WAR’S EFFECT ON SEXES.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XXXIX, Issue 1719, 31 May 1917, Page 4

WAR’S EFFECT ON SEXES.

IS NATUIIE KESTOIiING THE BALANCE. 'Die question as to whether war influences sex is discussed in the annual report of the ilegistrarGcneral, and there has certainly been a striking increase in the proportion of boys born. The report takes the period from January, 1915, to December, 1916, and analyses it with the remark that “it is of interest to note whether any marked alteration has occurred in the proportion of the sexes born in view of the statements which have been made that the ratio of male to female births increases in time of war,’’ He shows that during the past fifty years. the sex proportion of babies bora each year has ranged between 1.032 boys to every 1,000 girls. Then shows what has been happening in the past two years. “During the March quarter of 1015, entirely unaffected by the war,” lie writes, “the ratio was very low—namely, 1,032; during the June quarter, partially affected, it rose to 1,043; while in the September and December quarters, fully affected, it rose further to 1,044.” The figures for last year were more remarkable still. The proportion in the four quarters were: 1,050, 1,051, 1,045, and 1,050 boys to each 1,000 girls. For the year from July Ist, 1915, to June 30th, 1916, the ratio was 1,547, which beats all records. It may almost be asked if nature is already busy restoring the balance with which war has interfered. The ratio of 1,047 means something between 3,000 and 4,000 more boys a year than would have been born

had the ratio remained the same as in 1914. The war baby myth is exploded by the returns. The numbers of illegitimate births in the years 1912 to 1915 were;— 1912 ... 37,528 1914 ... 37,328 1913 ... 37,909 1915 ... 36,245 The total number of illegitimate births is the lowest ever recorded except in the years 1907 and 1901, when the totals were 36,189 and 36,199.