4j 6 3"? \ :raph Numbers. Mr. W. G. Hayes- Williams JMr. W.Eidley Mr. F. A. Eossiter Mr. J. B. Trivett, F.R.A.S., F.S.S. OFFICERS OF THE DEPARTMENT OP REGISTRATION OF BIRTHS AND DEATHS. Registrar-General D&puty Registrar-General, Births, Deaths, and Marriages Branch, Registrar-General's Department Clerk in charge of Registration of Births, Deaths, and Marriages STATISTICAL EXPERT (NEW SOUTH WALES). Actuary of Friendly Societies STATISTICIANS OF AUSTRALASIAN STATES. (Questions sent and answers received by post. ) Mr. E. J. Von Dadelszen Registrar-General, New Zealand Mr. W. McLean Government Statist, Victoria ... Mr. J. Hughes Mr. G. H. AyliflFe Mr. M. A. 0. Fraser Mr. H. S. Levy Mr. H. Cohen . Mr. J. P. Gold . Mr. A. L. Silly Mr. R. K. AUport ., Mr. W. Sharland Mr. W. Boekemann., Mr. F. P. Martin Dr. J. F. Elliott Mr. E. Fuss Mr. J, A. Masterton . Mr. H. S. Brothwood . Mr. T. S. Loney Mr. L. M. Pattinson Mr. W. Pattinson ... Mr. W. H. Soul Mr. W. S, Park Mr. G. Stevens Mr. W. E. Cushion... Mr. E. R. Galpin Nurse B Mr. J. Spenoe Mr. A. Forster Registrar-General, Queensland Registrar-General, South Australia Registrar-General, Western Australia REPRESENTATIVES OF WHOLESALE CHEMISTS, &c. A member of the firm of Messrs. Elliott Brothers (Ltd.) Salesman, Messrs. Elliott Brothers (Ltd.) Manager of the Sydney Branch of Messrs. F. H. Faulding and Co. (Ltd.) Managing director of the Australian Drug Company Managing director of Sayers, Allport Proprietary Correspondent in employ of Parke, Davis, and Co Manager for J. Levy-Lennard Special representative of Messrs. Elliott Brothers (Ltd.) Member of the firm of Messrs. Elliott Brothers (Ltd. ) PHARMACISTS, OR PHARMACISTS' ASSISTANTS. Pharmacist Pharmacist and President of the Pharmacy Board 1903. 27 Aug. 27 Aug. 30 Nov. 27 Aug. 1 Sept. 3 „ 31 Deo. 1904, 21 Jan. 1903. 10 Sept. 10 Sept. Pharmacist Director of Messrs. Pattinson and Co. (Ltd.) Pharmacist Saleswoman in charge of Women's Department of W. H. Soul and Co. (Ltd.) ™ Director of and buyer for Messrs. Pattinson and Co. (Ltd.) ... OFFICERS OF THE PHABMACY BOARD. President of the Pharmacy Board ., ,. Secretary to the Pharmacy Board U Sept. 14 Sept. 14 Sept. 14 Sept. 14 Sept. 28 Sept. 26 Oct. 24 Sept. 24 Sept. 24 Sept. 28 Sept. 1904. 18 Jan. 1903. 24 Sept. 24 Sept. 24 Sept. 24 Sept. 24 Sept. 28 Sept. 28 Sept. 28 Sept. 1 Oct. 8 Oct. 16 Nov.. 1904. 18 Jan. 1-102 lO.S-285 4601^640 286-314 315-486 486J-618 6618-6739 6779-6793 6854 5527-5600 58441-5919 6745-8 6846-6852 6181-6255 6256-6267 6269-6344 690-756 757-815 816-836 837-875 876-933 966-1007 1008-1032 1588-1609 2441-2475 1126-1159 1160-1242 1243-1324 1792-1797 6759-6776 1325-1394 1395-1475 1476-1494 1495-1545 1546-1587 1610-1731 1733-1791 1798-1846 2098-2160 2264.-2311 (See Mr. H. S, Brothwood under B& of " Phar- macists.") 3742a- 3827 6755-6758 4 Cli. III.— ■Witnesses Examined. Name. Position, Profession, or Occupation. Dr. 0. W. Morgan ... Dr. G. Lane Mullins Dr. W. F. Litchfield Dr. C. MaoLaurin Dr. S. H. McCuUoch .. Dr. A. Watson-Munro Dr. R. Worrall Dr. E. T. Thring Dr. R. Scot-Skirving Dr. G. Armstrong ... Dr. W. J. S. McKay Dr. F. Barrington ... Dr. Grace Russell Dr. A. G. Cooley Sir James Graham, Knt., M.D, Dr. G. H. Taylor Dr. J. Harris Dr. C. Ross The Hon. Dr. J. M. Creed M.L.C Dr. C. P. B. Clubbe Dr. P. Tidswell )) Dr. W. G. Armstrong , Dr. R. Arthur Dr. A. Murray Oram Dr. A. Jarvie Hood.. Dr. Sydney Jamieson Mr. G. E. Ardill Mrs. R. Graham Miss I. Mahony MisB Jane Heaton (Sister Mary Angela) Mr. A. W. Green , Mr. S. Maxted.... Mr. W. Eury .... Mr. J. White Mr. Jas. Mitchell., Mr. J. E. Sawtell., Mr. George Jeffes., Witness C Mr. E. Riley Mf. J. E. West., MEDICAL PRACTITIONERS. Medical Practitioner, Pambula ,, Sydney • (Kon, Physician to .Sydney Hospital for Sick Children) ■ Medical Practitioner (Hon. Visiting Surgeon, Prince Alfred Hospital) ; Medical Practitioner (Hon. Surgeon to Women's Hospital) ... Assistant Surgeon, Out-door Department (Diseases of Women), at Prince Alfred Hospital Medical Practitioner (Hon. Visiting Surgeon to Women's Department of Sydney Hospital) .• Medical Practitioner, (Hon. Visiting Surgeon to Gynacological Department of Prince Alfred Hospital) Medical Practitioner (Physician to Prince Alfred Hospital and Surgeon to St. Vincent's Hospital) Medical Practitioner (Hon. Medical Officer of Out-door Depart- ment of Sydney Hospital) .. Medical Practitioner (Hon. Surgeon, Lewisham Hospital for Women and Children) Medical Practitioner (Surgeon to Lewisham Hospital for Women and Children ) Medical Practitioner (Hon. Physician to Women's Hospital) ... Medical Practitioner, Botany ,, (Hon. Surgeon to Benevolent Society and Women's Hospital, and Lecturer in Midwifery at Sydney University) Government Medical Officer for Sydney Medical Practitioner, Newcastle ,, Sydney (Alienist) ,, Sydney ,, (Surgeon to Children's Hospital, Surgeon to Prince Alfred Hospital, and Joint Lecturer in Clinical Surgery at Sydney University) Principal Assistant Medical Officer to the Government, and Microbiologist to the Board of Health Medical Officer of Health for the Sydney Metropolitan Combined Districts J) ) » " Medical Practitioner, (Hon. Medical Officer to Sydney Hospital) )» )i J) M Medical Practitioner (Hon. Physician to Sydney Hospital) Medical Practitioner (Lecturer on Medical Jurisprudence in the University of Sydney ; Bacteriologist to Sydney Hospital). SUPERINTENDENTS OR MATRONS OP MATERNITY HOMES OR CHILDREN'S HOMES. Director of Sydney Rescue Work Society, Director of Babies' Home, Newtown, Director of Home Training School and Lying-in Hospital, Newtown Matron of Benevolent Society's Institutions ,, Ashfield Infants' Home In charge of the Waitara Foundling Home OFFICERS AND EX-OFFICERS OF STATE CHILDREN'S RELIEF DEPARTMENT AND CHILDREN'S PROTEC- TION DEPARTMENT. Cliief Boarding-out Officer Late Chief Boarding-out Officer, and Director of Charities Senior Inspector Inspector POLICE OFFICERS. Sub-Inspector . . Senior Sergeant Sergeant Police Agent , REPRESENTATIVES OP LABOUR. Plasterer, President of Sydney Labour Council Master Plumber, President of Trades HaU Committee Date of Examination. 29 Oct. 30 Nov. 30 „ 3 Dec. 1 Oct. . 2 Nov. 1 Oct. . 23 Nov.. Paragraph Numbers. 1903. 24 Sept. 8 Oct. . 8 „ . 8 „ . 26 „ . 29 „ . 2 Nov. 2 „ 5 „ 5 „ 12 „ 12 „ 12 „ 12 ,, 16 „ IG „ 19 „ 19 „ 26 „ 30 „ 3 Dec, 3 Deo. . 7 „ . 3 „ . 7 „ . 7 „ . 7 „ . 7 ,, . 1052-1125 2312-2364 2365-2399 2400-2437 2476-2572 2650-2802 2918-3054 3055-3103 3148-3233 3234-3301 3302-3370 3371-3458 3459-3491 3492-3526 3527-3652 3653-3742 3828-3937 3938^005 4184^240 4367-4476 4642-4740 6522-7 4830-4861 5138-5188 4862-^966 5243-5252 4968-5137 5189-5242 5253-5333 2803-2916 4477-4549 4550-4600 4741-4829 2034-2097 3104-3146 2161-2237 4144-4182 1 Oct 1886-1932 1 26 ;; . 23 Nov., 8 Deo, , 10 Dec. 10 „ 1933-2033 2573-2649 4124^143 5331-5344 5345-5455 5666-5781 5782-^834 Ch. Ill— Witnesses examined. Ch. IV,— Statistics of the Decline of the Birth-rate, and of allied suhjects. Name, Denomination, Position, Profession, or Occuijation. Date of Examination. ParagrapVi Numbers. The Rev. Dr. Dill Macky ... The Rev. N. M. Hennessy... His Eminence Patrick Francis Cardinal Moran, Cardinal Archbishop of Sydney... The Rev. J. Howell Price ... The Most Rev. Wm. Saumarez Smith, Lord Archbishop of Sydney, Metropolitan and Primate The Ven. J. D. Langley, Arch deacon of Cumberland The Rev. W. W. Rutledge The Rev. P. J. Stephen , Mr. E. Fosbery, C.M.G. Mr. G. S. Littlejohn .... Dr. J. Foreman Mr. 0. C. Beale Mr. W. LaTvson Mr. A. Hart Mr. C. N. Commeford. Nurse A Mr. J. E. S. Henerie Miss A. J. Duncan ... Mr. F, G. C. Hanslow., Witness D Mr. J. C. Hume Witness E Mr. M. A. O'Callaghan R. H. Todd, M.D., F.R. C.S.I. REPRESENTATIVES OF THE VAEIOUS RELIGIOUS DENOMINATIONS. Presbyterian Congregational Roman Catholic .. Church of England Methodist MEMBERS OF THE COMMISSION. Inspector-General of Police President, Sydney Chamber of Commerce Senior Gymecological Surgeon to Prince Alfred Hospital President of the N.S.W. Chamber of Manufactures MISCELLANEOUS. Landing Surveyor, Cu.stom3 Department Proprietor of the IParisian Drug Co. , dealer in patent medicines, soap, perfumery, etc Member of the Mutual Specialty Co. , importers and manufac- turers of perfumes, etc Monthly Nurse Public Accountant Inspector of Factories and Workshops in wiiich women or girls are employed Late Secretary to Church of England and General Cemeteries, Necropolis ex-Lady Officer of Salvation Army Newsagent A Married Lady — one of the general public Government Dairy Expert and Dairy Bacteriologist Barrister-at-Law, Associate to the Hon. the President of the Commission 1903. 14 Deo. 14 „ 17 „ 17 „ 21 „ 21 „ 21 „ 1004, 21 Jan. 1903 8 Oct. 17 Dec. 21 „ 31 „ 1903. 10 Sept. 14 „ 14 „ 1 Oct. 23 Nov, 23 „ 26 „ 8 Deo. 8 „ 10 „ 10 „ 28 „ 5920-5969 5970-6028 6029-6071 C072-6178 6345-6374 6375-6404 6405-6469 6794-6827 2242-2263 6179-6180 6470-6521 6615-6617 619-6S9 934-965 1033-1045 1854-1885 4336-4366 4006-4143 4241- 5456- 5496- 5601- 5641- 433.5 5495 5525 5640 5665 6528-66 12i Division B. — The Decline of the Birth-rate. IV.— STATISTICS OF THE DECLINE OE THE BIRTH-RATE AND OE ALLIED SUBJECTS. (11.) The first subject to wliicli we turned our attention was the question whether there has been an actual decline of the birth-rate. We, therefore, examined Mr. J. B. Trivett, E.R.A.S., E.S.S., Actuary of Eriendly Societies, the ofl&cer in charge of the compilation of the Vital Statistics of New South Wales. Mr. Trivett has taken great interest in this question, and has devoted much study to the figures, relating both to the birth-rate and to the other features of the Vital Statistics whicli require to be considered in determining the condition of the population from time to time upon which birth-rate must, necessarily, depend. We have also obtained information upon the subject, for the purpose of com- parison, from the Government Statist of Victoria, and the Registrars General of New Zealand, Queensland, South Australia, and Western Australia. (12.) From the direct evidence bearing on the questions, {a) whether there has been a decline of the birth-rate ; {h) when the decline, if any, commenced, its extent, and its characteristic features ; and (c) whether New South Wales is singular Decline of birth-rate. Evidence of Mr. J. B. Trivett, F.R.A.S., F.S.S. Statistics obtained from Victoria, New Zealand, Queensland, South Australia, West Australia. Conclusions arrived at. Ch. IV.— Statistics of tie Decline of the Birth-rate and of allied subjects. Decline in birth-rate in New South Wales per 1,000 of the population. Decline of birth-rate in Sydney. singular with regard to its conditions of population in respect of natural increase, and how its population is affected by the observed phenomena, we have come to the following conclusions : — Decline of birth-rate in other countries. Birth-rate : Point of sudden fall. City of Sydney and country — Birth-rate compared. (13.) Taking the birth-rate as the number of births per 1,000 of the popula- tion, the birth-rate for New South Wales has declined 20-8 per cent , in the ten years 1891-1900 (Exhibit No. 1, and Qs. 318, 6687) ; and the birth-rate for Sydney- has declined 16-6 per cent, in the eight years 1894-1901 (Q. 321). (14.) During the period 1891-1900, a decline in birth-rate has occurred in all fthe States of the Commonwealth of Australia, in New Zealand, in the United Kingdom, and in most of the countries of Europe. (Exhibit No. 1, and Q. 318.) birthrateSn ^"'■^•^ ^^^^'i^S ^^^^ pcriod ISO 1-1901, a decline in birth-rate has been observed various cities, in tweiity of the great cities of the Continent of Eurojoe, as well as in New York, Buenos .A.yres, and Melbourne, the decline ranging from 21'4 per cent, for Hamburg, to 0'3 per cent, for Copenhagen; while Melbourne showed a decline of 19"7 per cent, (Exhibit No. 2, and Q. 320.) I (16.) In the year 1880 the birth-rate in New South Wales was 38-81 per 1,000, but in 1902 it had fallen to 27-17. Between 1880 and 1887 the rate remained nearly level, but in 1889 a sudden fall of 2-23 per 1,000 occurred, and in 1896 there was a further sudden fall of 2-27 per 1,000; while, for the whole of the period from (1880 to 1902, the fail was 11-64 per 1,000. (Exhibit No. 3, and Q. 317.) (17.) In 1888 the birth-rate of the metropolis (Sydney and suburbs) was 41-09 per 1,000, but in 1889 it was 37-97, showing a sudden drop of 3-12; in the country (the rest of New South Wales) the birth-rate was 35-35 per 1,000 in 1888, but in 1889 it Avas 33-50, showing a sudden fall of 1-85. Again, in 1895 the metropolitan birth-rate was 29-00 per 1,000; but in 1896 it was only 27-41, showing a sudden drop of 1-59 ; and, at the same time, the country birth-rate (which in 1895 was 32-09 per 1,000, but in 1896 was 29- 15) showed an almost equal fall of 2-54 per 1,000. (Exhibit No. 5.) (18.) Taking the birth-rate as the number of births per 1,000 women of conceptive age (15-45) : — (a) in 1886 legitimate births were 339 per 1,000, „ 1901 „ „ 235 showing the rate of decline as 30 per cent, in fifteen years (Q. 333) ; (b) in 1861 legitimate births were 340-8 per 1,000, ,> 1871 „ „ 331-5 „ 1881 „ „ 336-3 „ 1891 „ „- 288-7 » 1901 „ „ 236-3 showing a rate of decline of 30 per cent, in the last twenty years (Q. 334). (19.) Taking tlie Census figures for the years 1891 and 1901, and the births for the mothers of the corresponding ages, the following deductions are at once arrived at. In the age-group under 20 there has been an advance in birth-rate of 17-1 p(-r cent. ; the numbers of woiuen in this group, liovrcver, being only 2-3 per cent, of all married women in 1891, and only 1-7 per cent, in 1901, are too small to give any stabihty to tlie results appearing from them. On the other hand, In the age-group 20 to 25, there has been a decline of 4-6 per cent 25 „ 30 „ ,, 15-6 " 30 „ 35 „ ^^ 22-4 35 „ 40 „ ■ ,, 27-0 ^0 „ 45 „ ,, 25-6 "The characteristics of this table as a whole are that a very distinct decline of birth-rate is most palpable, and that the decline is of greater degree progress'vely with the age of the_ mother, thus evidencing an increasing disinclinStio^n to bear childi-en as the age increases " _ (Q. 6698.) This table, apart from eve^ other flt.f m TqI P'l^v/ir ^^^^^^f ^te proof that the birth-rate has a^ctua% declined. (Q. 6698, Exhibit No. 129.) ~"~'f20~/ Births related to women of conceptive age — Decline in birth-rate. Birth-rate has declined in each age- group but one. >) )) 5> Ch. IV.— Statistics of the Decline of the Birth-rate and of allied suhjects. (20.) In order to ascertain whether any portion of the observed decline of birth-rate was due to births not being registered, we examined the Registrar- General (Mr. W. G. Hayes- Williams), Mr. Trivett, and the Deputy Eegistrar-General (Mr. "W. Ridley). Though their evidence shows that there have always been some births not registered, it is clear that there has not been any increase in the "leakage" in recent years, within which the decline of the birth-rate has occurred. (Qs. 120, 131, 133, 195, 202, 254, 263, 276-8, 289, 437.) (21.) It is thus clear that there has been a very serious decline in birth-rate since the year 1888, continuing up to the present time. This period of decline presents in 1889 a sudden shrinkage in the number of births, so striking in its graphic features as to indicate the sudden effectiveness of some force adverse to reproduction on the part of the people, (See par. 27 of this Report.) (22.) It is clear also, however, that forces adverse to reproduction had invaded and were operating, not only in many of the older countries of the world, some of which have had to face the problem of over-population, but also in the other States of the Australian Commonwealth and New Zealand, which resemble New South "Wales in never having felt the stress of too many inhabitants. (23.) When a comparison is further made by relating to one another the birth-rates in quinquennial age-groups of married women for the years 1871, 1881, 1891, and 1901, as in the following table : — Decline not due to increased leakage in registration. Age of Mother. 1871 Birth-rate. 1S81 Birth-rate. 1891 Birth-rate. 1901 Birth-rate. % % % % 15-19 .50-10 51-60 47-91 56-28 20-24 44-15 45-79 41-63 39-70 25-29 40-75 40-52 35-37 29-87 30-34 33-67 33-86 29-22 22-68 35-39 27-04 27-36 23-63 17-25 40-44 13-41 12-89 11-84 8-81 45 and over 0-71 0-78 0-55 0-43 15-44 33-65 33-47 29 70 23-36 Sudden effectiveness of some force adverse to reproduction. Force adverse to reproduc- tion also operative in other countries and other Australasian States. Examination of 1871-1881 statistics gives a standard birth-rate ■with -which to make comparisons. }> 33 (Q. 6780), a very close approximation to similarity is seen to exist in the rates for 1871 and 1881 in each age-group. This would show that for these two periods there was an almost absolutely level birth-rate in each age-group, in fact, a " standard rate" for each age-group of women, with which subsequent rates might be compared. Leaving out the childish age-group (15-19), in which very few births occur, the standard rate for each age-group is found to be as follows : — Age-group 20-24 Standard rate 45-15 per cent. 25-29 „ 40-62 30-34 „ 33-78 „ 35-39 „ 27-23 „ 40-44 „ 13-09 (24.) W^hen the rates for 1891 (Q. 6698) are compared with the standard Difference I ^ ni /r^ /.Ho^N J.1 J. V. -^ y J- between 1891 rateSj we Iind {(4. 6780) tnat and standard Tor the age-group 20-24, there is a decline of 7-80 per cent, of standard, rate. 25-29, „ „ 12-92 30-34, „ „ 13-50 35-39, „ „ 13-22 40-44, „ „ 9-55 and when the rates for 1901 are compared with the same standard rates, we find that— ^^f^'/^^'^^go^ Tor the age-group 20-24, there is a decline of 12-07 per cent, of standard, and standard 25-29, „ „ 26-46 30-34, „ „ 32-86 35-39, „ „ 36-65 „ 40-44, „ „ 32-70 which discloses a reduction of annroximatelv one-third in the actual rate from the standard rate. (Q. 6780, Exhibits Nos. 142, 143, and Diagram— Exhibit No. 144.) (25.) rate. 33 » 33 33 33 3! 33 35 33 33 53 Ch. IV.— Statistics of the Decline of the Birth-rate, and of allied suhjects. i^f"=^'°'^^egan (25.) The analysis of the lines of declination, compared with the line of equal women~afd 01" Standard birth-rate, seems to sliow that the decline in birth-rate started with the tiToidM^*" yQ^^g^J-' ^^^ proceeded to the older ages. The decline was evident in the youngest age-group (20-21) first, and progressively in the next higher ages, and came last in the age-group 40-4 i. (Q. 6,781, Exhibit No. 141). Decline began (26.) The agc-group ./?rg^ affcctcd, namely, the youngest, would seem to have womJn fi"rft * felt the influence of a restrictive force (as shown by the meeting point of the standard line with the line of deviation in Diagram — Exhibit No. 144) about the Decline most vcar 1873 . The age-group most affected in 1901 has been the group 35-39, and amonrwomen ^^^'^^^ backwards in order to the youngest. It would seem, therefore, that the in age-group jwomcn of 40, iu 1901, who had been in tlie youngest age-group in 1881, had passed 35-39. /through almost their whole conceptive period of life under the influence of the force jpreviously referred to. i^t^-dueto" . (27.) The sudden and reni;ukal)le shrinkage of the birth-rate which occurred rScuvelorce 1^ 1889 Is Capable of explanation only on the assumption that not only had the IhroSfh aiugl-^ restrictive force become operative throughout all the conceptive ages of women, as mSTia^er'" " s^owu abovc, but that, about that time, its operations were extended to a largely women intoose" incrcascd number of women in each age-group . (See also par. 86 of this Keport.) ' groups. Inquiries ^ (28.) In Order to ascertain farther whether the observed decline in birth-rate Fecundity, is an actual fact, and, if so, what have been the factors contributing to its iiif'/timate P^^^^^^^ip^' ^^ havc inquired into the fecundity and the fertility of marriages, and Births™nd^ the illegitimate birth-rate, through as long a range of years as possible; and we have For™e8.™^^'° examined into all the recognised demographic forces (apart from accession of population by immigration and loss by emigration), upon which normally the multiplication of a people depends. In this connection we have observed the following : — duetod"ffer. . (^^O '^^^ decline in birth-rate of New South Wales is not due to any enceinage difference in the constitution of the population as regards age . In 1881 the oHhe'Se. PJ^oportion of women of conceptive ages was 45 08 per cent, of the total female population, whereas in 1901 it had risen to 48-64 per cent. (Exhibit No. 4, and dueto^ck f ^^' ^^^' ^^^' ^^^7.) A comparison of the proportion of women of conceptive ages to women of^con- t^i6 *otal female population for the years 1871-1901 shows an increase in the ceptiveage. proportion in the later period ; while a comparison of the proportion of women in quinquennial groups between the ages 15 and 45 during the same periods shows very little disturbance. (Exhibit No. 4, and Q. 6687.) If, on the other hand, the birth-rates for the corresponding age-groups for the two years 1871-1901 are compared, there is seen to be a very deep declension in every age- group — a very significant proof of a dechne (Qs. 6788, 6781). difference'''' ^^^'^ "^^ ^S® Constitution of female population between 15 and 45 years of between Aus- ^ge, arranged in five-year groups, for the several ^lustralian States, shows no ^ILTc^onlT ^^terial difference in such age constitution between the States. (Q. 6619, Exhibit tutionof No. 112.) women of con- ceptiveage. (31.) The obscrved decline in birth-rate of New South Wales is not due to a duetoV.°* I'eduction m the proportion of persons who have married, since whereas ~ crease in mar- iu 1881 29*36 per ccut. of the total living males were married nagerate. in 1901 31-51 and whereas in 1881 36-48 „ „ females in 1901 37-57 „ „ „ „ (Q.327.) ?ue to'a"dt T .(^^•) ^^^ observed decline in birth-rate of New South Wales is not due to a crease in the reductiou in the proportion of women married at the time, and not either widowed femaielopu- ^^ divorccd, that is, in the female population effective for reproductive purposes • lation. Since whereas in 1881 the proportion was 31-75 per cent., in 1901 5. 32'00 „ (Q. 328.) (S3.) C3i. IV.— Statistics of the Decline of the Birth-rato and of allied suhjeots. (33.) The " Natural Increase," that is. tlie increase of population due to excess Rate of of births over deaths, in New South Wales, ^else has"' in 1872 was 24'00 per thousand, '^'''""^•^• „ 1892 „ 20-30 „ 1902 „ 15-22 showing a shrinkage of 8-8 per thousand in 1902 as compared with 1872, equal to a drop of 36-6 per cent, in the rate. (Q. 335.) (34.) The high rate of Natural Increase i n New South Wales as compared with Natural in- European cou'ntnes^^ai^£|]2u2j^^2^^b^r_jle2ih;:^^ in New South Wales, go^^^h mier since, whereas in New South Wales the death-rate (1890-1399) was 12-49 per compared +l,^->,o,«», J with other thousand, _ countries. in Austria the death-rate was ... ... 27'06 per thousand, „ United Kingdom the death-rate was 18-38 „ „ Hungary the death-rate was ... 30-28 „ Ilungary shows a natural increase 10-22 per thousand (1890-1899), and New South Wales shows a natural increase 18-62 per thousand (1890-1899) ; but if the New South Wales death-rate was the same as in Ilungary, the Natural Increase in New South. Wales would be 0-83 per thousand, as against 10*22 per thousand in that country. Again, owing to the fact that the proportion of old-aged persons in New South Wales is increasing, because of the decrease in the number of the children being born, the death-rate in New South Wales must increase, and so also must the rate of Natural Increase diminish. (Exhibit No. 6, Qs. 336-347, 6696, 6688, Exhibit No. 128.) (35.) The rate of increase in population in New South Wales from 1856 Rate of onwards, taking the present rate of increase (1901) as unity, was- in- crease — De- cline illus- Eor 1856-1861 2-931 *"'^^'^- 1861-1871 1871-1881 1881-1891 1891-1901 2-001 2-212 2-270 1-000 (Q. 6618.) (36.) The marriage-rate in New South Wales rose from 8-21 in 1881 to 8-83 Marriage- in 1883, fell from 8-83 in 1883 to 6-25 in 1891, and rose from 6-25 in 1891 to 7-58 ^^*;^-^tj^^g_ in 1902. The marked fall in the marriage-rate from 883 in 1883 to 6-25 in 1894 — a fall, be it noted, from a level higher than has been reached in England since 1820 to a point lower than has been observed since that period — naturally attracts attention. We are of opinion that that depression is in a large measure attributable to the great commercial crisis of 1893 and the somewhat unsettled financial conditions which preceded it ; and it is moreover to be noted that the marriage-rate since that period has gradually increased, so that it stood at 7-53 in 1902, which is almost identical with the marriage-rate of England at the present time. Unless due care be exercised in drawing the inferences logically deducible from the consideration of the marriage-rates, it might be thought that a fall of such extent as occurred from 1883 to 1894 would naturally lead to a diminution in the number of births ; but even if there were a diminution in the actual numbers, it would simply be a matter of reduction in the volume of births, and would aflford no clear light on the subject of the birth-rate. The matter of the rate has been exhaustively discussed in the table set forth in Exhibit 141, wherein the conditions for comparison of women similarly situated as to age and as to conjugal condition are exactly the same for the four epochs of time treated, and with the remarkable results which are fully delineated in the statistical evidence. But, as an interesting study which tends to show the severity with which the decline in the rate has affected the volume of births, it is worth while noticing Avhat has happened since the year 1894 (the period of the lowest fall in the marriage-rate) in respect both of the marriage- rate and in the number of births. We find that the marriage-rate has steadily risen ever since 1894, and the age-incidence of women has been fairly constant ; yet the actual number of births has decreased from 38,951 in 1894 to 37,835 in 1902. 235— (c) A 10 Ch. IV.— Statistics of the Decline of the Birth-rate and of allied subjects. Marriage- rate : New South Wales com- pared with other Austra- lasian States and with European Countries. Marriage of Minors. A further striking feature in connection with the decline is discernible when we compare the births of the year 1902 with those of the year 1887, the marriage-rates for these years being identical. Thus, in 1887, with a mean population of 1,004j,835, there were 37,236 births ; in 1902, Avhen the population had risen to 1,393,575, the births numbered 37,835. We have therefore the following facts : — 1. Marriage rate identical in each case ; 2. Age constitution practically the same ; 3. Population increased 39 per cent ; 4i. Births increased one and two-thirds per cent. That is, the natural conditions being equal, an increase of 39 per cent, in the population was accompanied by a numerical rise of one and two-thirds per cent, in the births. This state of affairs clearly points to the existence of some unnatural condition at the latter period which did not exist at the earlier period, or, to say the least, did not exist in sucli intensity. (37.) During the ten years ended 1900, the marriage-rate in New South Wales has been lower than the marriage-rate in England, in France, in Italy, and Hungary ; whilst it has been higher than in Victoria, South Australia, Queensland, Tasmania, and (1891-1895) New Zealand ; and lower tlian in Western Australia, and (1896-1900) New Zealand. (Exhibit No. 7, Exhibit No. 8, and Q. 350.) (38.) The marriage-rate of females below the age of 21, during the twelve years 1891-1902, showed a decline, but this decline can have had no appreciable effept in causing a variation in the birth-rate. (Exhibit No. 10, Qs. 366 and 368.) Marriage- (39.) A Comparison of the marriage- rates for 1891 and 1901 shows a rise of WrthTtefeu ^ V^^ cent., while the birth-rate fell 20-8 per cent. (Exhibit No. 1, Q. 6687, and ■ Exhibit No. 128.) (40.) The marriage-age of women, as shown by the average marriage-age for each quinquennial period between 1881 and 1900, has gradually risen from 22-64 years in 1881-1885 to 23-95 years in 1896-1900, a rise of 1-31 years during a period of 20 years. The rise in marriage-age of women, taken by itself, and also combined with the fluctuations in marriage-rate observed for the same period, must be reo-arded as accounting for some portion of the observed decline in birth-rate. It may be viewed as a "natural cause " of decline in birth-rate; but it has not produced much of the decline of birth-rate observed ; and, in fact, is a very small factor in that decline. (Exhibit No. 9, Qs. 354, 357-8, and 6712.) (41.) With regard to the mode adopted in New South Wales of regarding all illegitimate births as first births for the purpose of comparing the number of illegi- timate births with legitimate first births, we consider the error so introduced is so infinitesimal as to make no appreciable difference in the inferences to be drawn from the comparison. (Q. 383, and page 7 of "Decline of Birth-rate," by Coghlan.) (42.) Regarding all illegitimate birtlis as first births : for the ten years 1891-1901, the number of first births was 91,708. Of these, 70,365, or 74 3 per cent., were legitimate first births, and 24,343, or 25-7 per cent., were illegitimate births. ° (43.) The proportion of illegitimate births to the total number of sino-le women at each age has declined during the ten years, 1893-1902, for every age ^roupof the mothers ; and the illegitimate birth-rate (the ratio of the number of Illegitimate births to the number of single women of conceptive age) has declined as follows : — Eor ages 15-19 ... ... ]jY 20-24 ■ ■■■ ^ 25-29 '■■ " 30-34 ■" " 35-39 ■" " 40-45 ■."/. " J, 15-45 (mean rate) (Exhibit No, 14 and Q. 409.') (44.) Marriage-age of women has risen. Rise of mar- riage-age is a, very small faptor of decline in birth-rate. Illegitimates regarded as first births. Legitimate and illegiti- mate births. Illegitimate births- decline in rate. 8 per cent, of the rate. 26 35 50 51 38 27 11 Ch. IV.— Statistics of the Decline of the Birth-rate and of allied snhjects. (44.) A comparison of the number of illegitimate births with the number of J"^^!^*™**® single women of conceptive age, over the period 1861-1901, shows that^- fluctuations. From 1861-1886, the illegitimate birth-rate increased from 15*29 to 18'35 per 1,000. !Prom 1886-1901, the illegitimate birth-rate decreased from 18"35 to 16'2l per 1,000. (Qs. 401-407.) (45.) The fecundity of women has declined in New South "Wales, both in the Decline in total of women, and for women in age-groups at all ages, Por the period 1861-1897, fecundity, comparing the number of marriages from which birth has resulted with the total number of marriages at the given age — At age 15, fecund marriages show a fall of „ 20, „ 25, )> 30, „ » 3o, ,, 45 (Q. 440, Exhibit No. 19, Q. 1058.) The birth-rate during the same period, 1861-1897, fell 33-5 per cent., which shows a parallelism between the observed decline in birth-rate and the observed decline in fecundity, or increase in barrenness. (Q. 460, Exhibit No. 34.) (46.) Eor the period 1891 to 1897, comparing the number of marriages from Barren which no birth has resulted with the total number of marriages at each age, the ■"^'^"^S'^- proportion of barren marriages is : — At age 20 88 per 1,000 0*9 per < ... 2-3 ... 4-6 ... 7-7 ... 16-5 ... 43-0 ... 60-7 25 30 35 40 45 111 175 347 693 908 (Q. 450.) (47.) A comparison of the proportion of childless marriages in the metropolis ^j^^^nness Ih (Sydney and suburbs) with the proportion nf nhilfHess inarriages in the other country. divisions of the State, shows that the proportion is greater in the metropolis than in all the other divisions of the State at all ages of the wives. (Exhibit No. 20.) r48.) A comparison of the proportion of childless marriages (of over Ave Women w^ years' duration), for women of New South Wales birth with that df women born in waies- the other Australian States and New Zealand, in England and Wales, in Scotland, ^^^it^^ in Ireland, and in other countries, shows that for marriages of women of all SlgB^ with other there is less barrenness in the case of women born in New South Wales. (Q. 460^ "«'°°'e°- and Exhibit No. 21.) (49.) There is some evidence to show that, of the married women ih New Fe^^^ity of South Wales, those born in Australasia are less liable to barrenness than those born New South elsewhere; and the proportion of married women in New South Wales whowere WakB^^^d^of born in New South Wales is increasing every year. Their natural superiority in ' fecundity ought to tend towards increase of birth-rate in the State. (Q,^ 465, Exhibit No. 22.) (50.) In New South Wales, where the husband and wife are both of New ^^^nd^^d South Wales birth, the probability of the marriage being childle&s is lesss than if ^fe both of either wife or husband had been born elsewhere. (Q. 467, Exhibit No. 23.) watSh. (51.) There has been, during the ten years 1891-1901 in New South Wales, ^^^^^^ a decline in birth-rate according to previous issue. (Diagrarii No. 17, Q. 505.) according to This decline of birth-rate is manifest for each year of the period 1891-1900, and also p^j^°"« in respect of wives who have previously had 0, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, or more 12 Ch. IV.— Statistics of the Decline of the Birth-rate and of allied snlijects. Average issue — Decline of. more children. (Diagram No. 18, and Exhibit No. 31.) In all cases where marriage takes place after age 20, the probability of issue diminishes directly as the age increases. Up to age 28 the newiy-married women have prospects of issue superior to women of equal age but with previous issue. At and after 28 the woman who has borne has a superior chance to the woman who is newly-married at the equivalent age. (Q. B09, Exhibit No. 33.) (52.) The average issue of marriages has declined during the period 1891-1900, for all ages at the time of marriage, and among all classes, compared with issue of marriages of epoch 1871-1880, the decline being : — For age 20 and under 25 at marriage, 30'7 per cent, in the number of children. 25 „ 30 „ ^ 35-3 30 35 40 35 40 45 For all ages 40-2 440 53-2 32-5 Factors in decline of average issue. Average family Average issue. The mean rate decline in average issue corresponds with the observed decline in birth-rate, over the period 1880-1900, of 30 per cent. (Diagram No. 19, Qs. 511, 518, Exhibit No. 34.) (53.) The decline in average issue is the product of four factors : (a) postponement of marriage ; (b) decline in fecundity (proved ability to reproduce) ; (c) cessation of fertility at an earlier age ; and (d) decline in fertility at all ages. (Q. 513.) The factors marked b, c and d have an intimate connection with the immediate causes of the decline of the birth-rate {vide Ch. V of this Eeport). (Qs. 513, 514.) (54.) The statistics collected from the information obtained from the regis- aocordingto tratious of dcatlis during the quinquennial period 1898-1902 afford the following °^j3,and, comparison of the respective average issue of marriages according to the occupations of the husbands who died within that period : — In the domestic occupations the average issue was 4'32 „ professional „ „ „ 4-59 „ commercial „ „ „ 4-70 ,, industrial „ „ ,, 5-27 „ agricultural „ „ „ 6-28 (Q. 515-6, Exhibit No. 35.) These figures represent the average number of children born to women, the great majority of whom were married before there was any marked decline in the birth-rate; and, therefore, they do not indicate the expected average issue of present-day marriages. Nevertheless, the Commission have reason to believe that the proportionate differences which the figures disclose will be maintained. These differences in the average issue of the various classes enumerated may be accounted for to a slight extent by difference in age at marriage. (Qs, 518, 521, and Exhibit No. 36.) Superior fer- ^ (55.) The average issue for marriages contracted prior to 1881, in which the women born wife was bom in New South Wales, is greater than that of marriages in which the w^es"!" ^°''*'' wif<^ ^^'^s ^0™ elsewhere, for all ages at the time of marriage, which indicates superior natural f ertihty in women born in Ne\y South Wales. (Exhibits Nos. 37, 38.) Tverl^e 'Lue ^^^"^ ^^® decline in average issue, however, has been greater in the marriages -New South in which the wife was born m New South Wales than in the marriages in which the iS^d^Xr*" ^^*® ^^^ ^°™ ^^ England, Scotland, or Ireland, for all ages of the women at the compared, time of marriage. (Exhibit No. 38.) TyTr^rLe^ . (J?") The decline in average issue in the marriages in which the wife was -over 40 per bom m Ncw South Walcs, when a comparison is made between the averao-e issue of cent. marriages existing in 1891, having been contracted prior to 1881, and the average issue of present marriages, is more than 40 per cent. (Q. 531, Exhibit No. 38 ) (58.) 