our population "of the right sort," as this war has so depleted the world of the right sort of people that all countries will want to keep all their people of the right sort at home. Therefore we must givo every encouragement to our own people to bring up a strong and vigorous nation. In tho first place medical attendance and education should be ■ free, the latter from tho primary schools to the university, for all children, rich and poor alike. Next, 1 would tax all men and women who did not marry, soy, after twenty-five years of age, the tax to be progressive for every year after twenty-five yoars; women up to forty, men up to fifty. It is only fair that those who refuse to have and rear children of tlu-ir own should help to rear those of others. Tho taxes paid by single men and women should, go in subsidies to those who have done their duty by themselves and tho State by having a family. Then, to encourage fair-sized families, I .would suggest relieving parents of taxation in proportion to the numbor of children. A married couple with no children should pay the same tax as they would pay if single. With one child no relief of ordinary taxation; two children and onwards up to five, relief for each successive one. When the sixth child was reached the man should bo free from all taxation up to the v time the youngest reaches the age of eighteen years. If anyone can deviso a better plan for increasing tho population I presume you, Sir, like myself, would like to hear of it. I note since the family subsidy has been in vogue in Australia Micro has been a considerable increase in the birthrate; and if wo want an increase here wo must' give every chance to the parents, or, instead of an increase, wo shall have a very much greater decrease. The war, instead of mending things, will make them very much worse, as expanses of all sorts have gone up, and are likely to do so. At all events, sows are told.—l am, etc.,

JUNIUS, 1019.