BOUNTIES FOR PARENTS

Opotiki News, Volume II, Issue 226, 28 August 1939, Page 4

BOUNTIES FOR PARENTS

; LARGER FAMILIKS BRITISH MOVE POSSIBLE BALLOT ON MARRIAGE The British Government may offer bounties to parents who produce larger and better families as part of a “Britain needs more babies” campaign, the Sunday Chronicle’s political correspondent reports. The writer said that the Government first will undertake a nationwide propaganda drive, and then will offer financial inducements. He adds that the bounty scheme considered is on these lines : Family allowances under which married couples will be paid! a bounty of os a week for the lirst child’, and 3s a week for subsequent children. lncreasd income tax rebates where family includes children. Increased allowances for the children of unemployed men. In addition the Government is considering a. welfare scheme to help parents in rearing their children in ' vigorous health. For the last 12 months experts have been investigating birth rate and dleath rate figures on behalf of the Cabinet, and their report is now nearly complete. The report will show that there lias been a slight increase in the birth rate during the past 18 months—partly attributable to improved industrial conditions—hut that there is no sign of the improvement being permanent. Birth Rate Alarming. ~ . / Britain’s birth rate, about 15 per 1(XX), is now well be-low one-lmlf oi what it was in the closing stages of the last century. To keep the population stable, statistics reveal that each married couple must produce at least two children toi carry on the race*, excluding those who) die or are invalids, or who do not marry f,or personal reasons. 1. Are children essential to happiness in marriage? 2. What is the ideal number of children? 3. Does the responsibility, tho restriction of freedom, the new claim on affection, which parentage brings, tend to lessen tiie bond! between husband ancl wife? These are the three outstanding controversies in the section of the Marriage: Ballot dealing with cliilddren.

“I have gone through the figures carefully ' and they have contributed illuminating information, writes Miss Temple. “But it is through your letters that 1 have detected iiow profound and widespread is the interest taken by men and women in these problems. “One point emerges with startling clarity. It is that modern parents have a higher and a more progressive standard in bringing up their children than is present in the general education of schools. “As one mother puts it: ‘1 have don't every tiling in my power to bring up my hoys to lie decent men and good citizens, hut the moment they leave the home for the school world it seems as though everything and everyone were .deliberately .trying to undo my work.’ “Now let me get hack to No. 1 of tin 1 ballot problems: Are children essential to happiness in marriage!" “Taking the ligtires exactly as the ballot reveals thein, three out of four childless marriages are happy. But I must point out that "the proportion of childless marriages is lower than the- corresponding ratio for couples, having one or more children. “So-, all. that I. can safely and fairly deduct is that a marriage appears to have a slightly better chance of success if there are children.

“Your arguments on this point have been well epitomised by this reader: ‘I do not think children are essential ten the happiness of marriage. Children may hold an unhappily married pair together and provide compensation, hut the ideal relationship between husband,, and wife is complete in itself.’ Married companions “I am indeed surprised that such a large number should take this view. “This emphasis on the companion-' ship of husband and wife is definitely a new trend, definitely of this century. “According to you young men, what you want above, alf ..jji marriage is

this companionship. i - “You want a girl who will share the interests you already have. “You are glad to become a husband, hut you are not anxious to undergo the change in outlook necessary to become a. parent. .“1 gather ° that neither a young husbands interests nor his wife’s are likely: to he centred’ entirely in the home, but rather in their old attractions outside it, which they can now share to their common satisfaction. “1 wonder whether spine of these couples , will say in 20 years’ time, ‘Life would have more left for us if there had been children?’ 1 ask because so many older people have told mo that ,in the autumn of their lives they owe so much of their happiness to their children. Ideal Number “Now about the number of children According to the ballot, the ideal number is two. Marriages with this number were- startlingly happier in their results' than those where three or four children had been horn. This is a social change of extreme significance. “It is obviously serious. If couples are happy with the two they can afford, and unhappy with the coming of an extra two they can’t afford!, then you can’t blame the present generation for the falling birth-rate. “As to the way in which children give happiness, -readers havei emphasised the satisfaction of the maternal use m the woman, the pride of paternity in the father—the new interest and delight shared' in seeing the children growing and developing and in the increase of family interests. The point was repeatedly made that husband and wife- will sink their differences in the interests of the children.