13 Cli. IV.— statistics of the Decline of the Birth-rate and of allied snhjects. (58.) Women born in New South Wales, married to husbands bom else- Marrying out where (a) are less fertile than New South Wales womo^n married to husbands born °£f°^ftg °fertii^ in New South Wales, and (b) are less fertile than women born out of New South ity. Wales married to husbands not of the same birth-place : which indicates that marrying out of nationality impairs fertility , and that that effect is intensified in New South Wales women. (Qs. 637, 467, and Exhibit No. 41.) (59.) li is calculated thai, in New South Wales, from 1864 to 1902, the 'is.am births actual loss in the number of births consequent upon (a) reduction of birth-rate, and fgg/"*^* (b) excess of mortality among illegitimates over legitimates, has been 280,000 — the loss of births being 21|- per cent, of lohat icoiild have been born on the 186 i basis. (Q. G628 ; see also par. 105.) (60.) There does not appear to be any marked connection in New South Birth-rate^ Wales between the rise and fall in the yolume of trade and the birth-rate, as shown „" conneeUon by a comparison of the rates of total trade and the rates of birth during the years apparent. 1860 to 3903. (Q. 6630, Exhibit No. 115, and Diagram No. 1.) (61.) The increase in later periods since 1S71 of the proportion of women of j^°"gfs" -1,°° conceptive age in the total female population, coupled with the fact that the that decline proportion of women in each quinquennium of the conceptive age period (15-45) Js^„e*to''^** shows very little disturbance in the interval between 1871 and 1901 (see Exhibit causes within No. 4) ; coupled with the fact that the marriage rate for 1891 and 1901 shows a rise *|;^ ^°^g°| °* of 4 per cent., while the birth-rate fell 20 per cent., makes the conclusion irresistible that there has been a decline in the birth-rate which is not due to the forces over which individuals have no direct control. (Q. 6687, Exhibits Nos. 4, 128, 129, Qs. 6702, 6704, 6708.) (62). The fact. that the proportion of persons above 65 years of age in the^°°^*^*/4°^^f total population has increased is caused by, and evidence of, a decrease in the old people is proportion of children : it is not a cause of decline of birth-rate, but distinctly an decline of" effect. (Q. 6088, and Exhibit No. 128.) birth-rate, \ ^ ' ' not a cause. (63.) The fact that the proportion of females under 15 years of age has Decline in declined implies that there will be, in a few years, in the absence of immigration, a ^'J^ j;^*^*ifg^''^ decrease in the proportion of women of conceptive ages to the total female population ; its lowest and hence it must be inferred that the decline in the birth-rate has not reached its ^°'° " lowest point unless the number of children per marriage, that is, the average issue, or the fertility, increases. (Qs. 6705, 6731, and 6736.) (61.) There is no effective resultant upon the general birth-rate in New Has death. South Wales traceable to the variations observed in infant mortality, as has been [nfl„^ce on suggested by the Government Statist of Victoria. (Q. 5919.) The decrease in birth-rate? infant mortality may be a consequence of the decline in birth-rate, but the converse is not true. In fact, a population with a high birth-rate should have a lower death- rate than others, because a continuously high birth-rate means an exceptionally large proportion of young adults, and consequently an unduly small proportion of old people. A high birth-rate most probably produces a high infant death-rate ; but a high infant death-rate docs not necessarily produce a high birth-rate, although it may be a factor in its production ; and there may be a high infant death-rate together with a low birth-rate. (Qs. 6653, 6713, and Exhibit No. 120.) In Exhibit No. 119, a comparison is shown of the birth-rate and infantile mortality respectively for the periods 1891-1895 and 1895-1900. From this it will be seen tliat in the four states. New South Wales, South Australia, Western Australia, and Tasmania, while the birth-rate declined in the second period, the infantile mortality increased. In Victoria, while the birth-rate declined materially, the infantile mortality did not materially decline. In New Zealand both the rates declined. (Q. 6652, and Exhibit No. 119.) (65.) There is no proof that any decadence has occurred in the physique Physique^o^^^ of women in New South Wales, as suggested by the Government Statist of Victoria. so^^.^^SoT" On the other hand, from the evidence before us, and from our own knowledge,^ we decadence. are of opinion that there has been no physical deterioration of the female population. (Qs. 6919, 6716, 6718, 6720, 6746, 6747, 6847, and 6854.) (66.) u Ch. v.— The Immediate Causes of the Decline of the Birth-rate. (66.) The year 1888 appears, from the statistician's point of view, to separate a period, during which there had not been much deviation of the general birth-rate from the standard recognised as prevailing from 1871-1881, from the subsequent period during which a force adverse to reproduction has become markedly effective in reducing the natural increase of the population in New South Wales. (Q. 6723; see also par. 86 of this Report.) (67.) The actual extent of decline in the birth-rate of New South "Wales due to the operation of that force cannot be fully measured until the year 1918. (Qs. 6723, 6730.) (68.) We are satisfied that the statistics show — (a) That there has been a very marked decline of birth-rate in New South Wales since the year 1889, with a definite tendency to decline commencing some few years anterior to 1889. That a decline of birth-rate in recent years has characterised all the States of Australia and New Zealand ; also the United Kingdom, and most of the countries of Europe ; also many of the large cities of Europe, United States, and South America. That there was in New South Wales a sudden remarkable fall in birth-rate in the year 1889, amounting to 2-23 per thousand, followed by a continuous and rapid decline, until, in 1902, the total decline had exceeded 10 per thousand of population. That during the period 1889-1902 there has been a rise in the marriage-age, from which a very slight fall in birth-rate might be expected to follow. Main factor (69.) The inference WO draw from the statistical evidence is that the main l^irl!:"! ?!. factor in producing the decline of birth-rate in New South Wales is one which 18 force over independent of : — i. variation in the age-constitution of the population ; ii. variation in the age-constitution of the women of conceptive age ; iii. physiological tendency towards lessened fertility ; iv. variation in marriage-rate ; V. birth-place of husbands or of vvdves ; vi. all other natural causes ; and is a force over which individuals themselves have control. 1888 the year which separates the period of standard birth-rate from the period in which force adverse to reproduction became . marltedly effective. Extent to which decline due to that force will proceed cannot he fully ascertained till 1918. Birth-rate — marked decline from 1889. Decline of birth-rate throughout Australasia, andt elsewhere. Birth-rate — marked decline from 1889. Rise in Jlar- riage-age. (b) (c) (d) ■vvhich-indi- viduala them- selves have control. Gynaecolo- gists, obste- tricians, and physicians examined. Medical evidence unanimous that there is deliberate interferelioe with repro- duction. v.— THE IMMEDIATE CAUSES OE THE DECLINE OF THE BIETH-EATE. (70.) Having been led, by a careful consideration of the Statistics, to the conclusion that the cause or causes of the Decline of tlie Birth-rate must be a force or forces over which the people themselves have control, we proceeded to examine many prominent gynaecologists, obstetricians, and physicians, ^^dth a view to ascertain, if possible, the nature of these forces. (71.) There is a remarkable unanimity of opinion among the medical men, who are perhaps better able to judge than any other persons in a community, that deliberate interference with the function of procreation has during recent years become extremely common. We learn also, from their evidence, that the means used to effect the end desired are both deleterious to general health in numerous instances, and frequently bring about such temporary and even permanent disability of the reproductive organs of women as creates forms of pathological sterility. They also tell us of the great and growing frequency of the occurrence of induced miscarriages and of the terrible destruction of reproductive capacity and wreckage of health and life which ensue. (72.) 15 Ch. v.— The Immediate Causes of tlie Decline of the Birth-rate. (72.) The conclusions which we draw from the evidence on this branch of Conoiusionsof our subject are inevitable, namely, that there is a diminution in fecundity and ''™"'^^'°°: • fertility in recent years, which is due to : — (a) deliberate prevention of conception, and destruction of embryonic life ; Fecundity (b) pathological causes consequent upon the means used and the practices have been involved therein. (Qs. 1060, 1075, 2931, 2934, 8250, 3949, 3993, 3999, Seratf ^^ 4001, 4002, 4005, 3845-3862, 2662-2700, 3154-3161, 2767, 3167, intorfeTenoe ' 3184, 3185, 3186, 3187, 3211, 2791, 2407, 3316, 3326, 3388, 5125-5129, ^^^^1^'°' 6485.) (73.) From the evidence of the medical witnesses, police officers, and others, we are led to the conclusion that : — (a) The practice of preventing conception by artificial means is common ^,'^^°^lll?^ „ among all classes of the community and in all parts of the State ; is general— (b) this practice has greatly increased during the last fifteen years ; and practkrof (c) the extension of the deliberate and intentional avoidance of procreation "prevention" 1 ij I • • • o 1 • T • — greatly m- by means used to prevent conception is a mam factor m producing creased. the decline in birth-rate which we have ascertained to have taken Deliberate place in New South Wales since the year 1888 (Qs. 2931, 3250, 3070, IZt^Zfi. 3211, 3212, 3216, 3227, 3230, 3507, 6078, 6079, 6617, 3161, 4226, main factor 4227, 3995-3997, 3856, 5926, 5929, 5930, 6030) ; and that bltS.*^^ (d) Induced miscarriage is frequent in the married as well as in the induced mis- unmarried, though not to the same extent in all classes ; common.^^ (e) it has become more common in recent years ; and induced mis- (f) its increase is sufficiently apparent to justify its being regarded as a recenUy in-^ well-defined factor in producing the decline in the birth-rate (Qs. 3320, creased. 3321,3469,3503, 3542, 3514, 3518, 3519, 5247, 3337, 3341, 5386, i^'^^^^'i?"^- 4227, 3255, 3324, 3187, 3251, 3408, 3269, 3349, 3341, 3552, 2407, fTctoHnde* 2662-2666, 2771, 2778, 2939, 2931, S240, 3241, 5469). rit!°^^"*^" (74.) There is no evidence of any increase of physiological sterility in women Ability tTrT- in New South Wales. (Qs. 3563, 3572, 3578, 4002, 3976.) produceKas ^ ^ ' not declined. (75.) The evidence given by the naedical witnesses, in regard to the prevalence Artificial of inhibiting reproduction, is amply supported by the result of our inquiry into the reproduc°tion. importation, the manufacture, and the distribution of drugs and appliances accessory to the practices referred to. (76.) The returns made from time to time during the continuance of the Customs Commission by the officers of the Federal Department of Trade and Customs in [argl"^ Svdnev, of the kinds and number of articles introduced from other countries, appear in importations Exhibits Nos. 72, 76, 83, 131, and 160, and show a considerable importation. There is checks. no prohibition of the introduction unless the goods are of such a character as to come n° . . within the meaning given by the Department to the words " indecent and obscene," of preventrvea used in the Customs Act, I Edw. VII No. 6, sec. 52 (Exhibit No. 59, and Q. 634) ; f°^^^^°l but at one time, for a period prior to 1891, certain rubber goods referred to in the character. returns were stopped at the New South Wales Custom House (Q. 628-629). These Rubber rubber goods, are reputed to be part of the usual stock-in-trade of retail druggists ll^ckedly^ (Qs. 708, 712, 852, 919, 725), but their sale is not confined to druggists. S"*^"^ (77.) There are other articles used for preventing conception which have also druggists. for many years been regularly stocked by druggists (with the exception^ of a few °gXrTy'°^^^ who have, on principle, declined to participate in the trade) ; and we have it on good stocked. authority (Q. 713) that the demand for them has been steady for ten or fifteen years ; ft®^'^^" f^^ • while there are certain other articles, of more recent introduction, the sale of which ten or fifteen has increased enormously in the last few years (Qs. 715, 791, 1062, 1571, 1640, 1744, I2l\^,, 2308, 2309). Some of the articles referred to are manufactured by wholesale and enormously retail druggists, both in Sydney and in the country, with whom this branch of ™'='^<=*«^;i- business has evidently, in recent years, become lucrative (Qs. 702, 770, 771, 773, 857, manufactured 2463,2464). " (78,) in New South W Uri6Si 16 Ch, VI.— The Desire to Restrict Fertility. and the supply 1671, 1716, for?ndsuppw 0^-) '^^i^'^^ is ample evidence also that both the demand for ofabortifa- " of, abortifaclents is very considerable. (Qs. 1066, 1192, 1293, 1573, cients. 1726, 1776, 1739, 2135, 2136, 2452, and Exhibit No. 58.) ''^revenUTes (''^^ ) Consideration of llie evidence given before us leaves no room for doubt and Tbortffa- that the trade in materials used for the prevention of conception and the destruction widespread °^ foetal lifc has become not merely of great volume, but also of widespread extent, extent. seeing that, in addition to the trade carried on by druggists and others, these articles are carried from house to house l)y hawkers, and by Avomen (some of whom wear a dress resembling that of a nurse), who find their way into the homes of the people on various pretexts for the purpose of trading in these " preventives," or abortifacients. (Qs. 776, 780-], 988, 1032, 1067, 1070, 1691.) Number of (80.) We havc received ample evidence to satisfy us that the number of h i°arge"and%s Persons — midwivcs, nurscs, lying-in-home keepers, and others, including some few increasing, mcdical practitionero — plying the business of abortionists, is not only large but is increasing; and that they carry on this l)usiness with comparative impunity, owing to the inherent diflSculty of obtaining sufficient evidence for conviction of this form of crime. (Qs. 1938, 1939, 1963-1968, 2521, 2573-2588, 2896, 3184, 5349-5455, 1913, 3295, 3341, Exhibits Nos. 63, 73, 71.) Objectionable advertise- ments. Prosecutions under Obscene Publications Act. (81.) The freedom with which those who pander to the demand for facilities to avoid childbearing advertise their wares or their skill is evidenced by the fact that 237 advertisements of this nature, 103 advertisements regarding the cure of "nervous debihty, &c.," and 105 other advertisements, all objectionable in regard either to their patent or latent indecency, were collected from a single recent issue of 141 of the newspapers published in this State (Q. 6743). In this no account is taken of the number of advertisements of nursing-homes and nurses (63), concerning many of whom we have evidence to show that they are engaged in criminal practices. The freedom allowed in the dissemination of information regarding preventives, abortifacients, and abortionists, is also shown by the numerous leaflets, pamphlets, and books which are transmitted through the post office or openly distributed from door to door. A number of prosecutions under the " Obscene and Indecent Publications A.ct, 1901," have been undertaken from time to time, with the result that, since it was passed, the character of the advertisements we have referred to has been much altered, the number has been much reduced, and the meaning, though still plainly to be inferred by those to whom it is intended to appeal, has been sufficiently veiled to escape the law. (Qs. 1911, 1931, 1953, 1961, 2589-2598, 2885-6, 3065, 3130, Exhibit No. 145.) Desire to limit families not a product of modem times, nor peculiar to New South Wales. Reasons given for limiting families. VI.— THE DESIRE TO EESTEICT EERTILITY. (82.) The desire to keep fertility within such limits as each one for himself deems reasonable has generally been characteristic of a decadent state of society. It must not be assumed to have had its origin in modern times, for the contrary is thoroughly well established by history ; nor is it, in modern times, peculiar to the State into whose social condition, in respect of population, it has been our special duty to mquire Though we have found that the free play given to this desire has been the mam factor in the decline of birth-rate in New South Wales, it must be borne m mmd that m all the countries, including Erance, England, and the United States, where a declme of natural increase due to scarcity of births has been studied the pfominence of the same factor has been recognised. ' (83.) Witnesses one after another, in the course of this Inquiry, have testified to the exercise of this desire ; they have also referred to the readiness, and even spontaneity, of married people in admitting a- deliberate restriction in the number of their children by recourse to artificial checks. In addition to this, we recognise that there may be a certain number of instances in which the restraint of natural impulse is effective_ m marriage as well as in postponing marriage. The reason almost invariably given by people for restricting procreation is that they cannot conveniently affoM to rear more than a certain number of children. In some instances 17 Ch. VI— Tlie Desire to Restrict Fertility. instances we believe tlie people are sincere in stating tins as tlieir reason ; and that tliey honestly, tliongh mistakenly, believe want of adequate means to be a sufficient justification for interference with the course of nature. The witnesses themselves, however, suggest that, in the majority of cases, this is not the true reason ; they say that there are — i. An unwillingness to submit to the strain and worry of children ; ii. A dislike of the interference with pleasure and comfort involved in child-bearing and child-rearing ; iii, A desire to avoid the actual physical discomfort of gestation, parturi- tion, and lactation ; and iv. A love of luxury and of social pleasures, which is increasing. (84.) It will be seen that the reasons given for resorting to limitation have seifishneas one element in common, namely, selfishness. They are, in fact, indicative of the *K^°^^^^^<" desire of the individual to avoid his obligations to the community ; and they serve to exemplify the observation that "the effort of the race towards its increase in numbers | is in inverse ratio to the effort of the individual towards his personal development." ) They are the same kind of reasons as might be expected to be given in any community where the phenomenon of the voluntary limitation of the size of families is observed. (85.) The question, liowever, has presented itself to us, why, during the last Weakening^of twenty years or so, the avoidance of procreation in New South Wales should have strafn°trand°' become so prevalent as to materially reduce the birth-rate. The answer seems to us 8^°^^*^^°*^ pj to be, not so much that the future prospects for the rising generation are preTCntion." unfavourable, as some have suggested ; but that the restraints, which previously operated against the desire to regulate the size of families, have lately been either weakened or removed . These restraints, we consider, have been mainly of two kinds : first. religiousTeeling . which, we think, formerly actuated a larger proportion of the people ; and, second, ignorance of the means of accomphshing the desire. In regard to the latter we see that, during the last qxiarter of the nineteenth century, a wave of popular feeling spread over a great part of the civilised world, favourable to wave of feel- the individual control of the size of families ; and with it there has been a general ^^sf^JtS diffusion of the knowledge of methods by which restriction might be accomplished which previously was wanting. The history of this movement is matter of common knowledge. Despite Malthus' repudiation, early in the century, of artificial checks Neo-Maithu to the growth of population, these checks soon had their advocates ; and, towards the end of the third quarter of the century, a prominent school of writers on social subjects arose, with Charles Bradlaugli and Annie Besant as its chief exponents, who thought they saw in the limitation of families a means of alleviating the burdens of poverty. Since then the followers of this school have availed themselves, in times and places of prosperity and plenty, of the instructions intended by the Neo-Malthusians only for the very poor, with the result that marriage-rates a,nd birth-rates have diverged in many parts of the world. This propaganda of limitation of families was followed by a traffic in the materials used for the purpose of prevention, which, in its turn, lias encouraged the popular tendency, and brought facilities for prevention within the knowledge and reach of a very large proportion of the community. In due course, these doctrines and this branch of commerce _.„___^_^___ established themselves in Australia, and their introduction and extension have been jo Australia, concomitant with the commencement and acceleration of the decline of the birth-rate I which has attracted our attention. (86.) We cannot help observing that the adoption of these doctrines was unduly J^^^dicM ^^ encouraged by the judicial sanction given to tlieir publication in our own Law Courts doctrine of by the decision of the Eull Court (per Windeyer and Stephen, J. J. ; Darley, C.J., p^^^^"^*^"" dissentiente) in the case " ExDarteGo\\va.s: ' recorded in the "Law Reports, New South Wales," Vol. IX, 1888. {Vide Q. 6609.) Extracts from this decision have been scattered broadcast, not merely in Australia, but in Great Britain, by the advocates of limitation of families, and by a certain class of booksellers who cater for vicious tastes or engage in the traffic in preventives. In a four-page leaflet, published in England, a copy of which is before the Commission, Mr. Justice Windeyer's remarks Traffic in preventives. iVave of leeling spread 18 Ch. VII.— The Effects of the Restriction of Child-hearing on the Well-heing of the Community. Judicial sanction partially 'are quoted at some length. The remarkahle coincidence between the promulgation, in 1888, of the views expressed in this judgment, and the sudden fall of the birth- rate in 1889 [see pars. 21 and 27 of this Report), cannot, we think, be considered fortuitous. Those views have, we consider, been a powerful factor in reconciling the consciences of many people to the degrading practices of prevention, and have thus materially helped to cause the acceleration of the decline of the birth-rate which so soon followed upon their enunciation. On the other hand, we note that in a recent decision in the case " Potter v. Smith, " recorded in the " State Reports, New South Wales," 1902, Vol. II, the judicial sanction previously given to the publication of these doctrines has Ijcen in a measure withdrawn. In this case Mr. Justice Pring is reported as saying, " I am very glad that we have had this oppor- 1902, Birthrate — ■ Economic cause — Kestrictive regulation of trade, withdrawn— tunity 01 showiug people who disseminate documents of this character that they cannot shelter themselves behind the case of Ex parte Collins." (87.) We have not been able to trace the decline of the birth-rate to any well- defined economic cause. The fall, which had been gradual but distinct between the years 1867 and 1887, was suddenly accelerated in 1888 ; but this was five years prior to the great commercial crisis of 1893 ; and, although the decline continued to be severe until 1897, it does not appear to have acquired any additional impetus because of that cataclysm. As shown by Diagram Ko. 1 {vide Appendix) the volume of total trade reached its lowest point at the close of the year 1894, and then increased somewhat rapidly until the year 1900 ; but notwithstanding this increase, the fall in the birth-rate was not arrested. The Diagram also shows (as was pointed out in par. 60) that the rise and fall of the volume of total trade per head of population in this State has not at any time been synchronous with the rise and fall of the birth- rate. Legislative regulation of the conditions of employment has not, as yet, as far as can be traced by statistics, had any tangible influence upon the birth-rate ; but we cannot overlook the fact that restrictive regulations of trade, designed to abolish conipetition, effectually interfere with the continuity of employment in many walks of life, so that the income of those employed is more or less precarious, and this cannot fail to indirectly discourage the existence of large families, and the natural increase of population which would ensue therefrom. VII.— THE EFFECTS OF THE RESTRICTION OF CHILD-BEARING ON THE WELL-BEING OF THE COMMUNITY. Injurious effect of the use of "pre- ventives." Dr. C. W| Morgan's evidence. Dr. g. H. McCulloch'a evidence. (88.) In the coiu'se of our inquiry we have been much struck with the emphasis with which learned writers, whose Avorks liave been studied, and medical and other witnesses, have referred to the very serious iniurious effects on the bealt.b gf woinen which are the results of the practice of the prevention of conception 'tLe tollowmg are some of the quotations from their evidence :— (i) Dr. C. W. Morgan, a medical practitioner of wide experience in many parts of New South Wales, regards the practice of prevention as very deleterious m its effects on the nervous svstem of women, even to the extent of leading to insanity. (Qs. 1075, 1076.) (ii) Dr. S. IT. McCullocli, Honorary Surgeon to tlic Women's Hospital, Sydney, and Examiner in Midwifery to the Sydney University, stated that wonoen who practise prevention so injure themselves as to render it difficult tor them to conceive afterwards when they may desire it- the practice may also induce conditions A^'hich may lead to septic inflammations of the womb and of the other organs of generation ; and Ikko of«/fP i? diseases cause sterility. (Qs. 2616, 2520, 2486-2494, ^558-2564.) He also stated that during recent years the number of women who became invalids because of diseases of the reproductive organs is larger than previously, and that increase is, partly, due to the practice of prevention. (Qs, 2507-8.) 'i^J> (iii) 19 Ch. VII.— The effects of the Restriction of Child-bearing on the Well-being of the Community, (iii) Dr. A. Watson-Miinro, Honorary Surgeon to the Women's Hospital, Dr. A. expressed the opinion that there has been an increase during recent JJ^*^°y years in the number of women suffering from serious destructive evidence, diseases of the organs essential to generation (Qs. 2656-2861), and that the prevention of conception has taken an important part in causing this increase (Q. 2687). Speaking of one method practised, he said it would " cause irritations and congestions and disturbances of the circiilation in the organs ; and often, as well, would lead to the introduction of microbes, and cause septic diseases and inflammations" (Q. 2696). Of another method (which the evidence leads us to believe is the one most commonly practised) he said it was " likely to produce affections of the nervous system." (Q. 2698.) (iv) Dr. Ralph Worrall, who has been for many years connected with the Dr. B. Women's Department of the Sydney Hospital as Honorary Surgeon, ^°J^^g^ not only associates hysteria and nervous diseases with these practices, but refers to the possible liability to new growths resulting from the chronic congestion which they produce. (Qs. 2934-2969.) (v) Dr. E. T. Tliring, who has a similar experience of the Gynaecological Dr. e. t Department at the Prince Alfred Hospital, confirms what other ^^'l^^'J^^'g witnesses have said about the association of prevention with nervous ailments in women. (Q. 3077.) (vi) Dr. R. Scot-Skirving, Physician to the Prince Alfred Hospital and Dr. b. Scot- Surgeon to St. Vincent's Hospital, connects neuroticism in both men g^'^J™f'^ and women with these practices, and attributes an increase in such functional nerve disorders to the greater prevalence of the practices, (Qs. 3154-3159, 3161.) (vii) Dr. W. J. S. McKay (Hon. Surgeon, Lewisham Hospital for Women) Dr. w. J. s. holds similar views. (Q. 3318.) fy^^el (viii) Dr. John Harris, Government Medical Officer at Newcastle, a Dr j. practitioner of wide experience, says that it leads to uterine disease, ^j^^^g especially endometritis, which, he considers, is much more common than formerly. (Q. 3854.) He adds, also, that another effect of this practice is to make women look old. (Q. 3880.) (ix) Dr. Chisholm Ross' experience as an alienist justifies the assertion Dr. chisiioim that the mental stability of women is affected by the continual ^°^^^*^'' practice of methods for the prevention of conception (Q. 3951), and he regards it as a factor in tlie causation of some cases of insanity (Q. 3954), and a cause of mental deterioration. He recalls cases of insanity whose curability was affected by the fact that they had habitually practised prevention. (Q. 3998.) He recognises the pre- valence of neurasthenia, and regards it as opposed to reproduction, and a very likely consequence of meddling with the natural functions, (Qs. 3989-3991.) (89.) It will be seen that, in the opinion of several of the expert medical Frequency of witnesses whose evidence we have quoted, the continued practice of certain methods '"samty. of prevention is at times associated, to a certain degree, with neurasthenia, and occasionally with mental instability in its graver forms ; and that neurasthenia has become much more frequent in recent years than previoiisly. Having this before us we caused inquiry to be made into the statistics of insanity between the years 1870 and 1900, and the result of the investigation will be found in Exhibit No. 161, a diagram prepared by Mr. Trivett. In this remarkable diagram the birth and insanity rates for New South Wales and New Zealand are compared ; and it will b# observed that : — (a) In New South Wales — (i) there was a continuous slight decline of birth-rate between 1884 and 1889, when a further sudden decline of a very pronounced character, which has continued to the present time, became apparent ; (n) 20 Ch. VII.— The effects of the Restriction of Child-hearing on the Well-heing of the Community. Insanity — economic causes. (ii) the insanity rate (the rate per 1,000 of population who have been legally certified to be insane) was practically constant up to 1893, and since then has been continuously rising ; (hi) the rise in the insanity rate did not commence until some four years after the decline in the birth-rate had become strikingly evident. (b) In New Zealand — (i) the birth-rate has fallen almost continuously since 1878 ; (ii) the insanity rate has had a slight but uniformly upward tendency since 1871 ; and this tendency became pronounced in 1878 ; (ill) the pronounced tendency to increa.se of insanity became evident in the same year as the fall in tlic birth-rate began. On comparing New Zealand with New Soutii AValcs, however, it is seen that both the fall in the birth-rate and the rise in the insanity rate have been of greater intensity in New Zealand than in New South Wales. (90.) It would thus seem, at first sight, tliat both in New South Wales and New Zealand the movement of the insanity rate is, in some measure, related to the decline of the _ birth-rate. It must be noted, however, that, in New South Wales, the year in which the rise in the insanity rate began, 1893, was the year of the great financial crisis, which caused an unprecedented commercial depression, from which the community has not yet fully recovered ; and the mental strain of business worries has always been recognised as a potent factor in causing insanity. Though the increase of insanity may be to a large extent due to the mental stress' of business troubles, there is such a remarkable correspondence between the increase of insanity and the decrease of births that it cannot be lightly ignored. It is possible that the practices resorted to for the purpose of limiting families, by causing an increased prevalence of neurasthenia, and neuroticism generally, may be responsible for some portion at least of_ the increased insanity rate. However this may be, the chief cause, so far as this State is concerned, is, in our opinion, the financial depression since 1893. Whether this would also apply to New Zealand is a matter upon which we can express no opinion. Dr. H. S. Pomoroy's writings. Emmett's^" „ ^^'^■} ^^/essor T. A. Emmctt, M.D., LL.D., in his " Principles and Practice opinion. ol Gynaecology," asks, " Can any one, accustomed to treating the diseases of women, say in truth the statement is exaggerated that we can see on any one day more , sorrow and misery resulting from the abuse of the married state than would be found writkgr ^^^^ ^0^*1^ fi'OJ^ uncomiDlicated child-bearing?" The writings of Dr. Bergeret, " Les Praudes Conjugates," and of others, amply bear out ^vhat our local witnesses have told us in regard to the physical evils for which the practice is responsible (Exhibit No. 147.) Dr. II. S. Pomeroy, of Boston, in his book, " The Ethics of Marriage," deals with the M'hole moral, social, and medical aspects of prevention with modesty and moderation. This book is one which is worthy of the most careful perusal of all who have an honourable wish to understand this subiect There is one passage in it which, we are sure, Avill make all who advocate or practice prevention waver m their opinions. The passage is too long to embody in this report, but is quoted in extenso in the Appendix. (Exhibit No. 116.) (92.) This mass of evidence amply proves that the practice of preventing conception, no matter what method is adopted, is tlie cause of many dire evils far worse than any bad consequences that could naturally result from the bearing'and rearing of a family The nervous system is deranged ; frequently distress of mind and body are caused ; the general health is often impaired, and sometimes ruined : and mflanimatory diseases are set up which disable the reproductive organs. Pollowmg m the tram of these diseases there may be temporary, or even permanent, sterility Thus as those who resort to limitation are seldom desirous of being absolutely childless, but desire to postpone the fulfilment of their conjugal obligations for a few years, they are often surprised to find-on ceasing to practise prevention— - that Effects of prevention of conception, physical and psychical. 21 Ch. VII.— The effects of the Restriction of Child-hearing on the Well-heing of the Commnnity. that their conduct has resulted in inability to conceive. Not only do the practices resorted to for the purpose of avoiding conception result in physical evils, but they are also productive of psychical effects not less serious. Men and vromen who adopt, or submit to the adoption of, such practices, must lose in self-respect and in respect for one another — they must, indeed, feel that their higher instincts are debased : and long continuance of these practices, in conjunction with their spread over a large proportion of the community, must result in a distinct degradation of character, and lowering of the moral standard of the people. (93.) Bad as are the consequences of prevention of conception, still worse is Consequences the destruction of health and life which follows the procuring of miscarriage, proouringr Without exception the medical witnesses we have examined have stated that its effects are disastrous. Dr. C. W. Morgan, Dr. 0. MacLaurin (Honorary Visiting Surgeon, Prince Alfred Hospital), Dr. S. H. McCulloch, Dr. Watson-Munro, Dr. R. Worrall, Dr. E. T. Thring, Dr. R. Scot-Skirving, Dr. G-. Armstrong (Honorary Surgeon, Sydney Hospital), Dr. W. J. S. McKay, Dr. Eouruess Barrington (Honorary Surgeon, Lewisham Hospital for Women), Dr. Grace llussell (Honorary Physician, ■ the Women's Hospital), Sir James Graham, Knt. (Honorary Surgeon to the Benevolent Society and to the Women's Hospital, Lecturer in Midwifery, University of Sydney), Dr. G. H. Taylor (Government Medical Officer), and Dr. John Harris have all contributed testimony to show the disastrous results of seeking to avoid the birth of children by artificial interference with the natural process of gestation. (94.) They tell us that, in the course of their professional practice, they meet Diseasea with very numerous cases in which ailments and illnesses arising from inflammatory from ""^ and septic disease of the organs of generation in women are attributable to the abortion, results of miscarriage. They are evidently of opinion that, in a large proportion of these cases, the miscarriage has not occurred from any natural or accidental cause ; but has been brought about by deliberate interference in some artificial way with the natural processes following conception ; and that this interference has been undertaken with the intention of bringing gestation to an abrupt termination. One witness referred to a chemist in the country as having bragged that he had at one time nine women under treatment to procure their abortion by mechanical means. Abortion Another said that the voluntary producing of miscarriage was certainly common in fnduo^ed'!