THE MARRIAGE BOOM.

Taihape Daily Times, Volume XI, Issue 3356, 8 December 1919, Page 7

THE MARRIAGE BOOM.

POSITION IN AUCKLAND

The marriage statistics recorded for; the Auckland district last month show, -that the “boom” in marriages, which conimenccd at the beginning of the year, has been steatdily fnaintained, while the registrar holds the opinion that the figures for December will be even higher than ‘those of recent months. -A review of figures for the last eight years shows the marriage rate has now reverted. to, and even advanccd upon, that of the pre—war period. In 1912 and 1913 the number of marriages recorded was 1380 and 1431 respectively. There was 3. rise in 1914;, the last few months of which saw the departure of lll0'l'() than 10,000 young men of marriageable? age in the Expeditionary Force. In 1915, with the war-clouds growing darker, and the prospect of heavy demand on the manpower of the looming near at hand, a. still greater increase was recorded, the number rising to 1590. The inevitable reaction set in dur--ing succeeding» years, the number dropping from 1204 in 1916 to 936 last year, which was the lowest on record for many years past. VVith 1482 marriage notices, sent out already, and a busy month ahead, it seems problable that by the close of this year a new and much mol'e favour. able record will be established. Although so many returned men are marrying, however, the opinion was expressed yesterday that this did not imply any great development in the home-life of the community. Many of the newly‘ married couples were finding tit so difiicult to secure a house at a moderate price that they were living in boarding-houses or hotels, or, in some cases, two or even three couples shared the same dwelling. The prospect of the war gratuity has ‘probably hastened many ni'a.l-riages, although the idea was expressed that in a number of instances the young couples will have a good time so long as ‘the mortey lzqst-2.‘ jwit'lloitt:)lnluch thought to future responsibilities or home-making prospects.