MORE BABIES IN ENGLAND

Dominion, Volume 13, Issue 41, 12 November 1919, Page 7

MORE BABIES IN ENGLAND

Pears arising from the decline in the birth-rate, which was a feature of wartime statistics, are not to be justified (slates"the "Daily Mail"). Latest peacetime figures show a great improvement. Reports from various towns recently slated that births are rapidly increasing and deaths decreasing. The last official reiiii-n, for the week ended August 30, reports 6390 births, corresponding to an annual rate of 18.0 per 1000. There were SSK9 births for the corresponding period of 1918. r 'We fully expected some recovery in tho birth-rate," said Sir Bernard Mallet, the Registrar-General, "but the effects of the armistico are beginning to tell'surprisingly soon. In 1913 tho birth-rate was just over 23 per 1000 population; today it is IS-per 1000, so \va have some distance, to go before things may be regarded as normal. Very few- potential fathers were released from the Army until the end of last year, so- 'tho birthrale may, bo expected to rise in the next few months as a consequence. How far it will recover is another question. There is certainly a smaller number of men of marrying age,- and many inoro widows. At present, economic conditions are favourable for working-class babies, who contribute most largely to the total, but -unfavourable for tho middle classes. Possibly in a few months the conditions will be reversed, when, of course, there would bo a slight decline. The lowest birth-rate is among tho professional class, but here again the doctors, dentists, and tho like have tho lowest infant mortality. "Tho present figures) seem to confirm tho theory that after a great war or disaster nature adjusts the balance between tho sexes 'by increasing tho number of male babies in proportion to the female. Male births in England and Wales were persistent throughout tho war period, starting in May, 1915. ■ For +9 years before the war the average malo excess was in the proportion of 1038 bovs to 1000 girls. ' .Since May, 1955, the lowest proportion has been 10-13 boys to 105,1 girls, and at one period it wns as high as 105!) boys to 1000 girls. In Berlin during the war the same thing was observed, From 1913 to the middle of last yea* the surplus of women in England 'and Wales increased by 681,420. Tho latest figures show that in tho middle of 1918 there were l,Bßb',floo more females than males in Great Britain."