^'^ the community. " Every medical practitioner," he said, " knows that a woman wall come and say ' I am in the family way ; I want to have an abortion procured.' ' Well, ' you say, ' I can do nothing for you.' ' Oh, very well ; I will go somewhere else, where they will do it.' And they do, and you m.eet them a month or two afterwards, no longer pregnant." Another said that it might be surmised that, in about one- fourth of these cases, the miscarriage had been deliberately induced. Another estimated that in his practice at one hospital during the last five years he had been called on to treat about 150 women suffering from the effects of abortion. (95.) It is implied that the cases are very numerous in which the illness Sepsia after which accompanies or results from miscarriage does not necessitate engaging the *''°'^*"'°- services of a medical practitioner ; and that in many cases in which the treatment of the illness has been successful no manifest physical disability ensues. On the other hand there are scores of cases, w'e are told, in w^liich a little sepsis has been introduced ; and, though the illness may not be severe at the time, the infection may settle in the fallopian tube, creating prolonged and painful ill-health, from which relief may have to be sought in surgical operation. It would seem that many parts of the pelvic viscera may become affected by the inflammatory or septic disease which miscarriage initiates. Sometimes the disease may be confined to the lining membrane and the muscular substance of the uterus ; sometimes it may involve the less active tissues that surround this organ, causing its displacement or fixation, with or Avithout abscess in these tissues ; sometimes it may focus itself in the fallopian tubes ; sometimes it may spread to the peritoneum ; and sonietimes it may be so virulent in its poisonous and infectious character as to lead to septicaemia that may prove fatal. These last cases are those to which one witness referred when Deaths alter be abortion. 22 Ch. VII.— The Effects of the Eestriction of Child-bearing on the Well-heing of the Commnnity, Sterility cauaed by abortion. Removal of diseased organs. Increase of deaths of women in childbirth. Increased prevalence of diseases of women, not- withstanding improvement in gynaecology. he spoke of " the tragedies that come out in the newspapers." Tlien we are referred to the instances where, from the mere fact of one or more miscarriages having occurred, there ensues an inability for the natural process of gestation to run its course, so that miscarriage spontaneously arises whenever conception takes place. (96.) Prom these cases we follow tlie witnesses to the consideration of the sterility, which, they tell us, results so commonly from inflammatory or septic disease of the pelvic viscera. Miscarriage tlioy all recognise as a potent cause of sterility. The illness of Avomen, who complain that they are not able to bear children, is often found to have commenced with a miscarriage. Or there may be an incomplete miscarriage with subsequent putrefactive or septic disintegration of the embryonic structures remaining unexpelled. And in this or in other ways there may originate an infection and a consequent inflammation or suppuration of the tissues essential in the process of ovulation or fertilisation ; or the obliteration or distortion of both the fallopian tubes, or other structural disorganisation may occur, which makes child-bearing impossible, and leads to months or years of physical suffering. There are, we are told, a large number of women affected by septic disease of the reproductive organs ; a larger number of miscarriages in recent years ; an. increase in the number of. cases admitted into the hospitals for operations necessitated by recent miscarriages ; while in all the hospitals there are never less than four hundred "curettings" a year, the majority of which are done to remove the effects of miscarriage. The removal, by surgical operation, of ovaries and of uterine appendages, in which the disease has been originated by miscarriage, is of common occurrence. The experience of the older practitioners goes back to a time when septic conditions of pelvic viscera of women in the country, where such are now of common occurrence, were rarely met with. (Qs. 1078, 1079, 1080, 2408, 2431, 2432, 2516, 2526, 2767, 2763, 2924, 2925- 2927, 2943, 3076, 3078, 3183, 3184, 3186-3187, 3246-3250, 8251, 3332, 3336, 8337, 3365, 3366, 3382, 3383, 3377-3379, 340^, 3418-3420, 3479, 3580, 3590, 3651, 3696, 3697, 3S61.) (97.) In connection with the great increase in the procuring of miscarriage which has been observed, it is a very significant fact that the proportion of deaths of women in childbirtli increased, in the period 1590-1902, bv uO per cent, on the rate for 1881-1900. (Q. 543.) (98.) Diseased, or even septic, conditions of the reproductive organs of women have undoubtedly become much commoner in recent years, and there is absolute unanimity among medical experts in ascribing the greater part of this increase to the deliberate and unnatural efforts of women, both married and unmarried, to obtain release from what they regard as an unwelcojne encumbrance. It is a matter of frequent observation that many women's lives are wrecked by the numerous congestive, inflammatory, and suppurative diseases which affect their reproductive organs. There is no branch of medical or surgical science in Avhich so much experience has been gained during the last fifty years as that which goes under the name of gynaecology. So exacting have been 'the demands on medical skill for the treatment of these diseases that special departments of hospitals, and even special hospitals, have sprung into existence in all large centres of population, while the class of physicians and surgeons who find it necessary to devote the whole of their time and skill to this one branch of work has been everywhere increasino- Despite the fact that advance in knowledge and skill has enabled many more cases of this land of physical disorder to be brought within the range of treatment, there can be little doubt (Q. 224) but that there are a larger proportion of subiects for treatment to.day than there used to be before the days of modern gynaecology, and many of these women with wrecked lives owe their sorrows to the direct or indirect effects of abortion. Medical experts are of one mind in attributing a very large proportion of the inflammatory and septic diseases, which not only cause sterility but actually disable women and spoil their lives, to this degrading crime. (99.) 23 Ch. VII.— The Effects of the Restriction of Child-hearing on the Well-heing of the Community. (99.) A circumstance that causes grave misgivings as to the future is that so Women do many vromen do not realise the wrong involved in the practices of prevention and "^e ^^nl abortion. They converse with one another upon these subjects apparently Avithout |,"J°^^^^?^q£ shame, and freely approach doctors and chemists in order to procure the means to reproduction, gratify their desires, as will be seen from the folloAving excerpts fi'om the evidence : — (i) Dr. 0. W. Morgan, of Pambula, stated :— ^vwS''"'' " 1085. Q. Have you noticed that women frequently leave the country and come to the metropolis with an apparent view to have abortion procured ? A. Tes ; I have seen such cases often. The people in the country, and in some of the towns as vj-ell, will come and ask a medical man to procure miscarriage for them. I remember a woman coming and asking me, and I said I did not do that sort of thing ; and she said, ' Oh, it would be just as well ; I have been down twice before to Sydney, but if you do it for me it would not cost so much.' " 1086. Q. Have you, in your practice, found that women now more readily approach the subject of liaving abortion procured than they did in your early practice ? A.I a.m sure they do. To a medical man they do not scruple to talk about it ; they do not see the moral wickedness of it." (ii) Mr. G. Stevens, pharmacist, stated: — Uv.a. ^ ^ ^ Stevens " 1671. Q. Have they ever asked you for means to get rid of the difficulty— to evidence. procure abortion ? A. Oh, well, sometimes they do ; and I simply give them an ordinary box of pills. "1672. (). How does the knowledge of these things reach the women in the country — by advertisement ? .4. No ; it travels from one to another." (iii) Nurse B., saleswoman, at Washington Soul & Co.'s, stated : — • Nurse b.'s ^ ' evidence. " 2135. Q. Have the women who purchased these articles from you ever suggested that they might be supplied with some means to get rid of the results of conception ? A. Yes. " 2136. Q. That is to say, practically, that they have asked that abortion should be procured ? A. Tes, they have. "2137. Q. Have they asked frequently? A. Well, no, not very frequently ; but it has been done. " 2138. Q. Tou have been placed in a difficulty when they asked such a question as that ? A.l have, many times ; but I have got out of the difficulty by advising them to go and consult a medical man. "2139. Q. Advised them to go to some medical man to obtain abortion? A. Oh, no, decidedly not ; I have no traffic with that sort of medical man at all." (iv) Dr. A. Watson-Munro, in his evidence, stated : — Dr. A. ^ ^ Watson- "2670. Q. Have you found that the wives of the working men have deliberately Munro's stated their desire to procure abortion ? A. Tes. ^ ^ *^^ ^^°^' " 2671. Q. And to, in a general way, evade the pregnant condition ? A. Many classes of women are pretty free in expressing that desire. " 2672. Q. And would that observation in any degree apply to those above the working classes in station ? A. Tes. " 2076. Q. Not common gossip simply ? A. Oh, no. AVomen tell me this ; some women even open the subject. It is a subject that one does not go very far into. I have, in some instances, inquired, and have been told the actual means that they use. "2077. Q.JJo you think that women, in your practice in the hospital, and in your own consulting room, approach this subject with more facility than they did in your early practice ? A- Tes ; I think they do. _ - , ; "2678. §. They do not appear to regard it, then, as being something to be ashamed of ? A. No. Well, I am not saying that about all women. All women who express a desire to limit their offspring do not, by any means, belong to the kind that are not ashamed to discuss it openly ; still, a large proportion of women do tell me openly that they do not desire to have more children, and say they will not have more children. A woman often says she will not, when she simply means that she has not the liking to, do a certain thing. And they have asked me again and again to tell them the means of limiting offspring ; and they repeatedly have asked me to get rid of the product of conception for them ; and, finding that that cannot be done through me, they sometimes say that they know where it can be done. Ignorance, as well as perverseness, is at work." (v) 24 Ch. VII.— The Effects of the Restriction of Child-bearing on the Well-ljeiiig of the Comimmity. Dr. R. Scot- Skirving'a evidence. (t) Dr. E. Scot-Skirving, in Lis evidence, stated : — "3163. Q.Thoj do not appear to recognise the immorality of it ? ^. I know- women, who are absolutely good women, in the best sense of the word, and yet there seems to be a twist in them in that way ; they do not seem to consider the question of abortion, or any of those things, in as grave a light as even persons not professing to be particularly pious at all would look at them in. They do not look seriously on the ques- tion of either preventing children or unloading children when children are on the way. "31G1. Q. Practically they do not recognise the great responsibility they have in interfering with the function ? A. Yes ; I suppose that is the right way of putting it." Dr. Grace Russell's evidence. (vi) Dr. Grace Eussell (Hon. Physician to the Women's Hospital), in her evidence, stated : — • " 3475. Q. Do the women discuss prevention with you ? A. Not many ; a few occasionally. " 3170. Q. I proBurae that at times they have discussed it ? A. Yes. "3477. Q. And do they not appear to recognise the immorality of the idea? A Some do. I do not think tjhey look at it from that standpoint. " 3178. Q. That is to say, they overlook the fact that it is a grossly immoral practice ? A. Yes." Sir James Graham's evidence. Dr. J. Harris' evidence. Dr. Chisholm Ross' evidence. (vii) Sir James Graham, Knt., M.D., stated : — " 3552. Q. "Will you kindly give the Commission your opinion, based on your general experience, as to whether induced abortion is frequent ? A. The desire for inducing abortion is very common ; that is my experience. A sense of the immorality of the thing seems to be an unknown quantity among the majority of them. " 3629. Q. Do 50 per cent, of the females who talk to you upon the subject of abortion do so without apparent mental compunction of any kind? A. Yes." (viii) Dr. John Harris, of Newcastle, stated : — '■ 3848. Q. And do they appear to recognise the criminality of the transaction ? A. Oh, yes, to such an extent that it is very difficult to get an admission from them. " 3819. Q. Do they recognise that it is an immoral act? A. I do not think they appreciate what the immorality of it is in a large number of cases — only as far as the law would have efEect, I think. " 3851. Q. Do you think that they recognise the immoralitv of attempting to prevent pregnancy? A. I do not think they appreciate what it is in a large number of cases. 1 was speaking only a few days ago to a lady, the mother of a family, and she simply said a woman would be a fool to have more than two children, — 'I never had more than two, and a woman would be a fool to have more than two.' " 3852. Q. It is quite evident that she did not recognise that it was an immoral practice? .4. It is. " 3916. (3. And is the sale of preventives more open and more common in the northern district than it was twenty years ago ? ^. I do not know that it is more common ; but they are more inclined to discuss it now than twenty years ago." (ix) Dr. Chisholm Ross, in his evidence, stated : — _ " 3962. Q. And have the persons who stated those views appeared to recognise the immorality of the transaction ? A.No ; not generally. "3903. Q. They have, apparently, a blunted feeling of morality? A. I do not know that it has ever occurred to them as having any moral side to it, merely an economic side. "^ The Hon. Dr. Creed's evidence. (x) The Hon. Dr. J. M. Creed, M.L.C., stated ^T, v- . ^" ^ ^° *^'® people, your patients, with whom you have conversed on the subject, seem to recognise the immorality of the transaction ? ^. I do not know that they recognise the immorality. Of course, it is so much a matter of opinion as to What is immoral and what is moral. That varies in every country. "4234 e. But I presume that you yourself deem it to' be an immoral act? A. Oil, yes, ot course I do. " 4235. Q. But it is alleged that it is much more common at the present time than It was, say, ten or fifteen years ago, and that those who practise it seem to regard it as being by no means an immoral or an indecent act ? A. Anyhow it is considered a venial ottence against both manners and morals." (Xi) 25 Ch. VII.— The Effects of the Restriction of Chlld-hearinj on the Well-heing of the Ccmmtinity, (xi) Nurse A (a monthly nurse and midwife practising among the educated Nui'se A's classes), stated :— evidence. " 1850. Q. Is it within your Imowledge that women practise prevention ? A. Yes. " 1864. Q. Do you find that women, speak more readily and freely than they did in former years in regard to this practice ? A. Yes. "1865. Q. And do they appear to consider the practice as immoral? yl. I do not think they realise the seriousness of it. " 1860. Q. Is the practice carried on among women who already have families ? A. I have not nursed where there have been very large families. I have nursed ladies with five and six, and, of course, that is as many as I could have nursed them with ' ■ within the time. . " 1867. Q. And do people coming within that category express their approval of the practice ? A. They think it is right. They do not seem to realise that it is a sin, or that it is a danger to their health. " 1868. Q. Do you yourself recognise it as an immoral practice ? A.I am very much against it in every way. " 1S69. Q. Do you consider it indecent? A. I do." (xii) Dr. G. Lane Mullins, in his evidence, stated : — Dr. G. Lane " 2340. Q. Are married people, in your experience, quite outspoken about their gyj^g'^L intention of limiting their families ? .4. Many of them are ; yes. . , • * " 2341. Q. They speak freely in your consulting room ? A, Yes ; very freelyi ' " 2312. Q. Was that always the case? A. I cannot say that it was always. the case ; but it may possibly be due to my having been a younger practitioner some years ago, or it may be due to an increase in the practice. I am hardly able to say that. " 2351. Q. In what way is this expressed ? A. 1 think it is in the general conversation that one hears. One hears so much about the limiting of families, and the various ailments to which men and women are liable, which one did not hear some years ago; these are subjects of ordinary conversation at the present day, which were not ten or twelve years ago." (xiii) Dr. R. Worrall, in his evidence, stated : — Dr. e. " 29.?5. Q. In your practice do you find that women, in consulting you, approach eTidence. the subject of prevention of impregnation very readily? A. Oh, yes, quite readily; they make no secret of it. "2936. Q. And do they appear not to recognise that it is an immoral, if not an obscene act ? A. They never seem to recognise that." (xiv) Dr. E. T. Thring, in his evidence, stated : — Dr. e. t. " 3067. Q. Do you find that women in all classes approach this subject quite Thring's freely ? A. Yes, with reservations, of course ; more freely than you would expect. ^^' ence. " 3068. Q. Do tliey approach the subject without any apparent idea of its im- morality ? A. A good many, yes. I see exactly what you mean, and I think one might, perhaps, answer the question ' Yes,' perhaps qualifying it somewhat. They recognise that tiiey are not doing exactly the right thing ; but still, so long as they themselves get clear, they do not mind. I suppose that means to say there is a lack of moral sense in the matter." (xv) The E-ev. Dr. Dill-Macky, in his evidence, stated : — Eev.Dr. ■ Dill-Macky's " 5957. Q. Evidence has been given to the Commission that the clergy of all evidence, denominations are less in touch with the inner life of the people than they used to be ; — is that in accordance with your own observations? .4. .No; I can scarcely say that it is. I have been surprised at the freedom with which people talk to me upon the limitation of their families. I have been actually surprised at the want of moral sensibility on the subject. Por example, in one case, not so long ago, a gentleman asked me to baptise his baby. 1 remarked that there must bo a considerable interval between the last child and this, and he said, " Yes, seven years ; but it was designedly so. We did not wish a child ; but the mother took a fancy that she would rather have another child, so we brought it about." He said that without the slightest feeling that there was anything morally wrong in their conduct. " 5958. Q. Without the slightest idea that he was giving utterance to most immoral sentiments ? A. Without the slightest idea that he was doing what was wrong. " 5964. Q. Have you any information to give the Commission relating to your obfervations regarding the prevalence of abortions ? A.I know of prevention ; I do not know much about abortion. I can give you no satisfactory information in that respect ; but I know that prevention is commonly advocated in all classes of society, except among the very lowest." 235-e (xvi) 26 Ch. VII.— The Effects of the Restriction of Child-hearing on the Well-being of the Commnnity. Ker, N. M. Hennessy's evidence. Dr. A. Murray Oram'B evidence. Cletgy . examined. (xvi) The Eev. N. M. Hennessy stated : — " 6023. Q. Does it not also follow naturally, in the case of a woman who has used preventives which have failed, as is very frequently the ease, that she will resort to destruction of tbe embryo ? A.l can only, in answer to that, speak of what I know in Birmingham. Doctors have told me in Birmingham that they were pestered in certain neighbourhoods by women who are comfortably placed coming to ask them to procure abortion ; and the man who tells you that is usually the man who has refused the request ; those who comply say nothing about it. I believe that in most cases where the refusal has been made by the medical man telling me that he had refused, some other practitioner had consented." (xvii) Dr. A. Murray Oram stated : — " (Qs. 5115 to 5130.) That prevention is carried on to a very large extent in Sydney by all classes of women. He is often asked to advise as to the means of pre- venting pregnancy, without the woman appearing to recognise the immorality of the transaction. This has always been so throughout his experience of practice, but not to the same extent as now. It is much more prevalent now. He is occasionally asked by women of all classes whether it is possible to have abortion procured, and in the majority of cases they do not seem to grasp the immorality of it, though they are other- wise good living and right-thinking women." (100.) In view of the perversion of morals revealed in the evidence we have quoted ahove, we decided to examine representative clergymen upon the subject. Invitations were issued to the heads of the various religious denominations to nominate representatives to appear before the Commission, the nature of the evidence we had received was explained to the representatives so nominated, and they were asked to give us any information in their possession, together with their views on the morality or otherwise of artificial limitation, and its effects on the character of the people who practised it. As will be seen by the following quotations from their evidence the clergy have emphatically denounced the practice of artificial limitation of families. Evidence of His Grace the Archbishop of Sydney. Evidence of His Eminence Cardiniiil Moran. (i) His Grace, the Archbishop of Sydney, in his evidence, says : — " (Q. 6348 et seq.) That the restricting of fertility of marriage by artificial means violates the sanctity of marriage. ' The sanctity of marriage,' he adds, ' depends upon the desire to perform the functions of marriage with mutual love.' ' To my mind,' the regulation, by artificial means, of the number of children that are born to people in marriage ' lowers the whole view of what marriage is for ; it turns the marriage contract into a mere sexual compact.' ' I do not think any artificial restriction of children can be for the benefit of the community. Of course I do not mean that there are not many cases in which it is a very sad pity that children should be brought into the world under very sad conditions, but that goes into the whole question of whether the marriage was right. I take it simply that if natural conditions prevail, I would rather have the larger family than the smaller.' He ears also (Q. 6363) 'People who have not a real, serious, religious view of marriage cannot really benefit the community.' 'I think this practice is a sin against Grod, a sin against nature, and a sin against society ' (Q. 6371)." (ii) His Eminence, the Cardinal Archbishop of Sydney, says : — " (Q. 6030.) That an increase in the prevalence of the desire to avoid the natural obhgations pertaining to married life should be regarded as indicating a lowering of the standard of morality in marriage. "(Q. 6031.) "I think" using artificial means lo secure that the fertility of marriage shall be restricted "violates the natural law, and violates still more the rehgious conditions and sanctity of marriage. Of course there are certain circumstances in which, for grave reasons, we may easily suppose that the husband and wife would be justified in mutually renouncing their marital rights and saying, ' We agree that no morechildren shall be born, and we shall henceforth live as brother and sister ' Por certain grave reasons that has been permitted in the past, and there is no violation of either natural law or any religious law in the parties so mutually contracting, where there are grave reasons for it ; but to use any means to restrict or to prevent the natural growth of children, so to say, or of child-bearing, on the part of either parent, I consider to be repugnant to the natural law, and repugnant to the religious duty of the contractors. b j " •u-ij " i**^ ^^l'' ""• ^^^'^'^ ^''^^ *'^® regulation by artificial means of the number of f^'''^^t^,^°P "^persons m marriage "would have a most demoralising efFect upon the'si '^ ^iidividual capacity and still more in their relations to society and to " (Q. 6038.) The direct use of such artificial means implies a violation of the natural law, and a violation of the Divine law. " (Q. 6034.) Ch. VII.— The Effects of the Bestriction of Child-hearing on the Well-heing of the Commtmity. " (Q. 6034.) The practice of prevention certainly undermines the telief in the dignity of womanhood, and in the dignity of the supernatural order, in which we, as members of a Christian community, live. " (Q. 6043.) The advocacy of artificial restriction of fertility in marriage is ' quite repugnant to the Christian idea of marriage ' ; contrary even to the fuodamental principles of our Christian civilisation." (iii) The Reverend Mr. Howell Price says : — Evidence of *' _ Reverend " (Q. 6102.) My own view in regard to this question of the limitation, of J. Howell families would be summed up practically in one word, ' Murder.' Price. " (Q. 6106.) It seems to me that the whole moral tone suffers in cases that come under my own personal notice ; I know it has so suffered, and that, generally speaking, neither the husband nor wife are what they were before they were married ; that is, speaking from a moral and spiritual standpoint — they have deteriorated j and that " (Q. 6107.) the moral tone of the community has been very seriously under- mined by the practice." (iv) The Venerable J. D. Langley, Archdeacon of Cumberland, says :— vejferabie"^ _'[ That (Q. 6378.) the practice of deliberately restricting fertility in marriage by J- !>• Langley. artificial means ia a degradation of the marriage state ; and (Q. 6379) a violation of the sanctity of marriage ; and (Q. 6380) would be morally and spiritually deadening t.Q - ^ .. persons of religious mind and heart." (v) The Reverend P. J. Stephen says that— Irv^ p'^j"^ " (Q. 6797.) The use of artificial means to restrict the fertility of families is a Stephen, violation of the sanctity of marriage ; that (Q. 6S04) this conduct is likely to under- mine the best moral instincts of the people ; that (Q. 6807) the practice of prevention is a sin and an immoral practice ; that (Q. 6810) abortion is child-murder, and (Q- 6811) a crime in the sight of the law of God." (vi) The Rev. Dr. Dill-Macky says : — Evidence of " (Q. 5929.) That he believes the desire to limit the number of childrea boTU in Dill-Macky. wedlock is much more prevalent during recent years than was the case in former years. " (Q. 5930.) The increase of the prevalence of that desire indicates a lowering of the standard of morality in marriage. " (Q. 5931.) The use of artificial means to secure that the fertility of marriage shall be restricted violates the sanctity of marriage. " (Q. 5932.) The effect of this practice on the character of those who take steps to regulate by artificial means the number of children that shall be born must be most demoralising from an ethical point of view. " (Q. 5956.) I think there has been a great lowering in connection with the sanctity of marriage from what existed in our fathers' and grandfathers' days. " (Q. 5961.) I think the teaching that people are justified in limiting their families is contrary to the teaching of Scripture, and I think it is coutrajy to the well- being of the nation. The command is a very plain one 'Be fruitful, and multiply, and replenish the earth.' And the man who has a large family is accounted in Scripture as one who is blessed by God. ' Happy is the man who has his quiver full of them.' Then if you come to the nation again, the result of such action must be baneful and hurtful to the highest well-being of the nation. " (Q. 5963.) I believe the very same thing did apply in days gone by (in Athens, • Sparta, and Eome) and that the very same practices as are now in operation, were in operation then, to the downfall of the nations that practised them. " (Q. 5967.) The people seem to think there is no sin in what they are doing " (vii) The Rev. N. M. Hennessy says :-— I'lfT^M^ " (Q. 5973.) The increase of the prevalence of the desire to restrict the number Hennessy. of children born indicates a lower standard of morality ia marriage. " (Q. 5974.) The use of artificial means to secure a restricted fertility actually violates the sanctity of marriage. " (Q. 5875.) The effect on the character of those who follow such practices would be a very complete one. One of the early effects would be a diminution of religious feeling, with the possible loss of any appreciation of religion whatever. Next there would be a loss of the philanthropic feeling, a decline in sympathy ; even neighbourliness and good citizenship and almost everything that you could associate with the word ' enthusiasm' would be threatened and likely to disappear. The mental and moral efliects I take to be unmistakable. " (Q. 5990.) I believe that where the. religious sense is profound that will carry with it a belief that God has some care for offspring, and there would be no desire to adopt these artificial methods for the limitation of the family." " (Q. 6010.) The artificial check to child-bearing is immoral." (101.) 28 Ch. VII.— The Effects of the Restriction of Child-bearing on the Well-heing of the Community. Immorality of (101-) We recognise the grave immorality of deliberately preventing con- reproduc"io°n ^eption in marriage and the still graver immorality and criminality of inducing " miscarriage. The mere fact that criminality does not attach to prevention while it does to abortion is a distinction which has in the past led to the belief that the former practice is not wrong; but wo consider that, as modes of avoiding pro- . . creation, they are equally opposed to that morality upon which the welfare of the race essentially depends. The mental condition of any population, moreover, in ' which the avoidance of parentage is condoned, and even advocated, we regard as Social and One whicli tells its own tale of social and moral deterioration. Such practices as Tetofioration. ^.^^ necessarily resorted to as alternatives for that restraint of natural impulse, which is alone justifiable for this end, we agree with the reverend witnesses and other witnesses whose evidence we liave quoted, violate the sanctity of marriage, and tend to convert the marriage contract into a sexual compact. We consider that they lower the standard of right-living and riglit-th inking in the community, create laxity of morals, debase character, and ignore the sanctity of human life. Decay of (102.) The decay of family life is another feature involved in the disappear- famiiyhfe. aiicc of that scnsc of responsibility by which alone the recruiting of posterity can be maintained. The benefits of large families to the members of those families and to the nation composed of them cannot be over-estimated. It is recognised that members of large families educate one another; that "only" children and members Large families of Small families are less well-equipped for the struggle of life; they do not grow versus BuiM. ^^ ^q -^^ morally, intellectually, or physically superior to members of large families, while their social efficiency is impaired by selfishness. Arsene :Dumont (in Natalite et Democratie) says : " The life of an only child is an uninterrupted lesson in egoism : lasting twenty years. Honor and country ask for sacrifices, and the 'only' child is less courageous. The more numerous the family the more respectful the children are to the parents. Men from large families have greater social worth." We recognise generally that large families thrive best, and that those who have none dependent on them are themselves liable to become dependent on others. We also recognise that the obligations of parentage are an inducement to the right use of health and strength, and an incentive to the preservation and development of all those qualities which strengthen individual character. And we see that the eflPort demanded for the support of a large family stimulates a conscientious regard for duty, and promotes good citizenship. Evidence of (103.) On this subject some of the reverend witnesses have given evidence Clergy. ^^ folloWS : — Evidence of His Grace the Archbishop of Sydney. Evidence of His Eminence Cardinal ^roran. (i) His Grace, the Archbishop of Sydney, says : — " (Q. 6353.) That he has not observed that small families and ' only ' children grow up morally, intellectually, or physically superior to members of large families ; nor (Q. 6354) are they better fitted for the struggle of life, or more useful to society, or less se fish. 'I think the danger of 'only' children is of their becoming very spoilt and self-willed, from my observation.' " (Q 6356.) The responsibility of having a large family ' must make any thoughtful person less selfish, and ]t must mal7.) Ihe responsibilities of a large family would develop the altruistic instinct, unless the parents themselves were very bad peoiDle. '' (Q' ^'''}''f-^ CJiven ordinary conditions of training, morality, and education, the larger family IS bettor for the State." ■ o. j, ,. (ii) His Emuience, the Cardinal Archbishop of Sydney, says :— ''(Q.6037.) I would go in entirely for large families on every count-on the count of nationality, on the count of patriotism, on account of the happiness of the families thcmselve^, and of the r^&l esprit de corps growing up in such-families. I look on the f ami y as the great unit in the State; and such as the families are, so shall the Sti . fl' ^^'^^J'^f* where a number of fine families grow up you will be sure to have a flourishing State, and the people will be quickened with a vigour and earnestness Jrdsent'timr' "^ '^'' "^^ ^ ^""''^^ *^® conditions of Canada to be at the , (iii) 29 Ch. VII.— The Effects of the Restriction of Child-hearing on the Well-being of the Community. (iii) The Rev. Dr. Dill-Macky says :— P,videnceof Rev. Dr. "5937. Q. Do you think that, as n rule, tho parents of large families are them- Dill-Macky. selves strengtliened in character by reason of the greater responsibilities they have assumed in having children dependent upon them r" A. I am perfectly sure that it has a splendid ethical result in connection with parents — the having a larger responsibility . and a larger care. " 593s Q. Eegarding the question of the utility of large and small families from a national standpoint,- are not greater patriotism, greater unity of national aim and aspiration, to be expected in a community composed of a greater average number per family than in a community composed of a smaller average number per family? A. One would certainly think so. "5939. (). A writer on this subject says: — 'Every well-trained family home is a centre whence elements of social happiness and national dignity radiate. The country, indeed, which is most abundantly blessed with suc-h homes amongst its people will ever take the lead in the march of civilisation, for the amelioration of the world's barbarism and vulgarity is not so much the work of the arts and sciences as of the social sentiments. If we break up the family life we injure the nation at large, which is but an accumiilation of families.' "Would you say that was in accordance with the views that you yourself hold ? A. Most decidedly, sir. I think, of course, that the family is the foundation of the nation." (iv) The Eev. Nicholas Hennessy says : — Evidence of " (Q. 597?.