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Wairarapa Age, Volume XXXI, Issue 9058, 18 February 1908, Page 4

Writing upon the population problem, the "Timaru Post" offers an explanation why the natural increase is a diminishing quantity. It says:— "The policy of nearly all Governments seems to have been to discourage large families. This is not, of course, intentional, but it is clearly the result of our system of taxation. If a man buys a section of land he is taxed; if he builds a house, he is taxed still further; if he marries and becomes the father of children, his burden of taxation grows even heavier; while if he merely consults his own personal selfish interests he escapes most of these responsibilities. It is no wonder, then, that the increase of population is not satisfactory. A very rapid increase is not desirable in all countries, and in New Zealand we could not find all at once employment fur large numbers from other countries. It would be better, by easing the burden of taxation and ensuring remunerative employment, to encourage the natural growth of our own population."