BRISK MARRYING.

Taranaki Daily News, 10 November 1915, Page 5

BRISK MARRYING.

WELLINGTON* AVERAGE DOUBLES. Last month was a brink one in the marriage market in Wellington, mid if the occupations of the bridegrooms could be officially disclosed, it is safe to Bay that '"soldier" would be mentioned in the majority of eases. In October of last year the marriages celebrated in the city numbered 8-1, and for the Inst month the total was nearly double, being 10!. The same improvement in the rate is indicated over a period of ten months, the current year's total to date, 1301, being 170 in excess of that for the previous ten-monthly period. The reason for the increased popularity of marriages just now is, according to the anxiety of many young men to record themselves on the National Registration paper as married, instead of single, but enquiries do not bear out this reflection upon the young men who Uavo responded to the recruiting call here quite as well as in any other part of the Dominion, though it cannot be said that recruiting effort, until the last fortnight, has been either systematized or made very widespread. Curiously enough, it is in (lie icgistry offices which concern themselves with the supply of domestic servants that the true answer can be found to the question. Men who enlist sre marrying their sweethearts before they go away, This custom has become more popular since the separation allowance of seven shillings a week has been added to the married soldier's pay. Several registry office keepers were interviewed, cr.d they agreed -that the chrome scarcity oj what they called "all-round domestics"—girls who can do cooking, washing and general housework —has been heightened by the numbers who have Mi, good places to be married. If it Uto a soldier husband some of them loul: for a place when the soldier lias gone to the front, but the majority then prefer a lighter place thai* they formerly liiled, as they can supplement their earnings with their husband'* allotment. Thus the demand for domestic "generals" has been made harder to f.a|);ily bee,".use of the increased sjumber of suld'er marriages.