LOSS OF LIFE IN WAR.

Taihape Daily Times, Volume 8, Issue 16, 20 January 1916, Page 6

LOSS OF LIFE IN WAR.

TWO YEARS' ESIMATE. Br. Louis C. Partes read a pap* at the Royal Sanitary Institute introducing a discussion on "The National and Social Aspect of t-he Lowered BirthBate." Dx. Partes said the birth-rates of nearly all the European nations -had "been steadily decreasing during the past 30 years. He estimated the total destruction of life in Europe in two years of war at nearly 20 million persons; but in the past ages of the world's evolution if higher types in animal and vegetable life had resulted from cataclysmic changes, and great destruction by plague, pestilence, and famine had led to an advance in civilisation, so it was possible that Armageddon might be of ultimate benefit to humanity.

The figures for England and Wales for tt e P ast 4° years showed that on the whole the birth-rate had been falling faster than the death-rate, and the mean rate of increase, except for the first few years of the present century, showed a downward tendency. T-bere was foundation for the belief that the lowering birth-irate had been specially marked among the upper, the middle, and the superior working classes.

After the war a Government Commission should be appointed to make exhaustive inquitry into the whole question with a view to taking measures of social and economic amelioration. a happy combination of circumstances ihe country should start a new life, and the replenishment of its young life on a sufficiently ample scale might b e anticiapted. In the course of the discussion which followed, Sir John Cockburn urged, that thete should be more inducements to raise the birth-rate, not only by granting bonuses for maternity, but bj , a reduction of the income-tax for etf<& 1 child born. .

Dr. Dunlop frankly took the Maithusian view, and said he looked forward with cheerfulness to a further reduction in the birthrate. T*ie encouragement of parental prudence among the poor was most urgently needed at the present moment. The only hope of avoiding hardship in the first few ycairs after the war was by a very sharp fall in the birth-rate now. Dr. Kenwood said that if the French people, with their enormous natural wit, plus the great danger which they had had to face of a growing hostile population at their doors, had been unable to increase their birth-rate, he was not optimistic of our being able to do so. * , -

There is no earthly reason why the rate'of interest should go up in this country, said Sir Joseph Wa*d, Finance Minister, the other day. Anyone attempting to raise it unduly during the present war Crisis would not be looked upon as a friend of either the country or the people. There was plenty of money in New Zealand, and the object of every well-wish* of the Dominion in a time when war was raging should be to keep the general finance of the country, both public and private, steady. He had so far Refused to give authority to local public bodies to raise moneys at high rates of Interest, and it was in their interest as well as in that of the people they served in their respective localities that rates should not be allowed to run up. The Government had the power under statute of last session to prevent an increase in rates of interest, and. thong* he was adverse to exercising powers of the kind if there were any attempt to force up the value of the money at such a time as this, then it would be a question for serious consideration as to whether the power should not be put into operation.