BIRTH-RATE PROBLEM OF FRANCE.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XLII, Issue 2133, 27 May 1920, Page 4

BIRTH-RATE PROBLEM OF FRANCE.

The creation in France of the now Ministry of Hygiene has had as its first result the establishment of a Governmeat Commission, the object of which is to combat depopulation, increase the birth-rate, develop the child welfare, and protect large families. Hitherto the question of the future of the race has been left tu the care of unofficial leagues, societies, and congresses; the establishment of a permanent Government organisation is, however, in the view (jf M. Breton, the now Minister, a necessity. The manner in which the Commission will carry out its task will be, apparently, first by examining from the point of view of the effect upon the birthrate not only of all projects of legislation to be framed in the future, but those already in force, and reporting upon them; secondly, to discover what is being done by titivate initiative to encourage large families; thirdly, by instituting in every department a local birth-rate commission under the presidency of the Prefect of the Department, three of the members of which must bo fathers of large families. These departmental commissions will act as the agents on the spot for the mam commission, which will co-ordinate the information thus received and ad upon it. The difficulty oi. ian.-.c who, who!her in Prance. England, or elsewhere, preach large families is that it rs so largely an economic question. Tlie efficient upbringing of a family of three is of more value (•U it Siale than the inefficient dragging'up of live. Even so, there is plenty of ground to cover in persuading the selfish to undertake tho privileges and responsibilities oi parenthood.