} I distinctly believe that the children of the large families, other Hennessy.' things being equal — that is, the mental and physical vigour of the parents being about the same — are better fitted for their work in after-life, and more capable, more alert, and more prompt, more pugnacious, and more fitted for tie battle of life broadly. "5982. (J. AVould you say, regarding the question of the utility of large and small families respectively, from a national standpoint, that greater patriotism and unity of national aiai and aspiration ought or ought not to be expected from a community composed of a greater average number per family than from one composed of a smaller average number per family? A. I quite believe that the State is more firmly based upon the large family than upon the small — upon a large number of large families rather than upon even a larger number of small families. " 5983. Q. But it has been alleged that where the family was strictly limited to one, or two, or three, the parents were able to devote a larger amount of attention and more material comfort to them in their upbringing, and that they might develop a stronger character because of that ; — would that be in accordance with your views ? A. It would not be in accordance with my view, because the contribution to the ethical surroundings of the family comes from the children as well as from the parents; and where they are very few in number, and are dependent, and feel themselves dependent, upon the parents lor all the stimulus of their moral and intellectual environment, they do not themselves contribute to the environment to the same extent ; and; therefore, do not develop such strong characters as children of large families. Again, if the smallness of. the family be brought about by the action, of the parents, that involves a moral attitude in them that may not enable them to contribute to the best environment of the children. Again, if the limitation is from' the volition 'of the parents, the reason that they almost always give is that they are enabled to enjoy each other's society more, not the society of the children more." ; (104.) We have shown (in pars. 43 and 44) that the illegitimate birth-rate illegitimacy. has declined during the ten years, 1893 to 1902, for all ages of the mothers, though it had increased somewhat during the period 1861-1886. It does not necessarily follovr from this, however, that a higher standard of purity has been reached, since (Q. 6656) there yet remains the question Avhether the causes which have affected the legitimate natality have also affected the birth of illegitimate children. (105.) The suppression, however effected, of the growth of population, must Restriction of ever be : an impediment to progress and prosperity.; What the measure of this P^Pg^^°°7 suppression has been in New South Wales may be seen by the very significant to progress statement made in paragraph 59 of this Eeport, Avhich is to the effect that, had prosperity, it not been for the. reduction in birth-rate, and the excess of mortality among illegitimate children over legitimates, which have occurred in the period 1864-19* 1 2, the population of New South Wales would now be more than 250,000 greater than it is ; while for Australasia (assuming that the same phenomena have characterised the birth-rates elsewhere as in New South Wales) the approximate loss of population due to these two factors amounts to 940,000. (Exhibit No. 151.) (106.) 30 Ch. YIII.— Suggestions by the Commission in regard to the Birth-rate. Views of Chamber of Commerce. Views of Chamber of Manufac- tures. (106.) What this loss means to the well-being of the community in its commercial aspect is well shown by the views expressed by the Sydney Chamber of Commerce and the Chamber of Manufactures. In the report of the Chamber of Commerce which was handed to the Commission by the President, Mr. G. S. Littlejohn (Q. 6180), the following paragraph occurs: — " Any action which tends to restrict the growth of population in this country is a menace and a detriment to its prosperity and progress." And, again, "in view of the restriction of immigration, the importance of vitality and progression of the birth-rate cannot be too strongly emphasised, as it is the only remaining factor on which the country can depend." The Chamber of Manufactures, in a report which was placed before the Commission by Mr. O. 0. Beale, the President, expressed the following opinion : — "As an individual body, and as citizens, we recognise that the sudden and astonishing change — for the present ratio of declension has been quickly developed — is a matter of transcendent import. . . . . A tendency has been established which would end, unless counteracted, in the subjugation and extinction of our race within measurable time. ... As society is a growth, so the stability of the tree depends upon the soundness of its roots ; and, as one tree may fail and decay by rotting from below, so may a forest. We desire emphatically to record our opinion, formed upon current European and American literature, that there is no difference in the state of society in New South Wales, in respect of the matters herein dealt with relating to the birth-rate and to mortality, to that of other civilised countries, speaking in general terms, . . But that is no reason why we should not sweep before our own door, nor why New South Wales should not be in the van-guard of reform." (Q. 6617-) Eflfeotson (107.) It is thus shown that the practices involved in the limitation of of^prMfee of families are responsible for much physical suffering, for a deadening of moral artificial Sensibility, and for a degradation of character among those who resort to them ; and EffectT°° these effects must have an unwholesome influence on the general character of the community of people who movc in a social atmosphere so vitiated. Defective health, defective f^uiei"'^ °^ morals, and defective character are already manifesting themselves as a warning of more marked deterioration likely to ensue. The effects on trade and commerce must be equally marked. With the proportion of births decreasing, and the natural increase of population diminishing, the demand for the products of industry must flag, and the capacity of the nation to utilise the natural resources of the State must tend to fail. Who can tell lohat progress New South Wales might not have made if, since 1864, 280,000 citizens had not been lost, and had performed their share in the development of the country ; or what strides in prosperity Australia might have taken, in the same petHod, with the assistance of nearly a million more inhabitants ? VIII.— SUGGESTIONS BY THE COMMISSION IN REGARD TO THE BIRTH-RATE. (108.) Having, thus far, briefly dealt with the Decline of the Birth-rate, and the causes of that decline, we propose now to shortly refer to several matters to which our attention has been directed by the evidence, and to make some suggestions as to the action which we think might be taken in order to counteract, to some extent, the forces which we have found to be operating adversely to the maintenance of the birth-rate at a natural level. In submitting these suggestions we do not desire it to be understood that Ave think their adoption will have the result of fully counteracting the perversion of Imman nature which causes people to limit the number of their offspring ; but if, as we propose, some of the disabilities at present attached to child-bearing be removed or mitigated, if the attention of the people be drawn, in the ways we suggest, to the consequences which flow from the adoption of " prevention," and if the people be assisted to adopt those occupations m which the support of larger families is easier, and in which children are a help, rather than a burden, we believe that much good will follow. (109.) 31 Ch. Vm.— Suggestions ty the CommiBsion in regard to the Birth-rate. (109.) We find from the evidence we have taken that the deaths of women Deaths of in childbirth— that is the deaths of women within one month of their confinement, rhMbk'th due to illness which has arisen in connection with their pregnancy, confinement, or "nduiy . subsequent puerperal state— are unduly numerous. We note also the liability of °"'"^''°'''- women to siiffer from ill-health, and even from sterility, in consequence of the risks to which they have been exposed in childbirth. On the other hand, it is well known that the obstetric art has attained a very high standard of excellence in High modern times; and this is illustrated in Sydney by the work, during the, last ten attaiiTed by years, of the Women's Hospital, which includes 3,891 deliveries of women without °'^s'etrio art, the occurrence of a single death from puerperal infection, and with an extremely Ho^pft^'f low general mortality. It is obvious, therefore, that as much facility as possible should be afforded to parturient women to receive the best care in their confinement. Puerperal infections, which are unduly prevalent, can be prevented by a proper Puerperal observance of what is known in obstetrics as surgical cleanliness, a knowledge of 3°^^*' °" ^""^ which cannot be expected of" the untrained women who so largely fill the part of oieaniineas. midwives throughout the community. (Qs. 550, 3175, 3176, 3177, 2531, 2732-44.) midwTves^ (110.) We note also that the existing hospital accommodation provided by the State and by such institutions as St. Margaret's Maternity Home, and others, for the care of parturient women is almost entirely devoted to the care of the unmarried women. We are of opinion, therefore, that a strong claim is established for increased public hospital accommodation, both in the metropolis and in country Hospital ao- districts, for parturient women, and especially for married women. We are also f°™™,°fp^J.°j advised that the lives of certain women could be saved if they could be received into women. hospital some weeks before their confinement ; and we think that provision should Pre-mater, be made to receive these women into hospitals, that is women whose health requires ^%^°°°^"- special attention to enable them to pass through the critical period of confinement hospitals. with safety. Further benefit, we think, would also accrue from such an extension of the public maternity hospital system as we propose in enabling more women to be trained as obstetric nurses than is possible under existing conditions. (111.) We are also of opinion that an amendment of the Public Health Act, Compulsory providing for the compulsory notification of puerperal fever, and enabling the p°e^^';rai™*'^ Board of Health to make and enforce regulations directed to check the spread of infection. this disease, would tend strongly to diminish the risks of infection to which parturient women are exposed. (112.) Contagious diseases affecting the reproductive organs are unduly Hospital ac prevalent ; and, though they are commonly associated with inf ecundity and sterility, commodation lor coiitjs.Erious they may, in the greater number of instances, be cured without the supervention of diseases. 'permanent sterility. The existing hospital accommodation for women suffering from these diseases is quite inadequate, so that comparatively few of them can be treated. We would, therefore, recommend that further accommodation for such patients be provided at the public hospitals. (113.) It has been shown that the procuring of the miscarriage of women induction of is carried on without effectual restraint under the existing criminal law (Qs. 1897, unrestramed 1946, 1974-6, 1995, 2020-37, 3344-5, 3673-4, 4142) ; that it is so extensive and so extending as to be both directly and indirectly a material factor in producing a lower birth-rate (Qs. 2405, 2896, -2932, 3250, 3318); that it is demoralising; and is injurious to the health, and jeopardises the lives, of women Private lying- who resort to it. We have also been informed by many credible witnesses that this J"^ induction criminal practice is largely carried on by persons who conduct private lying-in of mis- homes (Qs. 1979, 2071, 2190-4, 2251, 2430, 2880-2, 3108, 3113, 3203, 3361, 3363, "^™s^- 3684-6, 3687, 4160-2, 4170, 4174, 4446, and others) ; and that many of the keepers of these homes are women who have had no training in the art of midwifery. We, Licensing of therefore, recommend that a department of the State Government be entrusted J^^'^^-^'^^^ with the licensing, registration, supervision, inspection, and control of all pi'ivate private hospitals ^°'^^^^- Cli. VIII.— Suggestions ty the Commission in regard to the Birth-rate. hospitals, lying-ia liomes, and maternity homes (other than public hospitals), where , pregnant women are received for treatment or care in relation to their pregnancy or To offer to for their confinement, vide par. 148, XV. We also recommend that it be made an aborHon indictable offence to offer or agree to procure unlawfully the miscarriage of any should be an woman, whether with child or not, Avhether such offer or agreement be made verbally, offence. ^ 0^' by letter, or by adyertisement, or otherwise. (114.) A large amount of evidence was placed before us with regard to the very unsatisfactory state of tli(3 practice of midwifery in New South Wales. Whilst medical schools and universities in this State and elsewhere have been giving increasing attention to the tciiclung of this art to medical students, and whilst much progress has been made l)y the art itself, in consequence of recent scientific discoveries, the vast majority of the Tivoraen who practice as midwives, monthly nurses or accoucheuses arc uneducated, untrained, and unsuitable. In many cases, indeed, such a woman's only qualification is that .she "is a mother herself.'-' The medical witnesses are unanimous in their insistence that puerperal infection cannot be absolutely prevented except by the exercise of the most scrupulous care and cleanliness, and that a midwife, though perfectly clean in the ordinary sense in which the word is used, may be, and often is, surgically unclean. The necessary knowledge of how to obtain surgical cleanliness, in conjunction with the art of midwifery, can only be obtained by a course of training in a properly equipped Maternity Hospital. AVithin the last few years several of these institutions have established courses of instruction, and have trained a number of obstetric nurses, so that, of a total of 1,923 persons returned at the 1901 census as engaged in this occupation, about 200 had been through a course of training, and about 1,700 were quite unqualified. The result of the practice of midwifery by such persons is, as previously stated, that puerperal infection is occasionally communicated by them to their patients, and that incalculable damage is done by them in other ways among child-bearing women. We would therefore like to see the practice of midwifery restricted solely to legally-qualified medical practitioners, and to trained midwifery nurses who should be subject to examination, license, and control. In view, however, of the very few trained obstetric nurses who are as yet available, and of the fact that it is not at present possible to train more than forty or fifty a year (Q. 6482), such a restriction is not yet practicable. In order, however, to" encourage the training of midwifery nurses, and to put that training on a sound basis, we would recommend that an administrative body, constituted," incorporated, and empowered for the purpose by statute, be entrusted witli the examination and certification of obstetric nurses; and that the Act should provide {Inter alia) that no institution or private home for lying-in women shall be presided over or kept, except by an obstetric nurse, registered under the proposed Act. (115.) The widespread adoption of limitation of families has been accelerated by the ease with which articles designed to enable sexuality to be dissociated from its consequent responsibihty may be obtained, and the freedom with Avhich the use of such articles has been advocated, and the sale of them encouraged by advertise- ments, handbills, pamphlets, &c. The I'ederal Customs Act (1 Edward VII, 1901), gives power, we understand, to th<<, Govmamiont of auv State to prohibit the importa- tion of any particular goods into tliat State, and provides that any prohibition by a State Government shall be enforced liy tlu^ Federal Customs officers. We therefore suggest that the Government of New South Wales should take steps to prohibit the sale, the distribution, the having in possession for sale or distribution, the impor- tation, the manufacturing, the advertising for sale or distribution, the purchasing or receiving, of goods, articles, contrivances, or other things designed or intended for use for the prevention of conception in women, or of printed directions or advice as to the methods by which such articles may be used. Aborti- (116.) The law (Poisons Act), which in-ohibits the sale of poisonous drugs wnta given with mtcnt to procure miscarriage, is evaded, we find, by giving the drugs to those who ask for them, and malcing a charge for "advice," We consider that such drugs Midwives and midwifery nurses — majority unqualified. Surgical cleanliness necessary in, but not understood by, midwives. Training of midwives commenced. Women injured by untrained midwives. Restriction of midwifery practice. Keeper of private lying-in home shall be trained ob- stetric nurse. Prohibition of " pre- ventives." away. 33 Ch. VIII.— Suggeetions by the Commission ia regard to the Birth-rate. drugs should only he sold or given away upon the written prescription of a legally Written qualified medical practitioner; that, before "repeating" a prescription of this ^g req^red character, a written order or endorsement by the same medical practitioner to that for aborti- effect should be required ; and that a record should be kept of all such orders or ^"^^^ prescriptions. (117.) The administration of the Poisons Act, also, is ineffective, in that P|^ons Act, certificated dealers in poison, and their uncertificated assistants, are allowed to tration ' sell proprietary medicines, and other combinations of drugs, containing scheduled ^efectire, poisons, such as ergot and its preparations, without the word " poison" being printed on the bottle, wrapper, cover, box, or case, and without the name and address of the licensed vendor being printed thereon, as required by the Act. (118.) Proprietary medicines, and other forms of secret remedies, some of Proprietary which even bear names indicating, either directly or by inference, that they are contain intended for producing the miscarriage of women, are sold without the purchaser orP°'»°°- user being in any manner advised as to the nature of the drugs contained in them. (119.) The result of these defects in the law and its administration is that the injui^ to health of very many women in the puerperal state, and of their unborn children, is lo^g „£ ^^ seriously injured, and that, in some cases, the lives of such women and children are result, lost. We, therefore, feel it to be our duty to suggest an alteration of the law in Law should order to cope with these defects. As we have other recommendations to make f or ^* ^'*^'^^'^' the amendment of the Poisons Act, arising out of other divisions of our inquiry, we have grouped them all together in Chapter XIII. (120.) Some of the witnesses have stated that a number of lives are lost to ^}}^p'f- the State by the children being killed in the process of birth, either wilfully, or cess^t'birth.' through the negligence or ignorance of the midwife in attendance. As such children are regarded as "still-born," and may be interred anywhere, neither registration of death, nor a medical certificate of the cause of death being required, it is very easy for the bodies to be disposed of. If, as we recommend in connection with infantile ^f*si?tratiou mortality, it be made compulsory for all still-births to be registered, and to be ° interred in a cemetery, a check will be put upon these practices. A proper system of examination also in the llegistrar-General's Office would at once call attention to any midwife in whose practice still-births were unduly frequent. (121.) We have been impressed by the evidence of Miss Duncan, Inspector Wom^en in of Factories, and of Dr. Foreman, Senior Gynsecological Surgeon to Prince Alfred "^nitery con- Hospital, with respect to the disregard of the health and comfort of women TenienccB. clerks, typists, cashiers, and hook- keepers, which is displayed by employers in the city ofiices, warehouses, etc. It is shown that in many of these places absolutely no provision is made for the natural wants of these women and girls ; and that, in some places where such provision is made, they cannot be expected to use it, as it either adjoins similar provision for men, or it has no privacy of approach. The neglect of such a primary necessity produces serious evils to health, causes great suflfering, and also other serious consequences in that it impairs the efficiency of the reproductive system. An instance is quoted where the absence of sanitary ninMs^ajid^ conveniences in a Government building was directly responsible for the death of a^b8ence"o^f " young woman employed therein as a typist. Other cases, of anaemia, ovarian sanit^^^ con- congestion, and fistula, traceable to the absence of sanitary conveniences, have also ^®°'*'"'*'* been given. We recommend that steps be taken to compel the provision of adequate sanitary accommodation, with full privacy, at all offices or other buildings in which one or more w^omen are employed. (Qs. 4091-6.) (122.) The evidence of police officers, medical practitioners, and clergy- Mecent^^^^ men is unanimous in drawing attention to (i) the immoral, indecent, and obscene advertise- literature which is printed, published, displayed, and distributed; _(ii) the°»e°te- indecency, veiled and unveiled, of certain of the advertisements published in 235_.f/) newspapers Si Ch. VIII,— Suggestions by the CommiBsion in regard to tlie Birth-rate. Prohibition iiewspapers and elsewhere; and (iii) the demoralisation of the people which is mended. ^^® natural and inevitable result. We recommend that Parliament be invited ■ ' to pass legislation directly aiming atabolishirg these sources of demoralisation; that such enactments should provide the utmost facilities for ensuring the conviction of offenders ; and that the offences should be made punishable by imprisonment without the option of fines. f>p»«f (123.) We have shown, in a previous chapter, that a weakening of religious reUgtoua" restraint, and free play to motives of self-interest, have been operative, the one restraint, and jiegatively, and the other positively, in causing the decline of the birth-rate. It is e -in eres . ^^ ^-^^ rightful application of these two forces that we believe the hope for the future lies, by arresting the decline of and strengthening religious restraint, and by turning the energies of the people into channels where self-interest will be enlisted on the , ; side of large families, instead of against them. Crusade by (124.) With the former object in view we think it our duty to invite the agai^sr'' *^ churches to devise some means of instituting a general crusade of such an impressive limitation, character as would arouse the conscience of married people (i) to a recognition of the immorality and selfishness of the practice of deliberately restricting the number of children to be born of them; (ii) to a recognition of the degradation of the marriage state involved in that practice ; (iii) to a realisation of its demoralising effect on their own individual character, on the character of their children, and the character of the community ; and (iv) to understand that history and science combine in teaching that national degeneration and decay must inevitably result from Inculcation of ^ continuancc of the practice. With the same object in view no effort should be reii^ous spared, on the part both of parents and clergv, in promoting the inculcation of the young, xcligious principles lu the young, for civilisation and progress must be based on the religious character of the people. (125.) The evidence we have taken proves that the birth-rate is higher in the country than in the capital, and that it is highest among people engaged in agri- culture. The reason for this is stated by every witness questioned on the point to . be that, on a farm, children are capable of rendering help, and practically, of assisting to earn their own living, at an early age, and the larger the family the larger the income. _ (126.) Again, the evidence has shown that the employment of women and girls in factories is increasing, that the factory system is extending, and that the whole trend of the modern factory system is towards the employment of women and children. It has also been proved by the observations of many careful investigators in Great Britain and America, as well as in New South Wales, that employment in factories is injurious to the reproductive systems of women and girls, especially the latter, who, at the period of life when their powers are developing, are subjected to physical and nervous strains which often cause permanent injury to their nervous systems, with the result that their subsequent reproductiveness is much impaired, and their general health deteriorates, causing mueli misery in their after life. We were much struck with the opii^ions expressed on this subject by Miss A. J. Duncan, the Inspector of Factories and Shops (\vhcrc women and girls are employed) under the Act of 1896. This lady has constant opportunities of observing the effect of the factory system on the health of ^vomen and girls in and around Sydney She gave the following evidence : — .' .^ b Country birth-rate hie;her than city. Agriculturists higheist birth- rate. Children a help on the farm. Employment of women in factories. Injury to nervous system! Miss Duncan's evidence. " 4087. is conducive to omen in factories better for women. Q. But do you think that in a general way the working of wi T fV 1 +W .1 ''^^i*^ • . ^i ^°' ^ '^°v^°*- ^ ^^^^'^ ^^"^^ ^^'> ^O^e life iB b...o. xu. W.U..U. 1 thmk that the drive of factory life, or almost any public life, where women are obliged to go day atter day, and work a certain number of hours, tells against their nervous and physical constitution I do not think that it is for the benefit of the race. I think that it has come to stay, and I think that it makes for the personal contentment and happiness of many women ; biit I think that they pay a heavy price for it in both nervous and physical constitutions. That is my personal opinion. I think that the vibration, the perpetual noise, the pressure at which they work, and the high rate of speed at which they have to work the machines, all tend very much to break down a woman's constitution. "4088. m Ch. Till.— Suggestions l)y the Commission in regard to the Birth-rate. ■ ' " -JiOSS. Q. To unsettle their nervous syatem ? A. Tes. " 4089. Q. But do you think that the care which has been given to the sanitary arrange- ments and the shortening of the hours of labour at these factories have diminished that to some extent ? A. To a, certain extent, as far as it can be diminished ; but at the same time I think that the whole trend of factory work, and it must become worse with competition, has the effect of heightening the speed and the pressure at which they have to work." With, regard to the effect of shop and factory life on female health, Miss Duncan also quoted from a letter which she had received from a leading medical practitioner, with whom she had been in communication on the subject. The Commission have since been authorised by Dr. B. Worrall to use his name as that of the authority quoted by Miss Duncan. The letter says : — " I shall be glad if you will use the subjoined replies to your inquirieSj ^''^^^^"^"'^ ' regarding the effect of shop and factory life upon female health, in any way you think fit, so long as you do not publish my name :— - " 1. The general physique of factory girls in Sydney, compared with those in Liverpool (England) and Belfast (Ireland) — the only cities where I have had opportunities of judging— is about the same, perhaps better here. < . , , , " 2. The diseases to which they are most prone appear to be phthisis- * pulmonalis, and womb troubles. " 3. The effect in later life will be curtailment of life, diminished capacity to enjoy and work and endure the strain of maternity ; lessened vigour in the offspring. • • • ■ • • • •' " 5. The effect of long standing is highly injurious, producing womb troubles, hsemorrhoids, varicose veins, spinal curvature. . . ," ■ ■ • •' ■ • • • The above evils, it is easy to see, must react upon the state of the race." (Q. 4093.) We are disposed to attach much weight to Dr. Worrall' s evidence from the fact that he has, for many years, occupied the position of Senior Gynsecological Surgeon to the Sydney Hospital, and has devoted himself entirely to the treatment of the diseases of women. (127.) Exhibit No. 152 shows that in 1861 there were 73-3 per cent, of the Coneentratirai population engaged in rural, and 267 in urban industries, whereas in 1901 those L towns^nd engaged in rural industries had fallen to 64'1 per cent, of the total population, as <='*^«s- against 35'9 in urban industries. Mulhall, in his "Industries and Wealth of Nations," 1896, writes (p. 332) :— "When we consider that the wealth of Australia consists chiefly in its Muihaii— flocks, herds, and agricultural resources, it is surprising to find what a element in small proportion of the people is engaged in rural pursuits. The-'^istraiiai ,:i whole farming element is only 24 per cent, of the working populatiouy .^ as compared with 34 per cent, in the United States, and 47 per cent, - in Canada." (128.) The diagram (Exhibit No. 166) which was furnished to the Commission city and by the Department of Lands, is a striking illustration of the fact that the proportion population, of the people of New South Wales who are living in towns and cities is far greater than the proportion living in the country, and that the excess of urban population has been steadily progressing since the year 1881. In the older countries of the world the movement of the rural population towards the larger cities where people can be profitably employed in industrial occupations is an inevitable result when the increase of the population of the agricultural districts has readied such a density as. industries to produce a surplus of labour over and abave what is requ.ired for the profitable a^i^iture. cultivation of the soil. But in Australia this condition does not exist ; the area*, fit for agriculture are, to a large extent, occupied for grazing purposes, and therefore /' do 36 Ch. IX.— Statistics of Infantile Mortality. do not support an agricultural population ; whilst the avenues for profitahle industrial employment are exceedingly limited, nor can they exist to any greater extent than would be implied by the manufacture of goods for consumption within the Common- wealth, so long as the cost of the labour engaged in their production remains at a higher level than that which obtains in other equally favoured countries, unless, indeed, by a greater skill and capacity for the work, our population is able to produce manufactured articles at an equally low cost. (129.) In order (i) to check this tendency to concentration of population in towns; (ii) to provide opportunity for ])rimary production on an extended scale, which will engage the activity of the rising generation and improve its physique ; (iii) to encourage the rising generation to engage in primary productiveness ; (iv) to check the idleness of youth ; (v) to enable the activity of the young to be wealth-producing at an earlier age ; (vi) to increase the productiveness of the State ; (vii) to remove some of the excuses commonly advanced by individuals in justificatiun of the admitted practice of limitation of families ; and (viii) to counteract the tendency to the increased employment of women and girls in factories ; it Settiemfnt of should, WO cousidcr, be the policy of the Government to encourage the settlement of the Fa^nd.^"" ^^^ people ou the land, especially on the land suitable for agriculture, on a scale adequate to attain those objects, and thus enlist the force of self-interest on behalf of the growth of families. Encourage* ment of immigration. (130.) Restriction of the growth of population, whether owing to restraint of natural increase, or discouragement of immigration, is unfavourable to the moral, physical, and economic welfare of the people. The growth of population in New South Wales, and the future prosperity of the country, are seriously imperilled by artificial restriction of natural increase, coupled with the fact that immigration has practically ceased to be an important factor in tlie maintenance and increase of the population. We therefore recommend that a vigorous policy of encouraging immigration be adopted. Division C. — Infantile Mortality. IX.— STATISTICS OP INFANTILE MOETALITY. General investigation of infantile mortality. Nature of evidence taken. (131.) The general investigation of the mortality of infants in this State which Your Excellency commanded us to undertake, has served to throw some light on the causes at work in producing the decline of the birth-rate, and we have incor- porated the results, so far as they related to the birth-rate, in the division of our report dealing with that subject. This branch of our inquiry has led us to take evidence from many sources. We have received statistical evidence from Mr. J. B. Trivett, F.Il.A.S., E.S.S., which dealt with the infantile death-rate in the State during the last 40 years, and the classification of the causes of death, and of the ages at death, of infants that have died under one year of age. We have examined a number of medical witnesses who have made a special study of the hygiene of infant life, the care of infants in health and in sickness, and of the particular diseases and conditions to which infantile mortality is due. We have examined witnesses who have charge of recognised Infant Homes, officers of the State Children's Relief Department, and the Children's Protection Department, police officers, and officers of the Pharmacy Board. (182.) 37 Ch. IX.— Statistics of Infantile Mortality. Mean for ten years, ]892tol901. 110-6 109-0 1060 103-2 146-1 95-3 &1-4 (132.) Prom tlie statistical evidence we have found that the mean infantile infantile mortality {i.e., the number of deaths of infants under one year of age in every "leath-rate. 1,000 children horn) for a period of ten years, 1892 to 1901, in the Australian States and New Zealand, is as follows : — State. New South "Wales Victoria ... South Australia,., Queensland Western Australia Tasmania New Zealand ... (183.) Prom this it is seen that, while New South Wales has a mean rate comparison slightly higher than Victoria, and somewhat higher again than South Australia and \^\^^^^^ Queensland, these four older contineatal States have a mortality markedly in excess mortality of Tasmania, and from 25 to 30 per cent, higher than New Zealand, which has the Australian lowest mortality in the group. In Weste^-n Australia, where the conditions of states, domestic life in the mass of the population have not, throughout all the period, been so settled as in the older States, the mortality in some years has been high, and in every year it has been higher than in each of the other States, and than in New Zealand. (Exhibit No. 118, Qs. 6650, 583, 2372.) It is noticeable also that the rate in New South Wales during the last forty years has never reached within 30 per cent, of the highest rate attained in Western Australia during the years 1896 and 1897. (Exhibits Nos. 118 and 121.) (134.) The figures representing infantile mortality in New South Wales for infantile each year from 1864 to 1902, as seen in Exhibit No. 121, show that for the period ^i^°;„gi,' ^'gh, of twenty-nine years since 1874 the rate has been a fairly level one ; for the ten not V V 1 . T 1 • i T, J? L increasing. years prior to 1874 the mean rate was somewhat lower ; and m the forty years reviewed, the infantile mortality has not increased. (Exhibit No. 121, and Q. 6656.) (135.) The infantile mortality of illegitimate children is much higher than V^^^}^^^f that of legitimates. A comparison of the figures of each class for the eight years, '„^fh™|her 1895 to 1902, shows that- t^^^.i^. (i) the infantile mortality of legitimates was 98-52 per 1,000 legitimate births. The infantile mortality of illegitimates was 277-43 per 1,000 illegitimate births (Q. 424) ; (ii) the mortality of illegitimate infants has, subject to fluctuations, neither increased nor decreased in the eight years, 1895-1902 (Qs. 426, 6665, Exhibits Nos. 17 and 123) ; (iii) the infantile mortality of illegitimates is 2f times that of legitimates (Exhibit No. 123) ; (iv) of the total infantile mortality, taking both classes of infants together, ^^if^yp^foe"**" 50-4 per cent, is due to the deaths of infants occurring during the first "^^'^^^^g^.t three months of their life (Exhibit No. 123) ; three months. (y) taking the legitimate infants alone, and the illegitimate infants alone, 50 per cent, of the legitimates that die during the first twelve months of their life die during the first three months ; and 52-6 per cent, of the illegitimates that die during the first twelve months of their life die during the first three months (Q. 6665, and Exhibit No. 123) ; (vi) of the total infantile mortality, taking both classes of infants together, 41-1 per cent, is due to deaths of infants occurring during the first two months of their life. (136.) 