HUNGARY’S BIRTH RATE.

Mt Benger Mail, 28 September 1938, Page 4

HUNGARY’S BIRTH RATE.

The Health Political Association of Hungary has made an urgent appeal to the nation to support its light for the increases of the family. The association foresees that in 30 years, with the trend of the birth rate, the population of Hungary will be only 11,000,000, while that of the successor States will be 64,000,000. The association will begin its campaign for increasing the birth rate by a “stork" competition in the almost childless village of Szeremle. The three families with the greatest number of children born within five years will receive prizes, also the healthiest and strongest children in the village. When the birthrate in this village rises to the average figure a sum of £SOO will be distributed among tho population.

The next step in the campaign will be the marriage loan, which will make marriage a possibility for even the poorest class. Those of marriageable age will receive bonuses for commercial and industrial goods. Should these methods prove successful, the association will adopt them for all tjf.e villages which are known to be “ one-child ’ ’ villages.

In 16 years the number of babies in the capital has decreased by almost 50 per cent., while the number of dogs has increased by 25 per cent., so that last year the dogs outnumbered the babies by three-fifths.