MARRIAGES INCREASE IN WELLINGTON

Dominion, Volume 28, Issue 84, 3 January 1935, Page 8

MARRIAGES INCREASE IN WELLINGTON

Births Show Falling-off

POPULARITY OF DECEMBER FOR WEDDINGS A decline in the number of births and increases in marriages and deaths compared with 1933 are disclosed in the returns of vital statistics recorded for 1934 at the Wellington office of the registrar of births, ’deaths and marriages. The following table sets out the movement of statistics relating to Wellington for the last three years DECEMBER.

FIGURES FOR YEAR.

The falling-off in the number of births, which has been general through the Dominion, is one effect of the hard times experienced during the last three or four years, and is partly accounted for by the postponement of their marriage by many people until better days. Sharp Increase in Marriages. The years 1932 and 1933 disclosed practically stationary figures in the number of marriage licenses issued. Last year, however, revealed a sharp lift, the rise totalling 139 in Wellington as compared with 1933. Hope deferred had doubtless made many young hearts sick throughout the troublous years, and numbers have either found that material prospects have so much improved that there was no purpose in putting off tlfeir weddings any further, or have accepted the philosophic view that they might as well risk married life now as wait for the problematical return of the good old days. December and November, in 1934 headed the calendar in highest popularity for weddings, the number of licenses issued being respectively 207 and 151. The high spirits of the impending Christmas season and the marked spurt toward economic recovery in those months were probably the inducement. March was third choice last year, for Easter, always a time for marriage bells, occurred in the last week of that month. In 1933 March was second only to December in popularity for weddings, the figures in that year being 138 and 153. November, with 104 licences issued, was a poor fifth in 1933. May (91), August (86), and September (97), were the least popular months last year.

Since 1932 deaths have increased each year in Wellington. The 1223 last year represented a jump of 76 on the figure of 1147 in 1933, which year in turn advanced 56 on the total for 1932. Most deaths occurred during the months of July, August, September and October in 1934, the winter taking its toll, particularly of the old people. AUCKLAND MARRIAGES By Telegraph.—Press Association. Auckland, December 31. ' The marriage licences issued at Auckland this year numbered about 2230, or at least 123 more than last year. t

DUNEDIN’S STATISTICS

By Telegraph.—Press Association.

Dunedin, December 31

There were 768 marriages in Dunedin in 1934 compared with 653 last year. The number of births declined from 1322 to 1268.

Births n»34 152 Ilfat 140 1932 152 Marriage' notices 207 153 155 Marriages by Registrar •13 10 36 Deaths St 102 78

1934 1933 1932 1930 1933 Marriage notices .... 1403 1204 1274 .Marriages by Registrar 337 309 361 Deaths 1223 1147 1091