38 Ch. X.— The Causes underlying Infantile Mortality. Legitimate and illegitimate mortality. Preventable (136.) We think that these facts emphasise the importance of ascertaining unprevent- what are the preventable causes of the deaths of infants during the earliest months- mortaiit °^ ^^^^^^' li^^^s. Morc than one medical witness has referred to the fact that many^ new-born children come into the world so badly equipped for the struggle of life ^ that, despite all possible care, their death during early infancy is unpreventable. (Qs. 2373, 2374, 4383-4385.) This feature, alone, of infancy is one well worthy of separate inquiry ; but it has seemed to us that, in the present state of the knowledge of the subject, the information received Would be little more than speculative, and would not lead to practical results. But we feel justified in saying that of the 41-1 per cent, of the total infantile mortality, in which death occurs in the first two months of life, a considerable partis due to ante-natal developmental causes, and, in the present state of knowledge of embryonic life, is irremediable. (137.) A comparison of the death-rates of legitimate and illegitimate children of ages to 5 years, for the period 1895 to 1898, shows that : — Below 1 year the death-rate of illegitimates is 2f times the rate for legitimates ; In the 2nd year the death-rate of illegitimates is 1^ times the rate for legitimates ; During the 3rd, 4th, and 5th years the death-rate of illegitimates is equal to that of legitimates. (Q. 5681, and Exhibit No. 126.) From this it is seen that the causes which operate to produce a higher mortality in illegitimates a-re mainly effective during the first year ; and that the study of them is practically included in the study of infantile mortality in the two classes. (138.) An enumeration of the pathological conditions to which the deaths of infants under one year during the eight years, 1895 to 1902, have been assigned, will be found in Exhibit No. 127, which also shows the relative frequency with which the diseases named have caused death in the mortality rates of the legiti- mates and illegitimates respectively ; while it further shows the relative incidence of these diseases as causes of death in the legitimates and illegitimates respectively. This Table also illustrates the greater relative frequency of death from " Diarrhoeal Diseases and Enteritis," from "Malnutrition," and "Debility," in the illegitimates. These are conditions which probably result from the greater risks which illegitimate infants run from the disabilities of the mothers ; and indicate some measure of the saving of life which might be effected by an adequate supervision by the State of the new-born illegitimates. (139.) The relative infantile mortality in the metropolis (Sydney and suburbs) and country for each year from 1893 to 1902 is also shown by this Exhibit (No. 129). The figures indicate, as might be expected, the prejudicial efPects of metropolitan rearing ; though they are discounted to some extent by the fact that illegitimate children are born in the metropolis of country mothers and die there, and thus swell the metropolitan rate. otftrTe'^ (^^^O Iiifantile mortality in Sydney compares favourably with that in other cities com- large cities. (Qs. 2370 and 4375, 4438-4141.) po^ed. Diseases which have caused the infantile mortality. Infantile mortality — Sydney and country. Necessary to ascertain actual causes of high death-rate of infants. X.— THE CAUSES UNDERLYING INEANTILE MOETALITY. (141.) The fact of the birth-rate in New South Wales having been reduced by so large a proportion as 30 per cent, during the fifteen years 1886 to 1901 (Q. 333), and the fact that a still further reduction in the existing birth-rate maybe expected for some years to come (Qs. 6705, 6731, 6736), render it of paramount importance to the future welfare of the State that the lives of the children that are born shall be preserved, as far as this is possible. But, in order to suggest anv means for the effectual protection of infant life, it is necessary to recognise the actual causes which contribute to swell the death-roll of infants. (142.) 89 Ch. X.— The Causes underlying Infantile Mortality. (142.) Taking, first, the causes wliicli operate in producing infantile mortality, ^e^th^of ^both both, among the legitimates and illegitimates, we find that they are as follow : — legitimates and - - (i) Premature birth : defective viability consequent upon imperfections illegitimates.. in the process of development : disease acquired during intra-uterine life : injured and impaired viability arising in intra-uterine life or in the process of birth ; (ii) Defective care of the newborn by ignorant or careless midwives (Qs. 4396, 4471, and 27S0) ; ' ,, ;, (iii) Ill-health of mothers and consequent inability to provide the natural nutrition of infants and requisite nursing ; (iv) A want of knowledge of the proper modes of rearing infants (Qs. 4378, 2766, 3028), exemplified by :— (a) Prevailing belief that the artificial feeding of infants is as good as suckling (Qs. 2501, 2505, 4396, 4471, 4«92, 4393) ; (6) Ignorance of the proper mode of artificial feeding (Qs. 3908, 3910, 4397, 44O0) ; (c) Ignorance of the physiological needs of infants (Qs. 2496, 3908, 4377, 4378, 4379, 4380, 4382, 4391) ; (d) The prevalence of the use of noxious drugs (Qs. 2496, 3761, 3764, 6617, Exhibit No. 138) ; (e) The prevalence of the use of sterilised foods (Qs. 4400-4105, 4464) ; (/) Erroneous belief that infants may be separated from their mothers without injury to the infants (Qs. 2094-7, 2498, 2044-8, 4487-4499, 4505) j (ff) Bad domestic hygiene (Q. 5316) ; (v) Injurious quality of proprietary and other artificial foods, often reck- lessly advertised (Qs. 2496, 2500, 6766) ; (vi) Injurious quality of milk under the conditions in which it is commonly supplied and used (Qs. 4i23-4, 4536, 4858, 4939, 4948, 5310) ; . - ^ ' * (vii) Injurious effects of chemical preservatives in milk, and in preparations of milk used as infant food (Qs. 2496, 4406-4413, 4649-4744) ; (viii) Insufficient pub! ic maternity hospital accommodation for the parturient women among the poorer classes (Qs. 2763-2766, 3083, 3111, 3231) ; (ix) Insufficient public hospital accommodation for the treatment of sick infants (Qs. 4571, 4597) ; (x) The prevalence of epidemic preventable disease in infants ; (xi) The undue incidence of " Summer Diarrhoea " or " Acute Gastro- intestinal Catarrh " (Qs. 2387, 2486, 4382, 6168) ; (143.) Second, the further causes which we recognise as operating to produce Additional jnortality in illegitimate infants are : — death o°f • IT • T 1 •^•l• p n illegitimates. (xii) Maternal mdiff^erence and the social and economic disabilities oi the mothers (Qs. 429, 3705) ; (xiii) The defective management of Eoundling Homes, Infant Homes, and other places and institutions where illegitimate infants are received (Qs. 2039-2044, 2042, 2166, 2177, 2224) ; (xiv) The secret adoption of infants for gain ; (xv) The s.eparation of infants from their mothers (Qs. 2044-2097, 2170) ; (xvi) Infanticide, and foeticide of viable infants, undetected owing in some measure to existing facilities for interment in cemeteries and elsewhere of newborn dead infants as still-born infants. (Qs. 1997-2000, Exhibits, Nos. 61, 61, 62, 134, 135, 136, 137, and Qs. 696, 1847-1852, 2242-2246, 2331, 6760, 6751, 6752, 6763.) XI. 40 Ch. XI.— The Feeding and Care of Infanls. Infant fteding. Dr. McCulloch's eridence. Dr. A. Watson Munro's •Tidence. Dr. S. H. McCulloch's eTidence. Dr. E. Worrall's eyidence. Dr. Harris' evidence. Dr. C. P. B. Clubbe's evidence. XL— THE EEEDIXG AND OAUE OE INEANTS. (114) The subject of infant feeding is one which has been dealt witli at considerable length in the evidence we have received. Medical opinion is very strong in the view that a large proportion of the deaths of infants is a consequence of their improper feeding. We consider the matter of such vast importance that we quote some of the more striking portions of the actual evidence put before us : — (i) Dr. S. H. McCulloch says :— He would approve of a suggestion that in every case of registration of a birth the Registrar should deliver lo the iuformant a document giving instructions for the nursing and rearing of infants. (Q. 2503.) (ii) Dr. Watson-Munro says : — ■ "A most important point is tliat mothers require to be taught how to nourish their infants. This would undoubtedly lead to a reduced mortality amongst infants." (Q. 2766.) (iii) Dr. S. H. McCulloch says, also : — ■ " I think you could prevent infantile mortality if you took care in the feeding of your children, as it is due chiefly to bad feeding if you would educate the mothers to feed their children properly, if you would inspect many of the artificial foods which are at present on the market, and prevent the use of preservatives in milk and such stuffs as the bulk of children are fed on, and by examination of milk generallv." (Q. 2496.) He considers the use of artificial foods is detrimental to the children. (Q. 2500.) The reason why artificial foods are used so much now is the ease with which they are obtained, and the ease they (the mothers) fancy it is to feed their children, or with which they can commit them to the care of another. (Q. 2505.) The use of artificial foods is increasing. (Q. 2506.) (iv) Dr. Worrall says : — "Educate the children — the girls especially — in the care of infant life. If, instead of some of the useless things they learn in schools, elementary lessons were given on hygiene, many children would be saved, because the mothers are very anxious to save their lives when they have them, but they have not the knowledge." (Q. 3022.) " There is just as much ignorance concerning infant feedine as there was fifteen years ago." (Q. 3028.) (v) Dr. Harris says : — Women "do not like the bother of suckling them, and they resort to artificial means of feeding them, with the usual calamitous results." (Q. 3908.) (vi) Dr. Clubbe says : — A large percentage of the deaths of children under 1 year of age is due to improper feeding, "I think you might say 25 per cent." "It is probably more." (Q. 4376.) " The children that catch gastro-euleritis and die of it are those children that have been improperly fed." (Q. 4382.) "The carefully-fed children are not nearly so liable" to die of gastro-enteritis " and the children that are fed on the breast." (Q. 4391.) A greater number of mothers now decline to feed their children on the breast than in his earlier practice. (Qs. 131)2-3.) " I think a great many of the children do not have a fair start in life, because, as you are aware, there is sometimes a difficulty in the first day or so in the children taking the breast, and an ignorant nurse fills a child's stomach up with all sorts of improper food, so that by the time it can take the breast, or the mother has milk, its stomach is upset with all sorts of things, and it may have gastritis — very frequently it is eiven septic milk." (Q. 4396.) J i j s Artificial feeding hardly ever is properly conducted, owing to ignorance on the part of the children who have the care of the child. (Q. 4397.) "Supposing the child is rigidly kept on artificially prepared foods, it is very likely to get scurvy and rickets. I am thinking of many of the foods on the market which have the anti-scorbutic elements removed." (Qs. 4400-4401.) He thinks boric acid, used to preserve foods, is calculated to do a great deal of harm. (Qs. 4405-4406.) ^ "I should be sorry to give my child any milk containing boric acid." (Q. 4413.) He thinks it would be a very good idea that the Registrar should circulate an instruction on the proper method of feeding infants, when he gives the certificate of birth to the parent. (Q. 4428.) « I 41 Ch. XI.— The Feeding and Care of Infants. " I think Ihey (girls in the school) ought to be taught elementary physiology, especially about the size of the stomach. There is an extraordinary amount of ignorance displayed as to the size of a baby's stomach. As you are aware the gastric capacity of a baby is only an ounce, and yet people frequently try to put i, 5, or 6 ounces into a new-born baby's stomach. Eyen well-educated people come to me and say that they are giving a baby 2, 3, or 4 months old about 4 or 5 pints of iluid every day." (Q. 4430.) " I think the half-pint feeding bottles with the long india-rubber tube, the sale of which is enormous, should be prohibited as it is in France, and that probably it would be right to have bottles of various sizes for the various ages of the child." (Q. 4432.) It would be well to establish a creche in connection with all large factories. (Q. 4436.) " Probably, in the majority of cases, fresh cow's milk, diluted according to the age of the child, is the best substitute for mother's milk .... or goat's milk, and of course it is quite a good thing to give humanised milk — that is, milk arranged with the fat in certain proportions according to the age of the child." (Qs. 4465-6.) " We ought to be able to reduce it " (infantile mortality) " if we educate the people to feed their children properly. I am quite convinced I am erring on the side of moderation when I say that 25 per cent, are killed by improper feeding. Many children would not get gastro-enteritis unless their stomachs had been upset and irritated by improper feeding." (Q. 4471.) (145.) Another very important subject which requires attention in connection The with the preservation of life of young infants, is what has been referred to in the o'nufeSa."^ evidence as the " mothering " of infants. This is of special importance in regard to illegitimate children, who so frequently pass out of the care of their mothers to other persons or to institutions, by whom they are adopted. It is recognised in recent years that the high infantile mortality among illegitimates, which has hitherto everywliere prevailed, may be, to a great extent, averted if the infants are not only not separated from their mothers, but have the stimulating influence of the maternal handling and caressing, even if the mothers are unable to feed them at the breast. This is a matter which requires the most careful consideration in connection with Admission of foundling homes and infant homes, and similar institutions where infants are ""j^*^',^ *° received. The admission of mothers with their infants has revolutionised those withohiidren. institutions where it has been adopted, and it is most desirable that the practice of Admission of admitting the mothers with the infants should be made compulsory in all institutions l^stft^tious in every instance where it is possible to give effect to it. should be compulsory. (146.) On this point, the experience of the officers of the Children's Evidence. Protection Department and the State Children's Department is emphatically in favour of the practice, as well as that of the Matron of the Infants' Home at Ashfield, and the Matron of the Benevolent Society : — (i) Mr. A. W. Green, the Chief Officer of the State Children's Eelief Mr. a. w. Department, says:— ^vTdTnce. All institutions which adopt very young children ought to be under Government supervision, because — " the same good would follow which has arisen with regard to the inspection of homes where children have been placed out under the Children's Protection Act — that is to say, the mothers would be more continually brought into contact with the children, and cases where mothers are separated unnecessarily from the children would be dealt with, I should imagine. That appears to me to be the great trouble in regard to the mortality — the separation of the mother from the child." (Q, 2044.) " We consider that the mothering of the child is the main business in the matter of mortality, far more than the feeding of the child." (Q. 2045.) " The difference is very large, indeed, in the mortality of children that are properly mothered." (Q. 2046.) " We believe that it is the one way of getting over the difficulty of the immense mortality with regard to children under 12 months — keeping the children with their mothers during the period of lactation." (Q. 2095.) " I should say 80 per cent, of the people " (unmarried mothers) " who come under my absolute knowledge would be quite prepared to stay with the child until such time as the child would be weaned. Of course, some mothers object strongly, but I think there should be a provision to insist upon the mothers staying that period." (Q. 2096.) " If there were a law compelling them, I am sure that 80 per cent, of them would fall in with it. The difficulty, of course, at the present time, is that these women find a difficulty in finding employment with the child.' It is a burden to them, there is no doubt about it, but if they had a place to go in with the child there would be no difficulty about it." " The reason we have so much trouble with these lying-in-home people, who are, after all, the people who act as agents in most of these matters, is the difficulty that the girls have in getting places with their children." (Q. 2097.) 235-(g) (ii) 42 Ch. XI.— The Feeding and Care of Infants. Mr. W. Eury's evidence. (ii) Mr. G. E. Ardill'a levideaee. Mrs. R. Graiiarai's evidieift*. Mr. W. Eury, Senior Inspector, State Children's Relief Department, says : — " The baby goes in " (to the institution) " without its mother ; it gets no proper nursing — it is fed ill the cradle, and is nursed in the cradle. The next best thing to the mother is the foster-mother, and no institution should be allowed to take infants in to nurse without the mother ; failing that, they should obtain a foster-mother. It is the nursing. The baby misses the nursing ; if she does not get the nursing, she misses it, and will pine away And die." (Q. 2335.) " There is one institution I know of, a foundling home in Naples, where 900 children were admitted, and 89.5 died" (Q. 223G) "in the twelve months. I am not sure of the ages of the children. They shut the institution up, and, when they gave them out to the peasant women, no matter how dirty the baby was, the baby lived — the same class of child. At Waitara Foundling Home, North Shore, 529 were admitted in four years, and 123 died — a mortality of 83 per cent, under 1 year of age. Under the Children's Protection Act, 43 per cent, die under 1 year ; and in the Benevolent Asylum 76 per cent. This should be sufficient illustration to show that there should be some alteration." (Q. 2237.) (iii) Dr. Litchfield says : — " I think that the mere nursing and handling of the child, apart from the food, has a beneficial effect upon it. For instance, it is found in these foundling hospitals, where the baby is put into its crib and just picked up every two hours and fed, that, quite apart altogether from diarrhoea, it dwindles away; and I think that it is the picking up and playing with the childreu, and nursing them, that has a stimulating effect — to give a physiological explanation of it — on the skin, the blood, and the circulation. AnyWay, I think that is a fact, and it is mentioned by Ernest Holt in his book on ' Diseases of Children.' " (Q. 2399.) (iv) Mr. Ardill says : — " Certainly it " (nursing by the mother) " is always to the advantage of the child ; it is much more likely to be reared." (Q. 2354.) (v) Mrs. E. Graham, Matron of the Benevolent Society's Institutions, Miss Mahony's evidence. Dr. Clubbe's evidence. Mrs says " My experience " (of rearing children without their mothers) " is that it is a very difficult matter to do so." (Q. 4487.) " I'hey get gastritis, or in other instances fade away, and it is not known what is the cause. There is no good reason why they should not thrive : but thev do not " (Q. 4488.) ^ " No matter how much care is taken. I mav be wrong ; but I have come to the conclusion that there is nothing for the child but motherly care. This you may get sometimes with a foster mother ; but very rarely." (Q. 4489.) J. " T^J} ^^^"^^ ^° '^ *^^* ■"■ ^*^® sometimes had mothers who were most careless, dirty and filthy— and the word 'filthy ' is not too strong— and yet their babies would be tat and healthy, although I would have to feed them, and see to the food being made for them ; and the little ones would get plump and well ; and yet, if I had another baby without a mother s care, no matter how kind the nurse might be to it, that child would perhaps die This makes me think there is a great deal between the mother and the child^ apart from the natural nourishment. This seems to be the whole secret of rearing the children. (Q. 4490.) ^ ^•it J'^^^^r.l?^'' mother ■' (referred to in previous paragraph) " never had any breast milk, or very little, yet the child appeared healthy, rosy, and well nourished." (Q. 4491.) (vi) Miss I. Mahony, Matron of the Ashfield Infants' Home, says :— At the Ashfield Infants' Home in 1888 it was made a strict rule that mothers l""! ^ J. V Methods of vendors of proprietary edicines. ^1, P J'^^^-^ ^}^^ respect to proprietary medicines generallv, we have received the lollowmg evidence : — " It iR usual for proprietary drugs to be advertised and sold under deceptive names. Generally the name of a harmless and oven beneficial natural produet-sucb as Irish moss, linseed, cherries, sarsaparilla, aniseed, black currants, horehound-is used to disguise poisons more or less virulent-opium, nux vomica, colchicum, ergot of rye, and their deadly con- centrations alone or together with chloroform, aconite,' various salts of arsenic meyury, bromide« of sodium and potassium. The law provides no check restraining aAy person olZTJnZw^'f'T r'"" P'TP^"".."."'^ P;^*''^g '^^'^ "^^^i^l^^. °^ «iT or alfof them, with others equally destructive, and advertising them as proved cures for all the ills of mankind, tntZTJ r '^^ 1 T'^'T """^^ '^''^^''''' ^* ^'^y P^i'^'^ tl^^y ^^J el^oose, whilst giving a totally false, lyin| and deceptive label. Moreover, the state of the law i such that the theTuWic A lafe?t f ™ -''^Tl *° !'^''' "'"''^ ^^^ ^ ''''^^'^'^ deception and fraud upon the public. A label containing false statements calculated to deceive is a better protection in e::if;]etS> 'IeS tMst ^'"^^^'^'^ ""'- '^^^' ^^' ^'^^ ^-"^*°^ wo^uSt m^e SrPh™'?'''BoS '''^^''''*^'^ ^y ^^'"^ evidence of Mr. Brothwood, the President of (164.) 47 Ch. XIV,— Still-tirths— Undertakers— Cemeteries. (154.) We think it would be impossible to bring forward stronger evidence than this of the evil that is wrought by the unrestrained license which is allowed to the vendors of secret nostrums. Not only do we think that the proposed amendment of the Act to allow of the sale of proprietary medicines without restriction should not be passed into law, but that the provisions of the Act with regard to the sale of poisons should be enforced to the letter, and that some means should be devised whereby the public will have some guarantee that a preparation advertised as a cure for certain ills is, in the first place, not injurious, and is, in the second place, really designed for, and likely to effect, the amelioration of the suffering caused by the ills specified. On this point we qiiote the following evidence given by Mr. Porster : — " That portion of the Swiss law with which I am particularly acquainted is the law Swiss system regarding proprietary medicines. No one is allowed to sell proprietary medicines in "Y^gJ^''^*^"^ Switzerland unless those proprietary medicines have been approved of by a Commission proprietary consisting of medical men. These medical men have to go into the matter, and must refuse medicines, permission to sell these proprietary articles in Switzerland if the conditions are not followed out. There are three points. Eirst, the medicine must not contain any noxious drug. Second, the advertisements, &c., handbills, and so on, connected with the proprietary medicine, must not contain nonsense ; that is to say, this stuff must not be advertised as being a cure for corns, and a cure for consumption, or for headache, and for all sorts of things which it cannot possibly be. We know very well that all the patent medicines here are for every illness, as it were. The advertisements must not contain falsehood. And the third point is that the price must not be exorbitant. If the stuff is only worth 3d., the retail price shall not be half-a-crown. If those three prohibitive conditions are not complied with, then the stuff may not be sold. Various of these proprietary articles which are sold very largely in this State are forbidden on those grounds in Switzerland." (Qs. 3765-3766.) We recommend the adoption of a similar system in New South Wales. (155.) Careful consideration of the whole of the evidence regarding the ^^3°™^^°*^' Poisons Act leads us to make the following recommendations : — amendment of Poisons (i) That the Act be amended so as to apply to the sale, distribution, ^''*- gift, or disposal of poisons and also of drugs reputed to be abortifacient ; (ii) That the Act be amended so as to prohibit the sale of patent medicines, proprietary medicines, and secret remedies, whether they contain poisons or not, and of photographic materials which contain poison, if accurate formulae of such articles be not printed or written plainly on the bottle, case, box, or wrapper, immediately containing them, together with the name of the vendor. XIV.— STILL-BIRTHS— UNDERTAKERS— CEMETERIES. (156.) In regard to the subject of registration of the births of still-born stiii-births. •children, our attention was drawn by the Hon. Dr. J. M. Creed, M.L.O., to the Sei«=^.^^^^ ^^ remarkable evidence given before a Select Committee of the Legislative Council, Legislative and ordered by the Council to be printed on 21 October, 1886. (Qs. 4188-4196.) C"""^""- ^^^e. (157.) Our investigation of the subject enables us to endorse what was stated ^fo'^-^'egj^tra- in the report of that Select Committee, namely, that the "circumstance" (that no bMi°s affords provision is made for the registration of the births of any still-born children) " affords ^^^^^^f^f^^ facilities for the concealment of crimes against the lives of young children." We of crimes. note that although that Select Committee strongly recommended amendment of the law in regard to the registration of births and deaths, the law remains unaltered after seventeen years. (158.) 48 Ch. XIV.— Still-birtlis— Undertakers— Cemeteries. stlnw"'"^ (158.) We have received some remarkable evidence in reference to still- chiidren. birtlis, and the mode in which children alleged to be still-born are interred. (i) One Avitness stated that — In the course of his professional work in investigating the books of an undertaker, he has been startled to see the ease with which a still-born child could be buried. The cemetery authorities only require the certificate of a nurse. If some of thcwc nurses witli bad characters were in league with the mothers of children, there would be nothing to hinder them from giving a still-birth certificate when the child has been born quick, nor would there be anything to hinder her from preventing the child being boru quick. In fact, he heard that in the undertaker's establishment of which he was auditing the books. And furthermore, he believed the law of the land is that a still-bcrn child need not be interred in a cemetery : it may be interred anywhere. The number of interments of still-births startled him. An undue proportion of the number of still-births came from particular districts. The fact impressed him that the births of still-born children were not registered. (Qs. 4339-i;359.) " Of course I understand, from what I know from nurses there, that young girls aiul other people come from the country ; they go into a lying-in home; the child is still-born at this home ; all the difficulty the nurse has to get rid of it now is to give a still-birth certificate, and the thing is done ; or she may bury it in the back garden for all that the law would prohibit it." (Q. 4;j50.) " Every birth, still or quick, should be registered by one of the parents." (Q. 4353.) "I noticed that when some persons had an adult die in the family they would not go to this undertaker — I saw that by the newspapers — but in some of the families there were two or three still-births, and these would go to this undertaker. Tet when they had an adult die they would not go to him. That is what impressed me — that certain persons would go to this undertaker with still-born children, and that is all there was about it. They would bring a child wrapped up in a brown paper parcel ; it would be left on the shelf there, and be buried perhaps a week later when they had a plethora of burials ; they would leave it in a cigar-bos for a fortnight, or leave it in the stable for a fortnight." (Q. 4362.) " I believe they would bury five or six (in the same cofiin). That is hearsay; but 1 believe they usually bury three in the same coffin." (Q. 4363.) " There is a fee at the cemetery of 7s. Cd. for still-births, and if they can put five into a coffin, tbey save four fees." (Qs. 4364-5.) "I remember a nurse bringing a still-born child from nearly next door to a suburban branch of this undertaker to the city office. Even the undertaker expressed surprise (I was in the office at the time), and the woman's only ansiety was that no fuss should be made. She said the mother was unconscious, and had not "known what had happened. The nurse was relieved when she heard that no certificate or registration, other than a still-born certificate, was required. I am not a doctor, but really the' child, when I saw it, appeared to be about 2 years old, and apparently before death exceedingly robust. Now had those baby-farmers of some years ago been very acute, they would, instead of burying the murdered children about their houses, and supplying the police with circumstantial evidence, have given an order to an undertaker, and would also have given a still-born certificate, though the child may have been 1,'2, or even 3 years of age, and then all difficulties were ended. Better still, they could get a coffin, or make a box, as is often done, and do tlie interring themselves. If I may be permitted, I would suggest that no one but a licensed undertaker should be allowed to bury in a cemetery ; that cemeteries should be under more direct State control, and that the different tallies of burials should be carefully cheeked with the registrations, and that a still-born child should be treated in every way as if it had been born alive.' Its birth should be registered, and its burial also. Public registration has very obvious advantages. (Q. 4360.) (ii) Another witness gave the following evidence : — " I ^"1 strongly of that opinion, fi-om circumstances which have come within my knowledge as the result of my long experience in charge of a burial-ground, that the fact that it is unnecessary to register still-born children is a circumstance likely to lead to the commission of crimes." (Q,. 4303.) .u' r. T'"'*''!'^'!: '^i"\'^'^*°\'^.',^/y ^^°'^®^'"'-y .... for the preservation of life in this Oolony that still-born children should be registered. (Q. 4260.) "I will go further, and say that wilful murder is carried on ■ I cannot quite give absolute proof ; but, as I say, circumstances have from time to time come to my own knowledge, which lead me to that conclusion." (Q. 4362.) fO 426^^) ^^^ ^^"^ " *'^®°*^"^®'^^'^ y^^^^' experience in connection with burial-grounds." " Where you receive a certificate for one child, I think I can say ten will be Duned wittiout any certificate whatever— in every cemetery." (Qs. 4269-4270 ) The registers of the cemeteries are not inspected by any authority. (Q. 4335.) (iii.) 49 Ch. XV.— The Eegistration of Births and Deaths. (iii) The evidence of the Registrar- General on the subject was to Lhe Registiy- enect that : evidence. Certificates of still-birth are often given by perfectly ignorant, illiterate persons, and there is no check made. That still-born children may be interred in a back-yard or anywbere; and there are no regulations in respect of these burials. (Qs. 4-3,44, 57, 60, 61, 62, 64, 66, 68, 89-91.) (iv) The Deputy Registrar- General stated : — ■ Deputy -tvc^istrsir- That no notice is taken by the Eegistrars of information concerning still-born General's children. evidence. (159.) This evidence still further suj^ports our recommendations in other portions of this Report, — (i) That still-births should be registered (see paragraph 120) ; stiii-births. (ii) That midwives' records should be scrutinised as suggested in paragraph Midwives. 120 {see also paragraph 114). (160.) It also leads us to recommend : — ■ (iii) That undertakers should be licensed and subject to supervision ; and Undertakers. (iv) That all cemeteries should be brought under some central supervision, Cemeteries, so that uniform regulations for their management may be prescribed, and a system instituted which will ensure that the returns of burials, which shall be required to be furnished by the cemetery authorities and by undertakers, shall be compared with the returns cf deatlis registered, and that any discrepancies or irregularities shall be thoroughly investigated. XV.— THE REGISTRATION OF BIRTHS AND DEATHS. (161.) In the course of our inquiries with regard to the registration ofg"^°4n births and the mortality of infants, many defects in the Registration Act (No. 1 7, Act and of 1899) and its administration became apparent. The evidence shows clearly that ^fimimstra- this Act is not designed to assist in the prevention and detection of crime. Department. (162.) It was shown, with regard to births, that— totTs!"'* '° (i) the Act does not ensure the registration of all births ; (ii) it does not provide for the registration of stUl-births ; (iii) it does not provide for the registration of birth prior to burial of a deceased infant ; (iv) it does not afford protection against the registration of fictitious births ; (v) it allows a period of sixty days for the registration of a birth, w^hich is unnecessarily long, and causes a leakage in registration ; (vi) it prohibits the registration of a birth after six months from the date of such birth ; (vii) the parent is the only person it requires to give information for the registration of a birth, and there is no effective check on the truth ot the information supplied. 235-A (163.) 50 Ch. XVI.— The Relation of Operative Surgery to Sterility. In respect to deaths. (163.) In respect to deaths it was shown that — (viii) the Act does not ensure the registration of deaths ; (ix) it does not provide for medical certification of the causes of deatlis ; (x) it does not provide for the registration of deaths hefore interment ; (xi) it does not provide for the registration of interments ; (xii) it does not provide for tlie effective control of undertakers ; (xiii) it does not prohibit interments elsewhere than in cemeteries or other authorised hurial-])lac('S ; (xIa) it does not provide for the identification of deceased persons ; (xv) it allows a period of thirty days for the registration of a death, which is unnecessarily long ; (xvi) it does not afford protectiDn against the registration of fictitious deaths; and (xvii) th(; " tenant of the house or place " is the only person required to give information of a death ; and no oit■ecti^'o check on the truth of infor- mation supplied relative to a death is provided for. Evidence supports (161.) Generally, the evidence received concerning the registration of births Ke'pOTt'of and deaths supports the Keport from the Select Committee of the Legislative Committee of ^'o^^^^i^ ^^'^ Registration of Births, Deaths, and Marriages, ordered by the Council Legislative to bo printed on 21st October, ] 886 ; since which date no material alteration in the Council, 1886. ]a,^y q^, jfg administration has been made. system neTds (lO.j.) We txTB of opiiiion that Avltli a vie^v of securing a more satisfactory amendment^ I'^gistration of births and deaths, and a system of registration which will more completely and readily supply the data required for the compilation of ^dtal statistics, the existing system of registration needs considerable amendment. XVI.