The Desirability of More Marriages

Dominion, Volume 28, Issue 104, 26 January 1935, Page 9

The Desirability of More Marriages

Sir. —l was very interested to read in yesterday’s “Dominion” that Herr Hitler was encouraging young, healthy couples to marry and have children, I thought it would be a good idea, instead of all this talk about bringing immigrants out to our country, if the people in New Zealand helped our own young men and women to marry and increase our declining birthrate.

We hear so much these days about our primary products. Would this .not help in a small way to consume them, to say nothing of assisting our other industries? Just supposing the powers that l>e set a small sum aside to help the young people make homes, instead of spending money making new roads and bridges that iu the meantime we can well do without. They could, after getting necessary medical certificates, marry, settle down and have at least two children in four years. With all our over-production and low prices, with a raised population we could consume in our own country that which we are trying to get other markets to buy from us. There are in relief camps young men, engaged, who would be glad of the chance to marry and settle down. There are also men in positions who are getting married, but on account of high living expenses cannot possibly afford to have children, for the first few years at least. One is continually reading of crimes committed by men from good homes, and I feel sure if these people only had homes and chil•dren of their own there would not be such a prevalence of these cases. We are the future mothers and fathers of the next generation. Can we ignor these facts any longer? Is it not possible to help before it is too late?—l am, etc.. SYMPATHISER. Marton, January 22.