LOW BIRTH-RATE.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LII, Issue 187, 11 September 1909, Page 4

LOW BIRTH-RATE.

PROPOSED FRENCH BOXUS OF £12,000,000. Paris, July 10. It is probable that in the autumn ses sion the French. Parliament will be ask* to legislate in connection vwith the pro posals now being put forward to increas the population. The schemes that hav attracted the most attention are thos drawn up by Professor Richet, of tb Academy of Medicine, and by M. Pau Leroy Beaulieu, the eminent economist. M. Ricbet proposes that the Stab shall pay bonuses on 'every baby excep the first-born. A second child woub bring a payment of £2O, and every suj ceeding one a bonus of £4O. M. Richc believes that tinder this system the num ber of births, which is now 750,000 pe: annum, would increase to one million This would cost the State about £l2, 000,000 a rear. The professor propost to raise tfTe money by imposing a heavi death duty of 50' per cent, on all col lateral inheritances and on all estate left by parents to an only child. M. Beaulieu suggests that no civil s'er vant nr municipal official should b definitely appointed to his office nnti he is the parent of three children. Thi stipulation would apply to the womn officials as well as to men. M. Beauliei also advocates an annual reduction o the salaries of baclielor and spinste: officials.

A Bill has bee n placed on the table f of the French Chamber making it a punishable offence to refuse to accept! lor to soiid away tenants from dwellings I because of their having children.