— THE IlELATION OF OPERATIVE SUIIOEEY TO STERILITY. Sf's^Sf , . (^^^) '^^'^ ^^? ^l'""8-'^^' it advisable in tiie course of our inquirv to endeavour and sterility, to aiTivc at a couclusion, whctlier or not i,n'n:ecol()0'ical surgery can be considered responsible for any part ol^ Uw. decnvise in fei'tilitv observed. It is recoo-nised that sterility in women may l)e classified in three divisions, viz., (Q. 6.584), physiological sterility, voluntary sterility, and pathological sterility. In regard to this third class, pathological sterility, tJie medical witness(>s have afforded a large amount of information. Uic cases in a\ hieh it is present may, we find, be grouped under two heads, namely : — '■ (i) Cases in which the cause of sterility is capable of being removed by appropriate medical and surgical treatment ; and (ii) Cases whicli are incurable, including those in which the removal of d,s(.uis<.d tissues m the pelvic viscera by surgical operation may be a usetul, and frequently is a necessary procedure. (167.) Pathological sterility. 51 Ch. XVI.— The Relation of Operative Snrgeiy to Sterility. (167.) It may be observed tbat tbe question, whether, in a particular case of Curability inflammation of the uterine appendage?, the sterility caused by it is or is not ^^^^'Ter for "" curable, is, and must always remain, one for expert opinion to decide ; and we experts. presume there always \A'ill be found cases in regard to whicli there will be a difference of opinion among those best able to judge. But as knowledge advances these borderland cases will, doubtless, be a less conspicuous group. (i) Dr. Watson-Munro says that : — Dr. Watson- Munro's Sterility is not present in all eases in which the operation of removing the appendages evirenoe. is done to relieve pathological conditions of the pelvic viscera. (Q. 2718.) Ho says (Q. 2719) " you may be forced, in a fertile woman, to operate upon the pelvis and remove an appendage or one ovary for disease ; and you may make her completely sterile by removing the other slightly affected ovary, on sound surgical principles, as a precautionary measure." At Q. 2722 he says that the considerable practice which exists of removing ovaries has no marked effect on the decline of birth-rate, because the ovaries are not removed without adequate reason. If there is a marked effect on the birth-rate it should be ascribed to the disease for which the operation has been done, and not to the operation itself. At Q. 2723 he says that he does not know of any such practice as the removal of ovaries needlessly. " I have never seen it ; it has not come under my observation. The ovaries have been removed in cases in which the good result expected has not follosved after ; but that would not be classed as a needless operation — it would be a lond-fide operation, done in good faith, in the expecta- tion of a good result." (Q. 2724.) Tbe effect of gynsecological practice is to diminish the number of sterile women. (Q. 2727.) (ii) Dr. Worrall said that :— Dr worrair ^ ' evidence. The practice of operation on the uterine appendages does not increase the number of sterile women. " I think," he said " the men who practise gynaecology now rarely remove the tubes unless they are blocked, or septic, or contain pus ; or the ovaries, unless they are hopelessly diseased. It is now the practice all over the world to be conservative in all these operations, and to save one side if the other side is diseased." (Q. 2956.) (iii) Dr. Scot-Skirving said : — Dr. Scot- ^ ■' ° Skirvmgs On the whole, I think there are more women made by modern gynsecology able to bear children than there would have been if there had been no modern gynaecology. On the other hand, all men who have had a large experience, especially men like Dr. Foreman, know that a great deal of bad gynecology has been done — I mean to say, too robust treatment. Probably, ten or iifteen years ago, a great many ovaries were removed that might be left now, and there were many needless curettings. These things, on the whole, have reduced the number of women who could bear children, but still, altogether, I think that the modern gynaecology has done good. (Q. 3173.) A large number of women have been absolutely pulled from death by gynecology, and may bear children; a still larger number of women have been rendered fruitful by ' gynaecology. On the other hand, meddlesome, bad gynaecology has put a great number of women out of the race, who would have been capable of bearing children had they been let alone. (Q. 3174.) (iv) Dr. W. J. S. McKay said that:— Dr.w.j.s. ^ ^ •' McKay's The practice of the removal of the ovaries or of the uterine appendages is common. (Q. 3365.) The most usual reason for the removal of the tubes is inflammation of the tubes. At one time it was the practice to remove the tube and the ovary ; now, if the ovaries are healthy, they are left alone, and the tubes removed, but that would prevent the woman from becoming pregnant. (Q. 3366 ) It does sometimes occur that these operations are done on women who might become pregnant if they were not interfered with. (Q. 3367.) This has been done very rarely. It has been done to, say, school-mistresses who suffer excessively at the period, and they have to earn their living, and, owing to the pain at the period they must lay up for at least two days a month; and they simply prefer to lose their ovaries rather than their billet ; and it has been done, and it has been considered justifiable to do that. That is one ease. In other cases you remove the healthy ovaries when you have a fibroid tumour, because it is supposed that the removal of the ovaries will stop the tumour, and sometimes cure it. This is a comparatively rare operation now, because the tumour is generally removed instead. (Q. 3368.) He evidence. 52 Ch. XVII.-Conclnsion. He also said lie was aware that the jastifiability of such an operation as the removal of the ovaries had been very much questioned, except where organic disease was present. The idea of performing Batty's operation is almost done now. Batty was one of the original men who removed ovaries for what was called a nerve condition. That is a thing which is very seldom done now-a-days. No operations of that character are performed at the hospital he is connected with. (Qs. 3369-3370.) Gynfficoiogi- (16S.) Prom our investigation of the subject of the relation of gynsecological cai surgery practice to Sterility, we are strongly of opinion that while the advance in knowledge tributedto uiadc bv tliis branch of practice has made it most useful to society, in the relief of sterility. suffering women, it has not contributed to tlie decline of the birth-rate. Division E. XVII.— CONCLUSION. People, led astray by false doctrine Conoiueioii. (169.) In conclvTsion, we desire to reiterate our opinion that there has been Birth-rate a Very serious decline in the birth-rate of New South Wales since the year 1889, has declined, g^^j thsbt this decline cannot, in any measure, be ascribed to any change in the physical characteristics of the people ; nor, in any material degree, to other causes dependent upon natural law. On the other hand, we have been reluctantly, but inevitably, driven to the conclusion that the people — led astray by false and pernicious doctrine into the belief that personal interests and ambitions, a high standard of arenegfeeting case, comfort, and luxury, are the essential aims of life, and that these aims are best themstives,*" attained by refusing to accept the consequences which nature has ordained shall their fellow- follow from marriage — have neglected, and are neglecting, their true duty to them- andp^oTtTrlty. selves, to their fellow countrymen, and to posterity. Forgetful of the lessons of history, ignoring the teachings of science, bent on gratifying their selfish desires, and on pursuing social advancement, they are seeking to follow the dictates of a narrow reasoning, and blindly imagine that, in raising the standard of their own physical comfort, they are smoothing the path of life for themselves and for posterity, Vhile leaving to others the creation of that posterity for which they profess to be so concerned. They seem to think that, in the deliberate curtailing of reproduction, they have found a panacea for the ills of life. The time must come, however, when there will be a cruel awakening to a realisation of the truth. Already we see, in the injury to health, the wrecking of life, which is manifesting itself, how nature has begun to avenge herself on those who oppose her laws. We see, in the lessening of Dissolution of parental control, the commencement of dissolution in the family bond ; and, in the family bond, dwindling of the size of families, the dying out of nature's best school for teaching Weakening the Icssous of life, and the M^eakening of the social structure at its base. We look at the number of the yoang girls of to-day who will be the young mothers of the next decade ; and find that the proportion their numbers bear to the total of females who have not passed the child-bearing age is less than formerly; and we observe how inevitable it is that, in the course of the next few years, unless some effective change is quickly introduced in the mental attitude of the people towards the question of reproduction, the material provided by the present generation for the ri; continuance of the race in New South Wales will be inadequate to maintain even its present rate of increase in the numbers of the native-born population. of social structure at its base. Even present rate of increase cannot be tained unless habits of the people are changed. Morality of (170.) We find also that the practices and habits which the doctrines of uXm?L limitation inculcate tend to undermine the morality of the people, to loosen the by practice of bouds ot religion, and to obliterate the influence of those higher sentiments and Wation. sanctions for conduct with which the development of high national character has ever been associated. Duty we recognise as being conduct favourable to the safety ot the race; virtue as an attitude of life and character consistent with the preserva- tion and continuance of man on earth ; and since vice is the reverse of virtue it must include all conduct that is an attack upon the race. ' (in.) 63 Ch. XVII.— Conclusion. (I7l.) We do not hesitate to declare that tlie doctrines whicli advocate and Doctrine of justify the deliberate restriction of child-bearing in marriage are vicious, and that ^.''*'.^'^!?'^ . Malthus was right in deprecating artificial checks to the growth of population on Tioioua. the ground of their viciousness. With a decay of individual and social morality we must expect the loss of all those qualities which have made the British race predominant. (172.) We have spoken thus far in this chapter in reference solely to the what is said State whose population is the immediate subject of our inquiry ; but what applies ^-"^^"^ ^°^^ to New South Wales is obviously no less applicable to the whole of Australasia. The to aif ^ ^ interests of the Commonwealth of Australia are bound up in the interests of its ^i^sti-aiasia. separate States. The future of the Commonwealth, and especially the possibility of Future of maintaining a "white Australia," depend on the question whether we shall be ^We ^^J^°^^^ to people the vast areas of the continent which are capable of supporting a large maintenance population. This can only be done by restoring and maintaining a high rate of ^„BtrJ^^"* natural increase, or by immigration on a large scale, or by both these means of depend on recruiting posterity. With the maintenance of a high rate of natural increase is ^^|^ ''"■*^' inseparably connected the preservation of infant life. We have shown that the defective birth-rate is aggravated in its effects in reducing natural increase by an excessive death-rate among the newly-born. (173.) Mr. T. A. Coghlan, in his essay on the Decline in the Birth-rate of Mr. Coghian'a New South Wales, says, at page 69, " Large as is the area of the Australian '*^"*™ss. continent, it is impossible that its people will ever become truly great under the conditions affecting the increase of population which now obtain. Immigration has practically ceased to be an important factor, the maintenance and increase of population depending upon the birth-rate alone, a rate seriously diminished and stiU diminishing. No people has ever become great under such conditions, or, having if present attained greatness, has remained great for any lengthened period. The problem of conSnu?^ the fall of the birth-rate is, therefore, a national one of overwhelming importance Australia to the Australian people, perhaps more than to any other people, and on its become great satisfactory solution will depend whether this country is ever to take a place amongst nation, the great nations of the world." (174.) From time to time in recent years public men, seeing in the establishment of the Australian Commonwealth the first step in the construction of a great nation, and anticipating therefrom a rapid increase of national prosperity and progress, have referred hopefully to the day when Australia with her teeming millions will hold a commanding place among the peoples of the world. The patriotic ardour inspired by this hopeful anticipation is, however, destined to be cooled in the contemplation of the fact that, while Russia and Japan, prospective comparison rivals of Australia for supremacy in the Western Pacific, are already seeking outlets ^^*^*^° ^^^ beyond their own borders for the energies of their ever-growing people, it will be and japan.^^ forty-six and a half years before Australia, with her three and three-quarter millions of inhabitants, and dependent alone on her natural increase (if this even be maintained at its present rate), will have doubled her population ; 113 years before she will have twenty millions of people ; and 168 years before her numbers will have reached the present population of Japan. (175.) In whatever way the waning birth-rate of New South Wales is viewed, Waning whether in its effects on the health, character, or social worth of individuals ; on the grave social! value of the family as the basis of national life ; on the quality and dignity of civic disorder, life ; on the character of the people ; on their social, moral, and economic progress ; on their national aims and aspirations ; or on their capacity to survive in the rivalry of nations ; and whether it is viewed in the light of history or of science, it is seen as a grave disorder sapping the vitals of a new people, dispelling its hopes, blighting its prospects, and threatening its continuance. (176.) 54 Ch. XVII.— Conclusion. In the future the loss of Australia to the British race may be ascribed to the supine- ness of the people. (176.) Patriotism dictates that tlic people of to-day should consider what these facts meaii to the future. It is the duty of the present generation of Australians to see to it that their patriotism is not impugned in time to come ; and that the loss of this fair heritage of the British race, which, under existing conditions, the philosophy of history foretells, is not made attributahle to them by those who may, in the days to come, have to sacrifice their blood and treasure in the vain hope of defending it. We have the honor to be, Your Excellency's most obedient servants, (l.s.^ ) CHARLES K. MAOKELLAR, (l.s.^ ) II. N. MacLAURIN, (l.s. ) OCTAVIUS C. BEALE, (l.s.^ ) T. A. COGHLAN, (l.s. ) JOSEPH FOREMAN, (L.S.: EDMUND EOSBERY, (l.s. ) THOMAS HUGHES, (L.S.; EDW. W. KNOX, (L.S.] G. S. LITTLE JOHN, (L.S.) JOHN B. NASH, (L.S.) R. T. BATON, (L.S.) THOMAS EIASCHI, President. - Commissioners. RoBT. H. Todd, Associate to the 'President. J. Garligk, Secretary. Srd March, 1904. APPENDIX TO VOLUME I. EVIDENCE OF STATISTICIANS. Name, Position. Date of Examination. Paragraph. Ayliffe, G. H. Dadelszen E.J. Von Fraser, M. A. C Hughes, J McLean, W if j» Trivett, J. B., F.E.A.S , F.S.S, Registrar-General, South Australia ... ,, New Zealand , , Western Australia „ Queensland Government Statist, Victoria Actuary of Friendly Societies, New South Wales 1903. 27 August 1 September .. 3 31 December .. 1904. 21 January 6256-6267 5527-5600 6269 6344 6181-6255 5844^-5919 674E-8 6846-6852 286-314 315-48 4861-618 6618-6739 6779-6793 6854 39608 235—0 ROYAL COMMISSION ON THE DECLINE OP THE BIRTH-RATE. EVIDENCE OE STATISTICIANS. SECOND MEETING—TRUESDAT, 27 AUGUST, 1903, 2 p.m. [Board Boom, No. 6, BUgh-street, Sydney.l Jpresmt:— THE HON. 0. K. MACKELLAR, M.B., CM., M.L.C., Puesidenx; The HOX. SIE H. N. MacLIUEIN, Kt., M.D., LL.D., M.L.C. ; O. C. BEALE, Esq., President of the New South Wales Chamber of Manufactures; T. A. COGHLAN, Esq., I.S.O., Government Statistician ; J. EOEEMAN, Esq., L.S.A., Lon.; L. et L., M.E.C.P., Edin. ; M.E.CS., Eng. ; E. FOSBEET, Esq., C.M.G., Inspector- General of Police ; W. A. HOLMAN, Esq., M.P., Barrister-at-Law ; THE ET. HON. THOMAS HUGHES, Lord Mayor of Sydney ; E. W. KNOX, Esq., General Manager, Colonial Sugar Eefining Company (Limited) ; G. S. LITTLE.JOHN, Esq, President of the Sydney Chamber of Commerce; THE HON. J. B. NASH, M.D., M.L.C; and E. T. PATON, Esq., L.E.C.P. et S., Edin. ; F.E.C.S., Edin. ; M.D., Unir,, Brussels ; Government Medical OfEcer. Db. E. H. Todd, Associate to the President, was also present. Mb. J. Gaeliok, Secretary to the Commission, took shorthand notes of the evidence and proceedings. Mr. J. B. TRIVETT, E.R.A.S,, F.S.S., was sworn and examined as under :— 286. BY THE HON. THE PRESIDENT.] Q. What is your name? A. John Burt Trivett. 287. Q. You are the Actuary of Friendly Societies 1, A. Yes. 288. Q. You have a considerable acquaintance with the methods of registration of births? A. Not exactly with the methods ; but only in so far as the practical work of the Registration Office relates to the collection of data for the Vital Statistics. 289. ^. Is there, in your opinion, any leakage or non-registration of the births of children? A.l think there is. If you would permit me I would give you some details from a table which I have prepared in relation to births in Maternity Homes. I do not know that I need give you the whole of the details. I can if you wish. I find, from the annual reports of the whole of these institutions, there were 4,594 during the whole of the period 1897-1902, that is, six years, and the Registry office recorded 4,296, which shows a leakage of 6|^ per cent. — of course it will be 6|^ per cent, per annum — over the births which took place in those institutions. And of those registered 78^- per cent, were illegitimate children. Naturally, in the Maternity Homes, the bulk of the children are illegitimate. 290. Q. Is there any laxity in the attention to duty on the part of the District Registrars, to your knowledge ? A. Yes, a very considerable amount. The Statistician instructed me, in connection with the collection of information cognate to this inquiry, to go into the question of the registrations of births for the period 1891-1900, and we had 381,000 odd cards of births in that period. I found errors in 2,170 cases, or, rather, niy staff did. That is at the rate o? 5-7 per 1,000. I have got specimens of the errors here. [Witness then handed in a number of cards, shouiig the errqrs, ivhich the Comniissioners inspected.~\ 39608 235— A 291. Witness— J. B. Trivett, F.R.A.S., F.S.S., 27 August, 1903. 291. WITNESS (continuing); The perfunctory examinationof registrations by the Registrar-General's examiners left the checked records in such erratic shape as to indicate, as per typical cards, cases showing — (a) That the mothers were married at tender ages, ranging as low as age 7 ; (6) That women became mothers as early as age 4, and as late as age 49 ; (c) That, in cases of ante-nuptial conceptions, the interval from marriage to first birth had apparently been ten years and odd months instead of simply the odd months, e.c/., ten years and four months, instead of simply four months. (d) That an abnormal number of children had been born within a given time, e.g., five children in five years, and seven children in seven years. This would be caused by too many children (mostly illegitimate) appearing in the " previous issue " column. Proper examination would have prevented the error and the cause thereof. The salient points of error are, first, making the parent too young at marriage. Some ridiculous ages for marriage become apparent. Second, the mother too old. Of course, sometimes it is made ridiculously old. And in other cases too many children in a certain number of years, so that it would be a physical impossibility for the children to be born. 292. BY THE HON. THE PRESIDENT.] Q. Therefore there has been a laxity in the collection of these data'? A. Yes, a considerable laxity. 293. BY Me. FOSBERY.] Q. Is this the result of intentional misrepresentation 1 A. I would not like to say that. 294. Q. Or is it inadvertence ? A. It may be inadvertence, but it shows this, that the system of examination in that Department is deficient and defective, because their examiners should have discovered these errors and referred them back in the first instance, as soon as the mistake occurred, to the people involved. 295. BY THE HON. THE PRESIDENT.] Q. In point of fact, a very reasonable amount of care would have enabled them to discover these errors before they reached your Department? A. They should have discovered them long before. There are men for that purpose. 296. (J. Have you any suggestions to make relating to the system of registration? A. 1 have a number of suggestions I should like to make. I should suggest, Mr. President, first, the placing of the Births, Deaths, and Marriages Branch of the Registrar-General's Otlice under independent control. The Registrar-General's main duty is dealing with the question of deeds ; and, of course, you can easily see there is nothing in common between deed registration and vital registration. In the second place, I would suggest the registration of all still-born children. I have a table prepared, if you wish me to discuss it later on. Third, rigid enforcement of the Registration Act, in respect to the penalty for the neglect to register in the prescribed period ; and the shortening of the prescribed period to, say, twenty-one days. Fourth, the amendment of the law to enforce transmission of reports by the District Registrars within fourteen days of the end of the quarter, and by Metropolitan District Registrars weekly. Fifth, the inspection of Registry Offices periodically by inspectors conversant with the work. Sixth, proper examination of the returns in the Central Ofiice ; a system of comparison of the registry of birth with the previous registrations in the same family, and of first-births with the marriage register j comparison of the " previous issue " columns in the several birth entries would disclose any birth that had not been registered. Seventh, the abandonment of the system in vogue of selecting District Registrars ; at present there are (a) Clerks of Petty Sessions ; (6) Postal officers, who belong to, almost, you might say, a foreign service, the Federal service ; and (c) the private registrars. I might mention that my experience shows that the work done by these private registrars is by far the best. There is also another question in connection with these private district registrars, that they should be of mature age and of very good repute — for very obvious reasons, of course, in the registration of illegitimate births. Eighth, that a small fee should be paid for each registration, and thus impart some incentive to the work. Ninth, license, or register all lying-in institutions, and compel monthly returns by the matron to the District Registrar of the children born. I might mention, sir, that I have some information with regard to still-births, if you wish to hear it 1 297. Q. We would be glad to have the information 1 A. I have information scheduled here as to the still-births per 1,000 of the population in all countries of the world. In all the Australian States they are not registered. In the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland they are not registered. In Sweden, the rate amounts to about J of 1 per 1,000 ; in the German Empire, to about U per 1,000 ; in Belgium, to about 1-4 ; in France to M ; in Portugal to -3 of 1 per l,0li0; in Italy, li per 1,000; in Austria to 1-1 ; and in Hungary to about 1. 298. BY Me. KNOX.] Q. Per 1,000 births? A. Still-births per 1,000 of the population. 299. BY THE HON. SIR H. N. MacLAURIN.] Q. That is, still-births at time ? A. That is, births that they have registration of. 300. Q. At the full time 1 A. Yes. There is a diflFeronce in the definition of the word " still-birth" in these places. In France and Belgium all children who die before their births are reported are registered as still-born. In Germany and Italy, only the infants delivered in the last two months of gestation, and dead without having breathed, are registered as still. That information is collected, sir by Dr Crossy ■Wilburn, of Michigan, in the United States, one of the most enthusiastic vital statisticians in the world. ^. ^01. BY Mr. COGHLAN.] (J. What is about the proportion of still-births to ordinary births? ^/.„J°^ °^^ ''^*'° ^"^ *^'^ State— we have about 27 births per 1,000 of the population— taking tYm stiU-birth average of 1, it is about between 3 per cent, and 4 per cent, of the births o inionf ^' ^^ ™^ ^^^' ^^^ P^^ESIDENT.] Q. What do you base that opinion upon? A. Which _ 303. Q. As to the number of still-births in this State? A. I have taken what seems to be about the running average of those countries I have quoted-about 1 per 1,000 of the population-and our birth-rate IS about 27 per 1,000 of the population, which gives one twenty-seventh, or between 3 and 4 per cent. 304. Q. You are aware that numbers of still-births occur at the full time here ? A. Yes. 305. Q. They are not registered, and no notice whatever is taken of them 1 A. No. 306. Q Do you, your.self, recognise any difference between a child still-born and a child dead-born'? A. 1 can see that there is a difference ; but for practical purposes I should think that they might as wdl come under the definition of still-births, and be registered. 307. Witness-J. B. Trivett, T.R.A.S., F.S.S., 27 August, 1903. 307. Q. Children are born dead because of disease very frequently, and many children are born dead that are viable^they actually die in the process of birth ? A. Yes. 308. Q. There is surely a difference between those two classes 1 A. Of course, when I said that, for practical purposes, they might come under the same definition, I intended to imply that, so far as any question of crime or prevention came in, and we wanted to get a record of actual conceptions, we might consider them as in the same category. 309. g. Have you any suggestions to make relating to the system of registration other than those you have told us of 1 A.I do not think so. Of course, the defects are painfully apparent to me frequently, but I do not know enough about the routine of their office to pose as an authority on the question of reformation • but there is one thing I meant to speak of broadly, and that is, that their District Registrars require a considerable amount of discipline more than they get. They have given me a great deal of trouble in my position as Actuary to the Statistician in dealing with the issue of Vital Statistics as promptly as ■would enable them to be of value to the public. 310. Q. In order to carry out the suggestions you have made, it would be necessary to have an Act of Parliament ? A.I presume so. 311. Q. And you think it is necessary that there should be some legal enactment in order to carry that out ? A. Yes. ^ ^ 312. Q. Have you any information to lay before the Commission just now, bearing directly on this phase of the question ? A. With regard to the registration 1 313. §. Yes? ^. No, sir. 314. BY THE HON. THE PRESIDENT.] It would be convenient, then, to resume the examina- tion at a future period. (At 4 p.m. the Commission adjourned until Tuesday next, the 1st of September, 1903, at 3 p.m.) THTED MEETING—TUESDAY, 1 SEPTEMBER, 1903, 3 p.m. [Board Room, No. 6 Bligh-street, Sydney. \ THE HON. 0. K. MAOKELLAR, M.B., CM., M.L.C., PiiEsmBNT; THE HON. SIR H. N. MAcLAURIiST, Kt., M.D., LL.D., M.L.C.; O. C. BEALE, Esq., President of the New South Wales Chamber of Manufactures; T. A. COGHLAN, Esq., I.S.O., Government Statistician ; J FOREMAN, Esq., L.S.A., Lon., L. et L., M.R.O.P., Edin., M.R.C.S., Eng. ; E. FOSBERY, Esq., C.M.G., Inspector-General of Police ; W. A. HOLMAN, Esq., M.P., Barrister-at-Law ; THE RT. HON. THOMAS HIJGHES, Lord Mayor of Sydney ; E. W. KNOX, Esq., .General Manager, Colonial Suga,r Refining Company (Limited) ; ,G. S. LITTLEJOHN, Esq., President of the Sydney Chamber of Commerce. De. R. H. Todd, Associate to the President, was also present. Mr. J. Garlick, Secretary to the Commission, took shorthand notes of the evidence and proceedings. Me. J. B. TRIVETT, F.R.A.S., P.S.S., Actuary of Friendly Societies, previously sworn, was further examined, as under : — 315. BY THE HON. THE PRESIDENT.] Q. Can you tell us, Mr. Trivett, what is the present birth-rate in this State 1 A. The present birth-rate for this State is 27'17 per 1,000, and of the constituent parts pf the State^ — the metropolis, 25'86 ; the country, 27'91. 316. Q. How does this compare with the other Australian States? A. I have a table here showing; the Australian States, a number of foreign countries, and also certain cities. There is a, decline in every instance. It is for the ten years 1891 to 1900. 317. [The table was put in, and marked Exhibit No. 1. For copy see Appendix.] - 318. WITNESS (continuing) : In New South. Wales, in 1891, the, birth-rate per 1,000 of thp population was 34'6 ; in 1900, it was 27'4, giving a reduction of 20'8 per qent. in the rate for the ten years. In Victoria, in the same period, the rate fell from 33'6 to 25-8, a reduction of 23;2 per cent. In South Australia it fell frorn 339 at the beginning of the period to- 25'8, giving a reduction of 23'9 per cent,, In Queensland it fell from 36-4 to 302, a reduction of 17 per cent. In Western Australia it fell frpm 35-6 to 30-7, a reduction of 13-8 per cent. In Tasmania it fell from 31-9 to 28-2, a reduction of 11-6 per cent. In New Zealand it fell from 29-0 to 256, a reduction of 11-7 per cent. Those are the Australian. States. The return also contains similar information in respect to England, Ireland, Scotland, Sweden, the German Empire, Belgium, France, Portugal, Italy, Austria, and Hungary. [Witness read the figures, which will be found in the Exhibit No. 1.] These have been taken from the House of Commons Blue Book on the statistics of colonial and foreign countries, and they are exclusive of still-births. 319. WITNESS (continuing) : I have here a table showing the birth-rate per 1,000 of the populatioa in various cities throughout the world. I cannot get the information as far back as ten year.i in the time at my disposal, but I have got it back to 1894, from the Milan official statistics, 1901. 320. ' 4> Witness— 3. B. Trivett, F.R.A.S., F.S.S., 1 Sept., 1903. 320. [Witness then read the return, which was put in and marked Exhibit No. 2.] It showed that the reduction in the birth-rate in the eight years from 1894 to 1901 was, in Milan, at the rate of 6 8 per cent. ; in Florence, IT'l per cent. ; in Genoa, 3 8 per cent. ; in Naples, 12-7 per cent. ; in Home, 1-6 per cent. • in Venice, 1-5 per cent. ; in Vienna, 3-1 per cent. ; in Prague, 14-7 per cent. ; in Berlin, 4-6 per cent.; in Hamburg, 21-4 per cent., which is the highest; in Leipzig, 4-5 percent.; in Breslau, 7-8 per cent. ; in Dresden, 6 5 per cent. ; in Paris, 11-2 per cent. ; in Brussels, 12-8 per cent. ; in Amsterdam, 4-2 per cent. ; in Copenhagen, 0-3 per cent., which is the lowest; in Stockholm, 107 per cent. ; in Moscow, 14-6 per cent. ; in Warsaw, 20 per cent. ; in New York, 20-3 per cent. ; and in Buenos Ayres, 10 per cent. 321. WITNESS (continuing) : I have given also Sydney and Melbourne as the two main Australian cities. For the eight years Sydney has a reduction from 30-7 in 1894 to 256 in 1901, a reduction of 16-6 per cent. Melbourne fell from 30-9 to 24-8 per 1,000, a reduction of 19-7 per cent. 322. The birth-rate for the State of New South Wales was nearly level from 1880 to 1888 at about 37i per 1,000. It then suddenly dropped, about 1888, by 2| per 1,000. It was then nearly level for three years at about 35, until 1891, and then there was a continuous drop to 27i- in 1898. It has been fairly level at about 27 1 for the last five years. 323. [A table showing the births per 1,000 of the population in New South Wales from 1880 to 1902, was put in, and marked Exhibit No. 3. For copy see Appendix.] 324. BY THE HON. THE PRESIDENT.] . Under natural conditions ? J. Yes. 365. Q. And, in point of fact, are they more prolific 1 A. I do not know that I can say that on sight without referring to the figures, which will be done later on. 366. Q. Is the marriage of minors decreasing ? A. With regard to males there is a very slight yanation in the marriages. I have got here the percentage of marriages of males for the twelve years from 1891 to 1902. In 1891 it was 2-09 per cent, of the total marriages ; and in 1902, our latest advice, it was 2-95, showing very little difference, and very little range in the intervening years. With regard to females there is a manifest lessening in the rate, that is to say, a smaller number relatively of females are marrying at the minor ages than in 1891. In that year the rate for females was 24-65 per cent, of the total marriages ; and atthe present time you might put it down at 22-62 per cent., but there has been a fair amount ot fluctuation m the interim years. Still, the tendency is certainly downward n o^I\ ^^J-^}'^'' showing the fluctuations in the marriage of minors ia New South Wales for the period from 1891 to 1902, was put m, and marked Exhibit No. 10. For copy see Appendix.] 368. §. A result that you might naturally expect from that would be a slight reduction in the birth- . rate f A. Yes, but I do not think it would have very much weight in the legitimate birth-rate, because the proportion of women marrying at these early ages is evidently lessening, and you would have to go to thq, higher ages to look into the general question. 369. inVii-'M— J. B. Trivett, F.R.A.S., F.S.S., 1 Sept., 1903. 369. Q. Can you tell us what proportion of the marriages follow conception? A. For the ten-year period from 1891 to 1900 there were 85,391 marriages ; and 22,094 of these followed conception— equivalent to 25 '9 per cent. 370. BY THE HON. SLR H. N. MaoLAURIN.] Q. You have ascertained that by finding that a child was born within a certain time after marriage'! A. Yes. 371. Q. Did you allow anything for seven-months and eight months' children t A. No. The whole of those were included. 372. Q. There are such children .sometime?, you know 1 A. Yes. 373. BY THE HON. THE PRESIDENT.] Q. But practically that would not make a very material alteration in the figures, T presume? A. I think not. 374. Q. How do ante-nuptial and illegitimate conceptions compare with true legitimate first-births 1 A. If we consider the illegitimates as first-births, for the same period as mentioned before (1891-1900), there were 94,708 first-births all told, that is, legitimate and illegitimate. And of these the number of post-nuptial conceptions, that is, of true legitimate children, was 48,271, or 510 per 1,000, that is, 51 per cent. Of ante-nuptial conception, that is, prejudiced births, there were 22,094, equivalent to 233 per 1,000. Of illegitimate parentage, there were 24,343 births, equal to 257 per 1,000. If we leave out the illegitimate, the_ ante-nuptial conceptions give 314 per 1,000 of the legitimate first-birtha (that is, what is known ordinarily as legitimate), or, according to the age of the mother, for women under 20 there were no less than 559 per 1,000 first births at that age of these ante-nuptial conceptions ; for women between 20 and 25 years of age, there were 344 per 1,000 ;"for women 25 to 30 years of age, there were 197 per 1,000 ; for women from 30 to 35, there were 152 per 1,000 ; for women from 35 to 40 there were 169 per 1,000 ; and for women 40 years of age and over there were the same number, 169 per 1,000 j that is, of course, per 1,000 women in that age-group. 