LOW BIRTH RATE

Taranaki Central Press, Volume IV, Issue 424, 4 May 1937, Page 4

LOW BIRTH RATE

EFFECT ON SCHOOLS Declining Roll In South Invercargill, Mby 5. The serious position revealed by -he decline iu school rolls, which is attributed to the falling birth-rate, was emphasised at the annual meeting of he Southland Education Board. Members suggested various other causes, but it was generally agreed that the was 4 .rgsly rejsjl.utit.7-. aor falling rolls. Mr F. G. Stevenson opened the d'sGussicn by referring to the average attendances for the last five years quo - cd in the annual report. These show ed that in 1932 the average attendance was 11,034 1933, 10,360 1934, 10,082; 1935, 10,066; and 1936, 10,312'. The first year quoted was before the raising of the school age and the last year the first after five-year-old children were re-admitted to the schools. L was qui e apparent, said Mr Stevenson, that school rolls were not increasing. When he was in the service of the board nine years ago Lhe roll number had been considerably larger Mr H. T. Thompson said that for several years th c roll had tended to decline, but it was now increjaeing again. Mr W. Grieve said that the fall in school rolls because of the •declining bir h-rate was a problem throughout the British Empire. In all instances rolls were falling. The chairman, Mr S. Rice, said that the fall ng birth-rate was a world problem. Mr J. Hangest, M.P., asked o wh..t extent the grow h of private school.- could be held responsible for tall.ng roll.-j Seven.l members exptessud the opinion that private schools would have very little effqct on the position. I he secretary said that some years ago the total roll for the province h'ad been about 12,000 children, it was probable that with the increased attendance at private schools the total would now be approximately the same. Mr Stevenson said that according lo his recollection the 10l al roll had rer,< ’hed a peak of 13,000 a number of years ago.