375. Q. How did the illegitimate births go at the same ages 1 A. I have got that information here. If you take the same period, again (1891-1900), and regard the influence of age on illicit conception, it will be found that, for mothers under 20 there were 398 illegitimates per 1,000, within nine months of marriage 336, and true legitimates, as we might term them, 266. For the age-group, 20-25, there were 220 illegitimates, 268 quasi-legitimates, and 512 true legitimates. For the age-group, 25-30, there were 189 illegitimates, 160 quasi-legitimate.s, and 651 true legitimates. For the age-group, 30-35, there were 263 illegitimates, 112 quasi-legitimates, and 625 true legitimates. For the age-group, 35-40, there were 409 illegitimates, 100 quasi-legitimates, and 491 true legitimates. Over 40 years of age, the figures are 482 illegitimates, 88 quasi-legitimates, and 430 true legitimates. Of course, these are all per 1,000. You will notice there is a distinct lowering of the quasi-legitimate rate as the ages increase. 376. (A table comparing the legitimate, illegitimate, and ante-nuptial conception for the period 1891-1900 was put in, and marked Exhibit No. 11. For copy see Appendix.) 377. BY jMr. HOL?iIAN.] Q. The only period in which the legitimate chi'drenbalance the others is the age-group 20-25. Is that so? A. 'No. Tlie true legitimates exceed in three age-groups, that is, 20-25, 25-30, 30-35. I was about to say that that evident lowering in the rate of quasi-legitimates after, say, age 35, might fairly be ascribed to the disinclination of the male to marry — ^the woman has not got a chance of marriage after that period, or a very remote chance. 378. Q. Have you any means of comparing those data with other countries ? ^. I do not think we can. This is the only State in the world where the data have been compiled with such amplitude. 379. WITNESS (continuing) : I might state that, taking a view of the whole of the women, irrespective of age, we find that for all women between the oonceptive ages, and for all the children born, the illegitimate were 257 per 1,000, the quasidegitimate 233 per 1,000, and the truly legitimate 510 per 1,000. 380. BY THE HON. SIR H. N. MacLAURIN.] §. That is of first-births? A. Of course, that would be of first-births. 381. Q. That is, assuming that illegitimate children would be first-births ? A. Yes. 382. BY Mr. HOLMAN.] Q. Have you data for that ? Is there anything to indicate that all illegitimate births are first births? A. I am speaking about first-births. 383. BY THE PRESIDENT.] Q. But we are assuming all along that the illegitimates were first- births ? A. Yes. Of course, that assumption is slightly strained, because we know very well, from our experience as men of the world, that they are not all first-births. 384. BY Mr. HOLMAN.] Q. Supposing a woman had two or three illegitimate children, they would all figure ? A. No, unless she happened to have them within the same year. 385. Q. That is only taking one year? A. Yes ; and assuming the illegitimates are first-births. 386. BY THE HON. THE PRESIDENT.] Q. Can you tell us what is the relative proportion of illegitimates in this country to England, for instance? A. That is a subject I have been attempting, during the la.st few days, to get information on, but I am sorry to say I have not succeeded as well as I could desire. 387. Q. Do you find that the nearness or remoteness of pregnancy affects the chance of marriage ? A. Yes ; the nearer the date of delivery of the child the smaller the chance of marriage. I have here a table showing the number of marriages after conception, that is, within the ordinary period of gestation. If you take, for instance, eight and under nine months as the period which marriage precedes the birth of the child — that is to say, the child is born after eight months of marriage — you find 4-44 per cent, of all legitimate births in that category. There is an increase for these between seven and eight months, and that may possibly be the seven months' children that have been referred to. 388. (A table showing the number of marriages after conception in the period 1891-1900, together with the period which marriage preceded the birth of the child, and the percentage to all first-births, was put in, and marked Exhibit No. 12. For copy see Appendix.) 389. WITNESS (continuing) : Taking the whole we find that 31-4 per cent., or equal to 314 per 1,000 of all first-births, were prejudiced births. 390. BY THE HON. THE PRESIDENT.] Q. How does age efi"ect the chance of marriage after illicit conception? ^1. The proportion of births within nine months after marriage per 1,000 births of illicit conception decreases with the age of the mother. I have a table showing that. 391. (The table was put in, "and marked Exhibit No. \:^. For copy see Appendix.) 39L o 8 Witness— J. B. Trivett, F.R.A.S,, F.S.S., 1 Sept., 1903. 392. BY Me. KNOX.] Q. Is that the number of birtlis in the first year — [referring to Exhibit 13, which had just been read] ? A. No, that is the proportion per 1,000. 393. BY Mr. HOLMAN.] (>. Per 1,0001 ^. Per 1,000 of the births -which took place. If you take the births -within nine months after marriage, and then take the proportion to 1,000 births of illicit conception, that will be the result. 394. Q. Well, that is the same thing, is it not 1 A. No. It is equal to putting ante-nuptial as a numerator, and ante-nuptial plus illegitimates as the denominator. 395. (?. Of a given age? ^. Yes. 396. BY Mr. COGHLAN.] You have not given quite what Mr. Holman says. What Mr. Trivett has given is the number of girls who conceive and get married after conception. 397. WITNESS.] Yes. These are what you miglit call the proportion of prejudiced married women to the prejudiced women of all kinds. 398. BY THE HON. THE PRESIDENT.] Q. How do illegitimate births compare with the total births in the State 1 A. They are increasing, if you take the number per 1,000 of the population. In 1881 they were 43-6 per 1,000 of total births ; 188G J) 46-5 1S91 >> rj;!-6 1896 it 67-0 1901 )) 71-G or about 7-16 per cent. 399. BY Mr. KNOX.] Q. But that increase is due to the diminution of the birth-rate, is it not? A. Yes ; I was about to deal with that. 400. BY THE HON. THE PRESIDENT.] Q. Is that a fair comparison to make? A. No. Two broad reasons I adduce for that. One is that the total births of all kinds contain the illegitimates in their number, and therefore, when you compare the illegitimates to the total you are, to a certain degree, using them as a standard with which to compare themselves. In the second place, if you compare illegitimates in this way, you are relating them to a standard — that is, the total births — which is in itself variable in different years. We have ascertained that the birth-rate itself is falling, and therefore, if the illegitimate natality is compared with the total births, you are comparing it, not to a fixed standard, but to a standard which is falling, and therefore has a tendency to increase the rate. 401. BY Mr. HOLMAN.] Q. Would you tell us, while you are on this point, how the number of illegitimate births compare with the number of women exposed to child-birth ? A. 1 might explain that the illegitimate births should be compared with the number of women exposed to risk, and from whom alone illegitimacy can proceed — that is, single women of child-bearing age ; and taking that view, if you take the single women of ages 15 to 45, the relation of the illegitimates to those women, since 1861, would be as follows :— Rate of Illegitimates Years. per 1,000 Single Women. 1861 15-29 1806 16-70 1871 16-67 1876 16-31 1881 17-45 Years. Eate of Illegitimates per 1,000 Single Women. 1886 18-35 1891 18-11 1896 17-20 1901 16-23 That shows a drop in the latest rates. 402. BY THE HON. THE PRESIDENT.] Q. But, on the whole, there has been an increase? A. There is not an increase, taking the true illegitimate rate; but there is an increase if you compare it with the total births, which I maintain is not the fair way to take it. 403. BY Mr. HOLMAN.] (J. There is a slight increase since the beginning of your figures? A. There is a slight increase during the period, but if you take it from 18SG, there is a drop. 404. BY THE HON. SIR H. N. MacLAURIN.] Q. Does the fall in the illegitimate birth-rate keep pace with the fall in the general birth-rate ? A. Well, I cannot say I have quite followed that line of thought. 405. Mr. COGHLAN : It cannot, because it is apparently increasing. 406. Mr. HOLMAN : It is apparently increasing against the general birth-rate. 407. BY The Hon. Sir H. N. MacL AURIN.] Q. But there is an actual diminution, compared with the number of single women liable to give birth to illegitimates ? A. Of course, you cannot compare those rates, because they are not on the same standard ; but this table might be instructive. I give here a table which we have constructed for mothers from 15 to 45 years of a^e. 408. (A table of illegitimate births and rates for the period from 1893 to 1902 was put in, and marked Exhibit No. 14. For copy see Appendix.) 409. WITNESS (continuing) : Without going to an undue length, I might state that, for the tender ages, 15 to 19, during the ten years there has been a drop from 1-136 per cent, of single women down to 1-042 per cent.— almost a 9 per cent. drop. For ages 20 to 24 there is a drop from 2-677 per cent, to 1-983 per cent., which is a drop of very like 25 per cent. For ages 25 to 29, in 1893, there were 2-770 per cent, of single women, and in 1902 there were 1-804, which is a drop of about 33 per cent. For ages 30 to 34 there is a drop from 2990 per cent., in 1893, to 1-508, in 1902, which is a reduction of 50 per cent. For ages 35 to 39 the drop is from 2 749, in 1893, to 1-403, in 1902, which is roughly 50 per cent. In the ultimate age-group, 40 to 45, the drop was from -803 to -500, which is not quite the same amount. Taking the whole of the women, from ages 15 to 45, we find there is a drop from 1956, in 1893, to 1-435, in 1902 ; that is, roughly, I should say, about 25 per cent. 410. BY Mr. HOLMAN.] Q. What is the bearing of the percentages that you are reading ? A. The bearing is this, that in all concept! ve ages, the illegitimate birth-rate has uniformly dropped. 411. Q. What is it a percentage of ? A. A percentage of single women. 412. Q. Out of 100 single women there is that illegitimate birth at that age? A. Of course, every single woman is exposed to the risk of illegitimacy, and all the illegitimate births of each age-group are related to the sjngle women at thut age for th« period given, 413. 9 ir»(Kcss— J. B. Trirett, F.R.A.S., F.S.S,, 1 Sept., 1903. 413. BY THE HON. THE PRESIDENT.] Q. Does the metropolis differ materially from the country in regard to illegitimacy? A. In that respect, I am sorry to say, I can only quote the "vulgar" method of estimating illegitimacy, because I have not got the exposui-es subdivided into country and metropolis respectively. But if we take what I call the vulgar method — that is, relating it simply to the total births we have these figures, starting with 1871 :— In that year, in the metropolis, there were 4-78 per cent. ; in the country, 3-54 per cent., which, of course, shows a balance against the metropolis. The metropolitan rate rose continuously from that rate (4-78) up to 10 08 per cent, of total births in 1900. In 1902 there is a slight drop down to 9-56. In the country districts, startinp; with the rate I have quoted for 1871 (3-54), we see a very fairly level rate obtain until 1891 — there was a distinct accession from then until, in 1896, it was 5-19 per cent, of the total births, and it has stopped approximately level at that rate ever since. 414. Q. What you call the vulgar method is the method that is adopted in all other countries? A. Yes; the usual method. Of course, it is all right when the country has a fairly level general birth-rate, but it is useless as soon as the birth-rate drops. 415. Q. It is a fallacious method ? A. Yes. 416. Q. But it is the only possible method of making a comparison with other countries? A. Yes ; so long as the conditions remain the same it is legitimate for comparative purposes ; it is not legitimate for scientific purposes — there is no doubt about that. 417. BY Me. COGHLAN.] Q. Do you think there is any accession of unmarried women with child from the country to the city 1 A. There is not the slightest doubt that this huge rate is caused by the women ■who have been seduced gravitating to Sydney for treatment in the metropolitan lying-in hospitals. There are very few institutions of that character in the country. And they may come for other reasons — perhaps to hide their shame. They find their way to the metropolis, and help to swell the rate. 418. BY THE HON. THE PRESIDENT.] Q. Therefore, the difference between the country and the city is more apparent than real ? A. Yes. 419. (Table put in as Exhibit 15. For copy see Appendix.) 420. Q. Is illegitimacy characteristic of any given age of women ? A.J. have a table here showing the ages of the mothers from 12 years of age to 55 for illegitimate births, and the ages at which they seem most to collect are from 19 to 21 ; and those ages agree with the maximum marriage-ages of women, which I showed a moment ago by a table. I think the inference is obvious. 421. (Table of ages of mothers of illegitimate children for the period 1893-1900 was put in, and marked Exhibit No. 16. For copy see Appendix.) 422. Q. Now, as to the mortality amongst the illegitimate children; — does it differ materially from the mortality amongst the legitimates? A. Most seriously. I have a table here fiom 1895 to 1902. 1 am sorry to say that I cannot go further back, but the vital statistics do not show it beyond 1895. Of course, there is a certain amount of fluctuation ; but, taking the true mortality rate, in 1895 the mortality of legitimate children was 96'30 per 1,000 births, and, allowing for all the fluctuations at that age of life (within one year), we find that, for the eight-year period from 1895 to 1902, the average rate of infantile mortality for legitimate children was 98 '53. 423. BY Me. HOLMAN.] Q. That is, that they die at what age? A. Before age 1. 424. WITNESS (continuing) : For illegitimate children in the same category we find that in 1895 there was a rate of 24485 per 1,000 births ; this is virtually 25 per cent. It rose until, in the year 1898, the year of the measles epidemic, it was 29749 per 1,000, or almost 30 per cent. There is not so much fluctuation with them as there is with the legitimate children, but, on the whole, the rate is 277"43 per 1,000 births, which is nearly equal to 28 per cent. The rate for all children — that is, the rate modified by the immense mortality of the illegitimate as against the legitimate — has ranged from about 105'89 in 1895 to 121-97 in 1898, and for the whole period, 110-75. That is the general rate. 425. (A table comparing the legitimate with the illegitimate mortality for the years 1895-1902 was put in, and marked Exhibit No. 17. For copy see Appendix.) 426. BY Mr. HOLMAN.] Q. Has the illegitimate infantile mortality increased ? A. Not particularly. As I explained in the last table, it is fairly steady, subject to fluctuations which are, apparently, caused by the diseases incidental to such tender years ; but the main broad fact is undoubted, that you have a rate of 98-53 for the eight-year period per 1,000 legitimate children, and 277-43 per 1,000 illegitimate children — nearly three times as much. 427. Q. You have accurate data for eight years ? A. Yes. 428. Q. Now, had the rate which obtains for legitimate children obtained for illegitimate children during that period, how many children would have been saved ? A. Approximately, 3,600. 429. Q. I presume that is due to the want of care for these children ? A. To a large extent, no doubt. It would have to be ascribed to a number of reasons. Of course, they have not got the mothers' attention in many cases in which legitimate children have ; and the conditions surrounding their births themselves are a danger to their lives. 430. Q. You have no data, have you, which would enable you to give information as to the number of children who would have been saved during the forty years of which you have the statistics, had the illegitimate death-rate been the same as the legitimate ? A. Well, only in a very loose way, I am afraid. The early statistics do not take these and many other considerations into account at all — that is, the statistics of forty years ago. It eould be done, of course, from the registers of the Registrar-General's ofiice ; but it would be an enormous work. But, judging from the consistency of the rate, you might fairly take that as representative, and apply it and see what the proportion would be of the illegitimates of past years ; and that would give you, as I have just estimated here roughly, an idea of the salvation of life that eould have been effected. 431. Q. What would it have been ? A. I could not say, unless I had the number of illegitimate births here. I could supply it to you, though. 432. Q. It would be useful if you could give us some idea. Do you know anything about maternity homes . (Interrupted.) 433. BY Me. FOSBERY.] Q. Is there any record about these deaths of illegitimate children of such as have died within a week of birth ? /I. No. We have got the difficulty confronting us of not being able to get the number of children who die in minute subdivisions of the first year ; and, consequently, the difficulty would be intensified in trying to get the number who died within the first week. 434. BY Mr. HOLMAN.] Q. Would that be obtainable from this year's returns'? A. Oh yes. We are taking them with greater exactitude now tha-n they used to. 39608 235— B 435. 10 Witness-J. B. Trivett, F.E.A.S., P.S.S., 1 Sept,, 1903. 435. BY THE HON. THE PRESIDENT.] Q. Perhaps you might be able to sxipply us with that 1 A. Yes, as far as possible. 436. Q. Have you any means of telling us liow many children are born dead at the full time ] A.I ran give you some infoi'raation at a later stage touching upon that subject. 437. Q. Will you tell us about maternity homes 1 A. They are mainly in the city. These women gravitate to the capital, and you might say all the maternity homes in the State are situated in the metropolis. I have a statement here, which I hand in, giving a list of the maternity homes in this city, the number of births reported in the annual reports of those institutions for the last six years, and the numbfi- of children registered in the Registrar-General's Office. I showed last week that the births returned from maternity homes were 4,-594, as compared with 4,296 registered, giving an apparent loss by non-registration of 298. In that I have not included one maternity home which is at Annandale, because that institution has the peculiarity of showing more births registered by the Registrar- General than appear in their annual reports, which is a matter that requires some explanation which is beyond my power to afford. 438. BY THE HI ON. SIR H. N. MacLAURIN] Q. Would not the 298 not registered be still- births'! A. I think they represent the number of young women who gave birth to illegitimate children, and, as soon as they were out of the institutions, they .simply went away and did not register, being ashamed to appear in the registration office. The leakages shown by that I gave in evidence the other day. The illegitimates out of those (3,369) as compared with the total registered (4,-!96) were 78-4 per cent. That shows that these institutions are mainly used for the puri>oso of illegitimate delivery. 4.'!9. (A table showing the births in maternity homes was put in, and marked Exhibit No. 18. For copy see Appcnidix.) 4-10. (^). Has the fecundity of woineii declined — in the total, and at .separate ages? A. Yes, in both instances. I have here a comparative table showing each ten-year period from 1861 to 1897. I have not got it further ; it would take a little trouljli! to get that. Taking marriage-age 15 as a specimen we find that the fecund marriages for the early period, 1861-70, including ante-nuptial conceptions, were 987 per 1,000; for 1871-80 they were 987 ; for 1881-90 they were 980; for 1891-97 they were 978; showing a very trifling reduction of 9 per cent, on the latest period as compared with the earliest period. At specimen age 20 it is more marked : in the periods named fecundity is repi-esentcd by the figures 970, 972, 966, 948, or a decline on the whole of 2'3 per cent. For age 25 the four corresponding figures would be 963, 948, 941, 919, a reduction of 4-6 per cent. For age 30 the figures are 923, 897, 873, 852, a reduction of 77 per cent. At marriage age 35, in the earlier period 845 per 1,000 were fecund, and, in the succeeding periods, 80], 739, 706, or a i eduction of 16i per cent. For marriage age 40 the figures are 719, 576, 504, 410, a reduction of 43 per cei:t. And for specimen age 45, which is not of very much account, because it is the limit of the conc(ptive period, the figures are 234, 275, 125, 92, or a reduction of 60'7 per cent. 441. (A table showing the decline of fecundity from 1861 to 1897 was put in, and marked Exhibit No. 19. For copy see Appendix.) 442. (). In what way do you use the word "fecund"? yl. As .showing, out of a given number of marriages, how many were proved to be fruitful — how many proved that the women were capable of bearing children. 443. (J. You use the term "fertile" then as indicating the number of children that a woman is capable of bearing 1 A. Yes ; but of course the two words in the English language mean much about the same thing. It is a convention really to use them to convey different meanings. This term " fecund " is taken to mean the number of marriages which prove that a woman is able to conceive. 444. BY THE HON. SIR H. N. MacLAURIN : Q. But it is a little under the mark, because a woman who would have a still-born child would be, according to you, infecund, whereas she was really fecund 1 A. Yes. 4 15. Q. So th.",t that exaggerates the barrenness? A. Yes, very slightly. Taking the average marriage- age as 25, these figures as a whole show a drop from 963 to 919 per 1,000, or 4-6 per cent. And allowing for ante-nuptial conceptions, the drop was from 951 to 889, or 6-6 per cent. ; and the birth-rate for the whole State for the same period dropped from 41-74 to 27-76 per 1,000, or 33.1 per cent. 446. (A The fecundity depends very largely on the age at marriage? A. Yes. Of course the non-use of any given organ would render it less effective when it was attempted to be used, and the older a woman was at man-iiifje the less likely she would be to be fecund. 447. Q. And is it not true that, where marriage it postponed to, say, 25 years of a^e, the period of fertility is increased, and the woman is still fei'tile at an older age than she would have been if she had married at 20?^ A. It does sometimes happen, b..'cause, when once you havoproved the woman fecund, the differences in fertility might be in dillerent order to what they .-ipiHoied when you were discussing the fecundity. I propose to show that at a little later stage. I cannot speak from memory, but I have got cases in which a certain order of fecundity has been shown with women of certain birthplaces or nationalities or religions, and the fertility has been in different order to the order of the degree of fecundity. 4 IK. Q. That is not exactly what I wish to ask. It has been stated that the period during which a woman is fertile does vary to a certain e.\tent, but that, where she marries at a later age, the period during which she is likely to be fertile is also extended correspondingly ? 449. Mb. COGHLAN ; It is only a very small timc-^only a matter of months 450. BY THE HON. THE PBESIDENT.] Q. Oau you tell us what proportion of marriages are now chadless? A. Yes. Taking the period 1891 to 1897, and quoting in marriage-ages, the proportion of marriages per 1,000 which were barren were : — At marriage age 20 ... ... ... ... ... _ gg Ill 175 .347 693 908 451. BY Mk. KNOX.] Q.ls that barren in the first year? A. Barren entirely. 452. BY Mb. HOLMAN.] Q. And is that when the marriage takes place at that age? A. Yes. 453. BY Me. KNOX.] Q. How many years do you take back 1 A. That is taken for seven years. Of course, you must remembei- that we have not got refined data very far back. It is only in recent years that this information has been compiled. 454, t marriage age 20 25 30 35 40 45 11 )r(7»e.s.s— J. B. Trivett, F.R.A.S., F.S.S., 1 Sept., 1903. 454. BY THE HON. THE PRESIDENT.] Q. For what year are these figures? A. The period 1891 to 1897. J .f = f 45-5. Q,. I wish to know whether the barrenness is increasing ? A. Well, it has been increasing. I think you mi.i^ht fairly take the answer to the question regarding fecundity as illustrating that. The question of fecundity, which, of course, is anti-barrenness, I quoted in different ages for different marriage- periods, and it shows a decline all along the line— in every age. 456. Q. Do the barrenness rates differ in different parts of the colony ! A. Yes. I ha\ e a statement here as to the geographical distribution of fecundity, taken from the most recent census, and quoted for various divisions of the country, and for various age-groups of the women from 20 to 45. There are not enough data to go so far as age 4-5 in some of the districts. In regard to the younger ages, it seems to me that the marriages are unproved — we cannot say whether they are completely barren or not. 457. (A table showing the geographical distribution of fecundity was read by the witness, then handed in, and marked Exhibit No. 20. For copy see Appendix.) 458. BY THE HON. SIR H. N. MacLAURIN.] (). How long do you allow for a woman to be married before you say she is unfecund ? A. About five years. The bulk are proved within that time. , 459. Q. And you have no knowledge whether she has had a miscarriage ? A. No. 460. BY THE HON. THE PRESIDENT.] Q. Is the birth-rate throughout the State in the same ratio as the infecundity? A. It seems to go on parallel lines. I made a statement in answer to a previous question showing a decline in every age, and for all the years since 1861 ; and during that same period the birth- rate had fallen from 41-74 per 1,000 to 27-76— a reduction of 33J per cent, on the first rate, showing a parallelism between the dropping of the birth-rate and the infecundity. 461. BY Me. COGHLAN.] Q. Just now, in answer to Sir Normand MacLaurin, you said you allowed five years as the test of fecundity ; but the figures you quoted a little time ago were for women who had passed through the child-bearing period? A. No ; that is not for women who have passed through the whole period — that is for certain ages. 462. Q. No, but the first figures ? A. Those were for women who have passed through the whole period. Those are taken from the completed statements, where women have gone far beyond the whole period of conception. 463. BY THE HON. THE PRESIDENT.] g. Has the birthplace any effect upon fecundity? il. Yes. This is also iii keeping with a question which you asked earlier in the afternoon, which throws a good deal of light on the subject in regard to nationality and conceptive power. I have got here a statetnent showing the childless marriages per 1,000 of marriages of over five years' duration, according to mairt-iage-ages 18, 20, 25, 30, and 35. Taking age 18 to commence with, we find that, for New South Wales, there are 21 per 1,000 married at that age childless ; for other States of Australia and New Zealand, 34 per 1,000 ; England and Wales, 42 ; Scotland, 33 ; Ireland, 35 ; and other countries, 40 — that is, all other countries. Without repeating the whole of the ages, there seems to be the same general tendency ; and, taking the total women marrying under 45, we find that New South Wales shows 48 per 1,000 barren; other States of Australia and New Zealand, 76 ; England and Wales, 106 ; Scotland, 80 ; Ireland, 93 ; and all other countries, 109. With regard to those " other countries," you must not attach too much weight, because we have very few facts relating to them. ■" 464. (A table showing the childless marriages per 1,000 marriages of over five years' duration was put in, and marked Exhibit No. 21. For copy see Appendix.) 465. BY THE HON. THE PRESIDEISIT.] Q. Are there any signs of improvement in point of view of the fecundity of Australian women? A. I should like in that connection to mention that I have here a statement taken of women of all ages living in New South Wales, who, in 1901, had been married more than five years, and were under 45 when married. The statement shows the percentage of total wives with their nationality : — T). ,, , Number o£ Percentage of Jiirthplace. Wives. Total Wives. New South Wales Other Australian States and New Zealand England and Wales Scotland ... Ireland Other countries ... All countries ... 158,618 100-0 That bears out what I said about other countries having small facts for consideration. Arguing from that we find that New South Wales is becoming greater every year in proportion of total wives, and their superiority in fecundity must have its effect in an improved birth-rate if left alone. 466. [The table showing women of all ages living in New South Wales, who, in 1901, had been married more than five years, and were under 45 when married, divided into groups by nationality, was put in, and marked Exhibit No. 22. For copy see Appendix.] 467. §. Does the birthplace of the husband affect the fecundity of the marriage ? .4. Yes ; it is in favour, uniformly, of parents of the same nationality showing to better advantage than where they marry out of their nation. I can give you comparative numbers. The childless marriages per 1,000, according to the birthplace of the husband, were : — _. ,, , I TTr-j- Husband of same Husband of other Birthplace of Wife. Country. Country. New South Wales 113 132 Other States of Australia 150 166 England and Wales 147 173 Scotland 96 156 Ireland 109 157 Thus, if you take New South Wales women, with a husband of the same nationality, there are 113 per 1,000 childless marriages ; or, you can put it down the other wa/, if you like, and say that 887 are fecund, and 132 would be barren if they had husbands of other countries. That return relates to all durations of marriage. 468. 89,398 56-3 18,082 11-4 26,780 16-9 6,291 4-0 14,145 8-9 3,922 2-5 12 Witness-J. B. Trivett, P.R.A.S., P.S.S., 1 Sept., 1903. 468. [The table showing the proportion of childless marriages per 1,000, according to the birthplace of the husbands, was put in, and marked Exhibit No. 23. For copy see Appendix.] 469. BY Me. COGHLAN.] Q. Is there any similar experience in other countries ? A. I have not got other countries scheduled, because they show so few facts. 470. Q. I mean in any other part of the world is there a similar experience recorded 1 A. I have not the figures. 471. BY Mr. COUHLAN.] Q. Well, as a matter of fact, they have the same experience? A. I have seen the German experience ; where the women and men are of the same nationality the families are larger. 472. BY THE HON. THE PRESIDENT.] Q. Has religion any effect upon fecundity ? A. It is very doubtful. 1 have a statement here on similar lines to that just quoted, taking women married at all ages under 4.5, where the marriages have been of at least five years' duration, and showing the childless marriages per 1,000 in age-groups. 473. (A table showing the bearing of religion on fecundity, prepared on the 1901 census, was put in, and marked Exhibit No. 24. For copy sec Appendix.) 474. WITNESS (continuing) : Taking the total at all ages under 45, in the Church of England there were 71 per 1,000 childless; Roman Catholic, 67 per 1,000 childless; Methodist, 49 per 1,000; Presbyterian, 68 per 1,000 ; Hebrew, 92 per 1,000 ; others, 80 per 1,000. I do not know that there is much light in this point of view, because, if you will investigate further, you will observe that there is largely a question of nationality underlying this, because various nationalities come under the particular religions. Wesleyanism comprises people of all sorts of nationalities, so that the question is obscured when you are treating it from a religious point of view. It would come out more particularly in the occupation aspect than in the religious. 475. BY THE HON. THE PRESIDENT.] Q. Does the religion of the husband affect the fecundity of the marriage ? A. I have a table here, making a comparison on parallel lines with the method used in comparing birthplaces. The childless marriages per 1,000, according to the religion of the husband, were : Religion of Wife. Church of England Roman Catholic... Methodist Presbyterian Hebrew ... That also refers to all durations of marriage. 476. BY Mr. BEALE.] Q. But the number of the Hebrews is very small, and I suppose it is not a fair estimate 1 A. No. It does not do to attach too much weight to it. 477. (A table showing the influence of the religion of the husband on fecundity was put in, and marked Exhibit No. 25. For copy see Appendix.) 478. BY THE HON. THE PRESIDENT.] Q. Can you tell what average period separates the successive births ? A. Yes, approximately. For women, according to previous issue — The average interval from marriage to birth of first child is ,, „ first to second child is „ „ second to third child is ,, ,, third to fourth child is „ „ fourth to fifth child is ,, „ fifth to sixth child is ... ,, „ sixth to seventh child is „ „ seventh to eighth child is ,, „ eighth to ninth child is ,, ,, ninth to tenth child is But these are approximate only, because they are obtained by taking the average age at each birth, and the resultant by subtraction. Of course the proper way is to take each interval separately, but that would be an enormous labour, and it has not been adopted. 479. Q. How does the fact of having had previous issue affect the probability of child-bearing? A. For the period 1891 to 1900, the birth-rates per 1,000 were :— Husband of same Religion. Husband of other Religion 129 181 118 163 106 180 115 173 134 306 19-2 months 2S-S 26-4 24-0 20-4 24-0 23-4 20-4 20-4 20-4 For women wi th 1 child 285 per 1,000 2 children 2:39 3 J) 231 4 )> 224 5 j> 221 6 ») 213 7 J) 208 8 }) 204 9 *) 197 10 ji 176 11 » anc over 147 480. (A table, showing the average periods .separating the successive birth.s, was put in, and marked Exhibit No. 26. For copy see Appendix.) 481. (A table, showing the expectation of child-bearing of women who have had previous issue, was put in, and marked Exhibit No. 27. For copy see Appendix.) 482, 13 Witness— 3. B. Trivett, I'.R.A.S., P.8.S., 1 Sept., 1903 482. WITNESS : "Will you permit me to put in the returns asked for in connection with the questions asked me last Thursday regarding registration 1 483. THE HOK THE PRESIDENT : Certainly. iQn- inno' ^^^"^ -witness then handed in a return, showing the Births in Maternity Homes for the period 189 /-1 902 and the number of such births registered, which was marked Exhibit No. 28. For conv see Appendix.) '•' 485. [The witness also handed in a summary of the recommendations of a Committee of the House ot Commons m 1893 on Death Certification, which was marked Exhibit No. 29. For copy see Appendix.) 486. (The witness furtiier handed in an extract from the writings of Dr. Newsholme on " Coroners' Inquests and Causes of Death," which was put in, and marked Exhibit No. 30. For copy see Appendix.) (At 5 p.m. the Commission adjourned until Thursday, the 3rd September instant, at 2 p.m.) FOUBTH MEETING— TRUBSDAY, 3 SEPTEMBER, 1903, 2 p.m. \_Board Boom, No. G, Bligh-street, Sydney."] ^xzszxd:— THE HON. 0. K. MAOKELLAR, M.B., CM., M.L.O.; President; THE HON. SIE H. N. MacLAIJEIN, Et., M.D., LL.D., M.L.C. ; O. C. BEALE, Esq., President of the New South Wales Chamber of Manufactures ; T. A. COaHLAN, Esq., I.S.O., Q-overnment Statistician ; J. EOEEMAN, Esq., L.S.A., Lon., L. et L., M.E.C.P., Edin., M.E.C.S., Eng. ; E. FOSBEET, Esq., C.M.G., Inspector- General of Police ; THE ET. HON. THOMAS HUGHES, Lord Mayor of Sydney ; E. W. KNOX, Esq., General Manager, Colonial Sugar Eefining Company (Limited) ; G. S. LITTLEJOHN, Esq., President of the Sydney Chamber of Commerce ; THE HON. J. B. NASH, M.D., M.L.C. ; and E. T. PATON, Esq., L.E.C.P. et S., Edin.; F.E.C.S., Edin. ; M.D., Univ. Brussels; Government Medical Officer. De. E. H. Todd, Associate to the President, was also present. Me. J. Gaeiick, Secretary to the Commission, took shorthand notes of the evidence and proceedings. Me. J. B. TEIVETT, F.E.A.S., F.S.S., Actuary of Friendly Societies, previously sworn, was further examined as under : — • 486i BY THE HON. THE PEESIDENT.] Q. At what period did the birth-rate of this State reach its highest point ? A. About the year 1864. 487. Q. What was the birth-rate at that time? A. 43'93 per 1,000. 488. Q. And can you tell us what the death-rate was at that time ? A.l have got it for males and for females, but I have not got the general rate. I should say it was about 16'60. 489. Q. What was the annual increase implied by the excess of births over deaths at that period ? A. 27-33 per 1,000. 490. Q. And, leaving out the question of the increase of population by immigration, how long would it have taken to double the population had that rate been maintained ? A. K little over twenty -five years. 491. Q. What is the present birth-rate ? A. In 1901, — I suppose that would be sufficiently close for this purpose. 492. Q. Tes ? A. In 1901 the rate was 27-60 for births. 493. Q. So that there was a decrease ? A. Undoubtedly. 494. Q. Did the death-rate decrease in the same proportion ? A. Oh no, not in anything like the same proportion. The natural increase, on the latest period, which I have just quoted, would be exactly sixteen per 1,000. 495. Q. Then can you tell us how long it would take to double the population by excess of births over deaths under present circumstances ? A. Forty-three years. 496. Q. That is to say, that, whereas in 1864 we would have doubled the population in twenty -five years by excess of births over deaths, now we would take forty-three years ? A. Yes. 497. Q. According to Mr. Coghlan's book, "The Wealth and Progress of New South Wales," in 1884 we had the largest birth-rate of any civilised country except two, it being only exceeded by Austria and Hungary, which had, together, a birth-rate of 41-3 per 1,000, whilst we, at that time, had a birth-rate of 38-44? ^.Yes. 498. Q. What did you say was the present rate? A. The present birth-rate, for 1901, 27-6. 499. Q. Are you acquainted with the statistics of any other country that showed a similar fall to that in the same time ? A. Well, I have not made a preparatory review from that aspect, Mr. President. 500. (" The Wealth and Progress of New South Wales " was handed to the witness.) 501. Q. Does that show that there has been any similar fall ? .4. No ; nothing like the same amount. 502. Q. In any other country ? A. This relates to ten years, and it is nothing like the fall that is shown in our case. 503. 14 Witness— 3. B. Trivett, F.R.A.S., F.S.S., 3 Sept., 1503. 503. BY THE ET. HON. THOMAS HUG-HBS.] Q. What ten years is that ? .1.1890-99. 504. BT THE HON. THE PRESIDENT.] Q. Can you say whether there has been a similar fall in New Zealand ? A. No ; I have not made a comparative review of it as to other States. 505. Q. Has there been a general decline in the birth-rate without regard to the previous issue of the women ? A. Yes. I have a table here in which I show, for a period of years, 1891 to 1900 (that is, ten years), the number of children born per annum to a thousand women under 45 (that is, in the conceptive period), according to previous issue. The table shows, roughly, a decline of 16 to 26 per cent, during the last ten years, accordiug to the previous issue. 506. (Witness read the return, which was put in and marked Exhibit No. 31. Eor copy, see Appendix.) 507. Q. What is the initial fertility within the first two years of marriage ? A.l have a table here which 1 propose to hand in as an exhibit, showing the initial fertility as for ages at marriage, giving a comparison as to the fertility per 1,000 wives in the first year, and also in the second year; and, without reading it entirely, it runs from 397 per 1,000— the initial fertility of a woman aged 17 at marriage,— remaining fairly constant down to ago 22 at the same rate, and then a fairly rapid drop down to age 29, when the initial fertilily was 2G5 per 1,000 ; then there is a comparatively slow fall for the next four years to age 33, when it was 220 per 1,000. There was then a very rapid declension, until, at age 42, the initial fertility of a woman was 12 ])er 1,000 ; and then, after that, it is virtually_ nothing. Comparing that with the initial fertility within the first two years of marriage, we have rates which I need not recapitulate, but which do not give twice tlio amount for the double period. In other words, we have compared for the first year of marriage, and for the first two years of marriage, and the twenty-four months do not give double the rate. That indicates that the fertility, as you go along in the period of marriage, declines in more than arithmetical progression. 508. (The table showing the initial fertility of a woman within the first year and the first two years of marriage was put in and marked Exhibit No. 32. For copy, see Appendix.) 509. Q. Is a woman with issue more likely to bear than one of the same age who has been newly- married? A. I have got a table here showing the rates per 1,000 for the newly-married women and for the women with issue as at age, and, starting with age 21 for newly-married women, we have a rate of 396 per 1,000, and that is superior to the rate for women with previous issue of the same age, which is 281 per 1,000. Down to age 28 there is a superiority in each age of the newly-married women over the women with previous issue; but after that the superiority of the women with previous issue becomes apparent. The women of ages higher than 28 with previous issue have a better rate than the newly- married women have. 510. (A table comparing the fertility of women newly-married with that of women with previous issue was put in and marked Exhibit No. 33. Eor copy, see Appendix.) 511. Q. How does the average issue at present compare with the past ? A. Taking the period 1871 to 1880, the children to a marriage contracted in that period for quinquennial ages, starting with 20 to 25, were 6'409; for the period 1891-1900 — that is, the last decennium, they were 4-4i4. There is, conse- quently, a reduction for this age-group of 30'7 per cent, in the rate. For age-group 25-30, in the earlier period, 4'802 ; for the latter, 3'105; — a reduction of 353 per cent. Age-group 30-35, in the earlier period, 3'286 ; the latter period, 1'960; — a reduction of 40'2 per cent. The reduction is, therefore, increasing with the age. Age-group 33-10, in the earlier period, ISIO ; in the latter period, 1,013; — giving a reduction of 44 per cent., which is still increasing. In age-group 40-45, in the earlier period, ■588 (that is, the number of children to the marriages then) ; and 275 at the latest date; — a reduction of 53'2 per cent. Taking all the ages, the number of children to a marriage in the earlier period was 5'384 ; it is now 3'636, — or a reduction of 325 per cent.; and it is interesting to note that, if we take the birth- rate of 1880 and the present birth-rate, there is a reduction of 30 per cent., which is almost coincident with the reduction in the mean rate I have just quoted, 32'5 per cent. 512. (A table comparing the average issue during the period 1871-lSSO with that during the period 1891-1900 was put in and marked Exhibit No. 31'. For copy, see Appendix.) 513. Q. To what cause do you ascribe this decline in the average issue ? A. I have got four main causes to quote: One is postponement of marriage; the second is decline in fecundity (fecundity meaning proof of the ability to bear) ; third, cessation of fertility at an earlier period than was formerly in vogue ; and fourth, a general decrease of fertility at every age. Numbers two and three, the decline in fecundity and the cessation of fertility at an earlier period, have an intimate connection with the question of the use of preventives, which, 1 understand, will occupy the attention of the Commission. 514. Q. With the exception of the reason that you give, that marriages are postponed to a later period, all the other causes may be due to the use of some preventive measures ? A. Yes. 515. Q. Does the occupation of the husband have any effect upon the average issue ? A. There is a difference according to occupation. I have here a sheet for the last five years, which I propose to hand in a.s an exhibit, giving the average issue over that term of different classes of the community, according to the occupation of the husband. The first is professional men, with an average issue of 4'59 ; men engaged in domestic occupations, 4-32. Then I take the commercial, and subdivide it, because it is rather obscure if you take it as a whole : Persons engaged in connection with property and finance, 4-69 ; drapery and dress, the same ; all kinds of food, 4'82 ; merchants, shopkeepers, and dealers, 5-04 ; clerks, book-keepers, travellers, &c., 4-26 ; others in trade, 4-66; and in transport and communication, 4-61 ; or, taking it for the whole commercial class, 4' 70. 516. Q. How does that compare with the agricultural population ? A. The agricultural population, taken as a class, are 6-28. Subdivided they are : Agricultural, pure and simple, 6-79 (which is the highest in the table) ; pastoral, 631 ; mining pursuits, 5-39. I have also the industrial class subdivided : those engaged in the manufacture of drapery and dress, 517 ; of food, 5 34 ; of engines, vehicles, &c., 5-52 ; labourers and general industrial, 5'24; total for the industrial, 5'27. Taken as a whole, the domestic class are the lowest, the professional next, the commercial next, industrial next, and the agricultural highest. 517. Q. "What do you include in the domestic class? A. We have taken for this purpose the Census classification, which was utilisel in preparing the Census. That will give the whole of the details relating to this classification ; but the 'iomestic class may be taken generally to include all persons in general servitude. 518. 6-38 7'13 G-45 616 601 4-67 516 8-56 4-65 2-22 4-05 0-76 3-57 0-30 2'28 1-47 15 Witness— 3. B. Trivett, F.E. A.S., F.S.S., 3 Sept., 1903. 518. Q. The comparatively low rate of the professional and commercial classes would be due probably, I suppose to the later period of marriage ? A. Not entirely. To a certain extent it would • but I take It that if there is such a thing as prevention, it pervades all classes, and this (the later period ot marriage) would be a very small factor. 519. BY Me BEALE.J Q. Did you say " prevention " ? A. The question of the delay in marriage would be a very small factor m the decline. 521), [A table, showing the occupation of married males, their issue, and their average familv for the period 1898-1902, was put in, and marlicd Exhibit No. 35. For copy, see Appendix.] ' 521. BT THE HON. THE PRESIDENT.] <3, Doos the average issue of males differ widely from that of females ? A. Yes, age for age ; hut there is a reason for it. Eor the years 1893 to 1899 :— Average Number of Children resulting Age at from Marriage of — Marriage. Males. Females. 17 20 25 30 35 40 45 50 55 Of course I_ carried the male age at marriage further than the female, for obvious physical reasons, and it is indicated there ; but there is nothing for the females. That shows that the drop, as the ages progress, is very much greater with the females than with the males. 522. Q. To what extent does the age at marriage affect the average issue ? A. 1 have a comparative table here, comparing the period 1871-1880 with the last decennium. 523. (Witness then read the table, which was put in, and marked Exhibit No. 36. For copy, see Appendix.) 524. Q. Have you any information that would enable you to give an opinion as to whether the women engaged in agricultural pursuits marry at a much earlier age thaa in the cities ? ^. No ; I have not information on that point, because, in the registration of all these vital statistics, they do not give the occupation of women.^ You can only follow the husband as regards occupation. _ 525. Q. Well, in agricultural areas, is the marriage age of the women earlier than in urban localities? _ A. 1 cannot say that, without looking into the matter. We had a question, on Tuesday, I think, relating to the comparative barrenness of women in various areas of the State. That would give us, possibly, some light on the subject. 526. BY Me. BEALE.] Q. Would it not suffice, for your purposes, if you found what ages the women were whom men in agricultural pursuits married ? A. They would mostly marry in the same station in life. 527. BY THE HON. THE PEESIDENT.] Q. Does the birth-place of the parents affect the average issue of the family ? A. Yes ; apparently. I have a statement here of the average issue of women, according to nationality, and in age groups — the average issue at 1901 of women married prior to 1881. 528. (Witness read the table, which was put in and marked Exhibit No. 37. For copy, see Appendix.) 529. (2. Has the average issue declined according to birth-place ? 4. Yes ; I have a very interesting return here with regard to the decline in the average issue according to birth-place. Taking New South Wales first, I find, for the various quinquennial ages, reductions of 3'41 in the average family for age 20 to 25 at marriage, as compared with the marriages of twenty years ago. 530. BY Me. FOSBERY.] Q. Per cent. ? ^. No ; this is the average issue of a marriage. There is a reduction of 3"41 for people marrying at that age. For peo])le marrying at age 25 to 30, the average reduction is 2-83 ; 30 to 35, the reduction is 2-03 ; 35 to 40, the reduction is -97 ; and 40 to 45, the reduction is 'SI. For English women, the reduction in the size of the family was, respectively, 2'71, 2'29, l'5l, -77, -25; for Scottish women, respectively, 2-68, 218, 1'63, -55, '25. That is the amount of the reduction. 531. BY De. foreman.] Q. Is that the reduction per cent. ? A. No ; it is the reduction in the family. These are actual children. Irish women, for the earliest age-group, 126, and then proceeding, 1'58, 1'42, '78, "44. The reduction is enormous when you take a comparative view of it. In New South Wales, for instance, at the first age (20 to 25), there used to be, prior to 1881, 8'23 children in a family ; now there are 4'82. It is a reduction of over 40 per cent. 532. (A table showing the decline in the average issue, found by comparing the period prior to 1881 with, that subsequent, was put in and marked Exhibit No. 38. For copy, see Appendix.) 533. BY THE HON. THE PRESIDENT.] Q. In the course of your investigation, have you found that religion affected the average issue ? A. There is a difference as to religion, but I do not know whether it may be taken to affect it. 534. (Witness then read a table showing the average issue at 1901 Census of women who had passed through the child-bearing stage, separated according to religion, which was put in and marked Exhibit No. 39. For copy, see Appendix.) 535. WITNESS (continuing).] Taking them comparatively, the Roman Catholic, apparently, is the highest, followed very closely by the Methodist, the Church of England, Ihen the Presbyterian, other religions (which might be dismissed because they are composite) , and Jews. 536. (A table showing the fertility of women of all denominations was put in and marked Exhibit No. 40. For copy, see Appendix.) 537. 16 Witness-3. B. Triyett, F.R.A.S., P.S.S., 3 Sept., 1903. 537 Q Have you found that the hirth-place or the religion of the husband affects fertility ? A Yes The birth-place seems to have more effect than the religion. Taking the fertility of women with husbands of different birth-place as a percentage of that of the women whose husbands are of the same birth-place, we find that : — For New South Welsh women, the fertility is 89 per cent. „ Other States „ „ ^^ „ English women, the fertility is ^ » „ Scottish „ „ ^^ Irish .•• ■" ••• •■• ••• "■ " German women (we 'have a considerable number of Germans in the population), the fertility is 9b „ 538 BY Me KNOX.] Q. Per cent, of what ? A. That is, supposing you take women with husbands of the same nationality as 100, this gives the relative value. It shows that marrying out of their nationality seems to impair tlieir fertility. Treating religion inthe same way, it^shows the same thing. For women marrying out of their religion, we find that the fertility is : — For the Church of England 87 per cent. ,, Eoman Catholic ... ... •■■ 89 ,, ,, I'resbyterian ... ... ... ... 87 ,, „ Methodist 91 „ Baptist ... ... ... ..■ ■•■ 9-3 ,, ,, Congregationalist ... ... ••• 91 „ „ Jewish, as low down as ... ... G3 ,, 539. BY THE HON. SIR H. N. MacLAUEIN.] (;>. Do you think there are a sufficient number of instances to make it possible to form an average ? ^. For the Jews, no. t i-i 540. Q. In fact, for any of them ; you will find mixed marriages pretty common? A. 1 think you will find there are many of thom. , • , i 541. (A table showing the fertility of women with husbands of the same birth-place, compared with that of women with husbands of different birth-places was put in, and marked Exhibit No. 41. For copy, see Appendix). j -.i 542. (A table showing the fertility of women with husbands of the same religion, compared with that of women with husbands of different religion, was put in, and marked Exhibit No. -12. For copy, see Appendix.) , , ■ i • 513. BY THE HON. THE PEESIDE\T.] Q. Have not the deaths in childbii-th increased in recent years ? A. Yes. I have a statement hero showing the deaths in childbirth for different periods of ten years, commencing with the year 1870. For the period — 1871-80, the deaths in childbirth were 4-891 i;er 1,000 births, 1831-90 „ „ 4-309 1891-1900 „ „ C-509 1901-1902 „ „ C-789 544. BY Me. BEALE.] Q. That is a rise of 40 to 50 per cent. ? -1. Quite. Since the period ending 1890, it has risen quite 50 per cent. — from 43 to 65 ; it is just 50 per cent. 545. BY THE ET. HON. THOMAS HUGHES.] Q. Is that coincident with the birth of unregistered lying-in hospitals ? 546. BY THE HON. THE PEESIDENT.] Q. Have you any information regarding unregistered lying-in hospitals ? .4. No ; I have no information. From the nature of the case, you would not get it. 547. Q. What are the chief causes of death in childbirth ? A. I have a tuble for ten years, which I propose to hand in, showing, for different causes of death, the deaths for the period 1893-1902. There was a total of 2,652 deaths in childbirth during that period, of which abortion caused 140, miscarriage 263, puerperal fever 936, puerperal mania 23, puerperal convulsions 292, placeuta-pr£evia flooding 355, phlegmasia dolens 15, and what are described as " Other casualties of child-birth," 028. These " Other casualties of childbirth" embrace the following: Vomiting of pregnancy, rupture of uterus, difficult labour, childbirth undefined, child-birth with heart disease ; childbirth complicated with failure of heart, with embolism, with pelvic cellulitis, with pneumonia, with tuberculosis, with annemia, with diarrhoea, with apoplexy, and with epilepsy. 548. (A table showing the deaths in childbirth was put in and marked Exhibit No. 43. For copy, see Appendix.) 549. BY De. FOEEMAN.] Q. What distinction are you making between abortions and miscarriages? A. These are as described in the certificate of death. I have not made that distiuction myself. 550. BY THE HON. THE I'REBI DllNT.] (). Do you think there is any chance of the bad definition of the cause of death cloaking illegal ju-actices? A.\ think so. I have a statement here showing the deaths of females from varioun-iiamcd causes for the period 1881-1888 compared with the period 1898-1902. The year 1888, you will remember, was the year when the cataclysmic fall in the birth-rate came ; and 1902 is the latest for which we have figures. I have got here the stated causes of death from pyaemia, septicsDmia, puerperal fever, organs of generation, diseases of parturition ; and I have quoted rates which I propose to hand in as specimens. I have it in age-groups, but it would take too long to recapitulate ; but, in the totals, I find that the rates for the earlier period were 903 per 10,000 of the female population ; and, over the whole, 9-53 per 10,000 of the female population for the latter period — apparently not a very large increase ; but, if you look into the matter, you will find something worth attention. Under the heading of pyaemia and septicsemia, in which there were '41 per 10,000 at the earlier stage, and -44 at the later — not much difference, — but in puerperal fever, 1-77 per 10,000 in the earlier period, and 2-70 in the later — an immense increase ; — over 50 per cent, increase. 551. (A table in which the deaths of women in childbirth in the periods 1884-88 and 1898-1902 are compared was put in, and marked Exhibit No. 44. For copy, see Appendix.) 552. (A table showing the deaths of women in childbirth as a rate per 1,000 of the female popula- tion was put in and marked Exhibit No. 45. For copy, see Appendix.) 553. 17 M'itnrxs—J. li. TriveW, F.H.A.S., F.S.S., 3 Sept , 1903. 553. (J. Then, in a general way, the fall in the birth-rate ha.s been coincident with a decided increase in the mortality from parturition? .1. Yes, and diseases of thi.s class. But, with regard to the question of cloaking, I might hand round a set of cards which prove that. (Witness handed round the cards.) This is an illustration of what I said the other day with regard to the value of card examiners. The officers of my branch examine everything on the cards against the registers, and, if there is any reason to think there is anything inconclusive or obscure, it is searched for ; and it frequently happens that the cause of death is returned as septicemia, which, of course, might be from a wound. This card is for the death of a woman aged 35, septicaBmia. Our examiners found it was thirty-six days after confinement. They hunted up the register of births — it is not their duty, — and they found a child 5 weeks old. In that case it is doubtful whether that was puerperal septicaemia. On the other hand, they frequently find that it is puerperal, whereas it is only certified as " septicEemia" by the certifying agent. Here is a case of a woman who died from " acute peritonitis." We found that she had a child recently, and returned that as "puerperal." Another case reported as "septicemia," on inquiry we found that the last child was i days old. This is very significant. Another case, a woman of 24, died from septicaemia and peritonitis, as shown on the certificate ; it was found to be puerperal, the last child being 1 month old. Then another case of septicfemia, similar to those related. Then there is another on similar lines. Here is another case, of the death of a girl of 17, single, from pyaemia. The examiners found there was a child, and returned it as puerperal. The same with this one of blood-poisoning and heart-failure. That was within the regions of doubt, and it was returned as simple septicaemia, but it was open to grave suspicion ; age, 21, single. Then another case of septicaemia — youngest child 15 months old ; of course, we could not return that as puerperal. 554. Q. Well, all this would lead to the conclusion that frequently rases that should be put down to childbirth are actually recorded as being due to other causes ? A. Tts. I might state here, if you would permit me : here is a case of syncope, which has grave symptoms — heart failure ; last child 1 month. We could not trace that, but there is every reason to doubt the classification of the death. Another of intestinal obstruction ; child 7 days old ; peritonitis again ; that is a favourite term. Uterine haemorrhage, so described in the certificate ; it does not say by what it was caused. 555. Q. Then we may conclude that the deaths consequent on childbirth, parturition, are really greater than we have been led to suppose ? A. There is every reason to believe so ; in fact, I think you may consider it proved. 556. Q. Then you think, I presume, tha t if we were to have a better framed certificate, which medical men and others attending on the sick would be obliged to fill up, we would get much more accurate statistics ? A. Tes ; and there should be a proper system of certification in accordance with the times. 557. Q. Can you tell the Commission what are the comparative risks of death in childbirth of single as compared with married women ? A. Taking the latest period, 1893-1902 — that is, ten years — there were 2,652 deaths in childbirth, and of these, 2,388 were married women and 264 were single women. In the same period, there were 352,057 confinements of married women, and 25,302 of single women. The death-rate was 1 in 147 of the former, and 1 in 06 of the latter. If wo take only the first-births for married women, there were 593 deaths in 73,000 confinements, or 1 in 123. 558. BY Mr. POSBERY.] Q. These figures refer to the deaths of the mothers only ? A. Yes. 559. Q. And v.'ithout regard to the immature births ? A. No ; there is no record of those. 560. BY THE HOX. THE PEE81DENT.] 0. Then, the chance of death of a single woman is approximately two and a half times that of a married woman ? A. JN'ot two and a half, — no. You might put it as 67 to 104. I might mention that Dr. Duncan, the great authority, who has written a work on the subject, says that no fewer than 1 in 120 women (that is, '00833, put in the actuary's way), delivered within the full time die within four weeks of child-bearing. 561. Q. That is, of unmarried women? A. Of all women. I have a statement here, if you think it of interest, showing, with regard to the causes of death, the comparison between married mothers and single mothers, which I would hand in. It relates to the more general causes — abortion, miscarriage and puerperal troubles. 562. (A table showing a comparison of the deaths in child-birth of married and unmarried mothers was put in and marked Exhibit No. 46. For copy, see Appendix.) 563. Q. Does the number of confinements affect the risk of death ? A. The probability of death is 8-8 per 1,000*^ for the first child; for the second child it is very much less, being little more than half that— at 4-68 per 1,000. Then there is a rising tendency for successive children, to 5-12, 5-52, 6 06, 6-72, 7-36, 8-16, 90, and, for the tenth child, 10 per 1,000. It is lowest, as I have shown,_ for the second child ; and, for the second to the eighth, there is less risk than for the first ; and then it increases indefinitely. 564. (A table showing the deaths of married women accordmg to the number of the confinement was put in and marked Exhibit No. 47. For copy, see Appendix.) 565. BY Mk. EOSBEKY".] Q. There is nothing in those records to show anything m regard to the offspring— whether it died in birth and was not registered, or whether it lived ? ^. No ; I am afraid not. I propose to put in a return in connection with the question you asked on Tuesday, showing the number of illegitimate children who died within short periods from the date of birth. 566. Q. This is merely a record of the deaths of mothers during childbirth ? A. Yes. 567. Q. But there is no record of the offspring, whether it died or was destroyed or was alleged to have died at birth ? A. No ; not in that connection. 568. BY THE HON. THE PKESIDENT.] Q.B.ow does the experience of New South Wales compare with other places of which you have got records. A. I have a comparison here with the only other experience which I know of— that is. Dr. Matthews Duncan— for primiparas and multipara", for various ages from 15 to 45. „ , ^^ „ .. ^^ ■, ^ j ,i o t. 569. (Witness read the table, a comparison of the New South Wales rates and those ot Di Matthews Duncan, of deaths in childbirth. The table was then put in and marked Exhibit No. 48. Eor copy, see Appendix.) , ,. ,t « ii tit i ■ ^.^ 570 WITNESS (continuing) : The inference is, that the rate for New South Wales is the more favourablej except in the last one (age group 35-39), in which Dr. Duncan's figures are about half ours ; but it is very probable that his rates for those ages, 35-39, are not very reliable, because he had so few figures. 39608 23,"— C 571. 18 Witncm—3. B. Trivett, F.R.A.S., F.S.8,, 3 Sept., 1903. 571. B5r THE HON. THE PRESIDENT.] Q. Of course it should not be forgotten that Dr. Duncan's experience is in the middle of last century ? A. About the year 1855, — yes. 572. Q. Have you any knowledge of the present rates ia the same locality ? A. In England ? 573. Q. In Englanl or Scotland ? A. I have read the rates, but I cannot quote them from memory now. 574. Q. But, in a general way, can you say whether they have got less ? A.I think they are less, certainly. According to the discussions in the Statistical Society, by experts in this line, with regard to midwifery, they have improved. 575. Q. Well, have our rates improved in the same time? A. Our death in childbirth rates have gone up, as an answer to a previous question showed. They have gone up 50 per cent. — from 4-3 per 1,000 to 6-5 per 1,0(I0, 576. THE HON. TllR PRESIDENT.] Well, we have reason to believe that the death- rate in England and Scutland, to which you have been referring, has become much less since that period 577. BYTHUHON.Db. NASH.'] Q. In regard to the death-rates in Great Britain in child-bearing women, are the statistics you quote drawn from hospitals or from the general death-rate? yl. Dr. Duncan's ? 578. Q. Oh, no — the recent ones ; those of the Statistical Society to which you referred ? A. Well, largely to lying-in hospitals. 579. V- I'O you know, as a matl-tr of fad, that in lying-in hospitals the death-rate has immensely diminished ? /;. I cannot say. 1 have never followed the question. 580. (^>. Have you any information as to the death-rate amongst the general population ? A.I have not got it here. 581. Q. I moan the death-rate in the general population in the midwifery cases? A. No; I cannot speak from memory. I can produce figures, (hough. 582. BY Dr. NASH.] Because, of course, there are figures to show that it has not decreased in the general populatidn, but it has decrear^ed in the midwifery hospitals. 583. BTTHB HON. THE I'JiESIDEISfT.] r^-i. What diseases are most fatal to infants ? J. I have a statement here, giving, for ten years, a return of all the deaths of infants from various stated causes. 58-1. (J. Infants under 1 year? yl. Infants under 1 year. And the^rates per 1,000 births are given. That is the accepted datum of infantile mortality. I give it for measles, scarlet fever — in fact for all the miasmatiL-s, diarrhteal diseases, syphilis, septic disca.-es, parasitic diseases, malnutrition, tabes mesenterica, phthisis, other tubercular diseases, prematurity, other developmental diseases, meningitis, convulsions, bronchitis, pneumonia, dentition, enteritis, accident, debility, and other causes. It is a very interesting table, and I propose to hand it in as an Exhibit. I might mention briefly (putting aside the miasmatics, which, of course, are very capricious) the trend of the various diseases. .Syphilis shows a very slight movement. 585. Q. Upward or downward ? A. Downward. Malnutrition, under which a good deal might be concealed, from '72 per 1,000 to 1'64 from 1S93 to 1902 ; tabes mesenterica, there has been a vast improvement — from 2'33 in 1893 to 1'45 in 1902 ; phthisis, of course, does not affect infants very much ; other tubercular diseases, 1-61 down to 1'22 ; prematurity— this is rather significant, — from 12'C31< in 1893 to 15 99 in 1902, — that is, a 25 per cent, rise ; convulsions, from 1249 down to 5"84 ; the respiratory show a slight improvement. Enteritis, in which illegitimate children might be verv easilv concerned, from 1230 up to 23 2U, or nearly 200 per cent; accident, from 1'61 to 196; and debility, which is a very vague term, frequently used in certifying under the heading " marasmus," " atrophr," or "inanition," from 19-53 to 11 95, with a mean of 1701 per thousand. Taking the rates as a whole, the effects are not so apparent, because these rtites cut against one another and obscure the conclusion. There were 115 per 1,000, or 11-5 per cent, infantile mortality in 1893 ; and IIO per 1,000, or II per cent, exactly, in 1902. 58(). (A table comparing the infantile mortality from certain specified diseases for each year, from 1893 to 19)2, was put in and marked Exhibit No. 49. Por copy, see Appendix.) 587. Q. What is the death-rate per 1,000 of legitimate infants under 1 year? A. The present rate for legitimate infants is 98'43 per 1,000, or a shade under 10 per cent. ; and for illegitimates 284 per 1,000, or equal to 28| per cent. — nearly three times as much. 588. Q. fan you give us the rates for England as a whole ? A. I have not that information. I can obtain it. 589. BY THE HON. SIR H. N. MvcLAURIN.] (>. With reference to the stated increase of the death-rate in the puerperal condition in New South WakM— that is, puerperal deaths— is it not due, at least in some measure, to the care taken by the Statistical Department to ascertain whether causes certified as septic-Binia, peritonitis, &c , are in reality puerperal ? -I. Yes. I will not say there is a very distinct incre;iso ; but there certainly is an increase in tlie number, because, at the present time, as compared with the past, we take every cave, as 1 have indicated in cinnecticm with these cards, to ascertain the cause, which frequently was sot (l.)wn as heart failure, and so forth. 590. y. How much do you think this increase amounts to ? A. I could not gay. It would mean a dissection of the previous records to find that. 591. BY THE HON. THE PRESIDENT.] (;. You do not know the infantile mortality of England ? A. No. 1 have not got it here. Their vital statiKtics are not kept in anything like the same explicit way that we keep them here. I'lioy deal with the salient facts as to births, marriat^es, and deaths ; but there is nothing like the same detail as we observe in this State. ° 592. C>. You are familiar with the assertion, no doubt, that the mortality amongst infants is very much greater in those localities where the women are engaged in industrial occupations ? A. Y^es ; but I think it would naturally follow, because these women frequently have to work at a period when women ought really to be at rest -the latter portion of the period of gestation,— because it has a preiudicial effect on the offspring. 593. (?• After making allowances for the improved method of collecting these statistics, would you consider that there was still a considerable increase in the mortality of child-bearing women ? A. Yes, certainly _; the increase is so startling. You could not ascribe an increase of 60 per cent, simply to careless certification or careless tabulation in the registry office. Such a sharp rise as 50 per cent, on the total could not be ascribed to just that one cause, I think, 594. 19 Witness— J. B. Trivett, F.R.A.S., P.S.S., 3 Sept., 1903. 594. Q. Would you like to hand in any documents that would be of service to the Commission? A. I hand in the infantile mortality of the State for the last ten years, showing the particulars for the metropolis, the suburbs, and the country. 595. (A table showing the infantile mortality in the State of New South Wales for the period 1893-1902 was put in and marked Exhibit No. 50. For copy, see Appendix.) 596. WITNESS (continuing).] I hand in a return showing, for certain specified causrs which affect young children, the deaths during the period 1898-1902— that is, the last five years — for legitimate and illegitimate children — a comparative statement. 597. (The statement referred to was put in and marked Exhibit No. 51. Por copy, see Appendix.) 598. WITNESS (continuing).] I also hand in a statement showing the mortality during the last five years of illegitimate children for the first 3 months, for 3 to 6 months, for 6 to 12 months, and for subsequent periods of existence up to age 15. 599. TThe table referred to was put in and marked Exhibit No. 52. Eor copy, see Appendix.) (300. WITNESS.] I also hand in a statement showing the highest and lowest marriage rates in the chief European countries, and the variations of the marriage rates, and the extremes to which they have gone since 1866. 601. (The statement referred to by the witness was put in and marked Exhibit No. 53. Eor copy, see Appendix.) 602. BT THE HON. THE PRESIDENT.] Q. We gathered from your answers regarding the registration of births and deaths that you were of opinion that that Department of the Eegistrar-General's office should be under separate control ? A. Tes. 603. Q. And that you would be able to get much more accurate information if it were dissociated entirely from the registration of deeds ? A. Tes ; I think so. 604. BT Me. POSBERT.] Q. Would legislation be necessary in order to ensure a better system of obtaining information of registrations ? A. To a certain extent, I think it would. Take, for example, those instances which I have given. Anybody at the present moment is entitled to certify to the cause of death ; but I think that preferably a medical man, or, in the case of a poor man, a local medical authority paid by the State, should certify to the cause of death, rather than these ignorant midwives, and so forth. 605. Q. Are you aware that a large amount of matter, and a number of registrations, are omitted by the community generally ? A.J. am inclined to think so. 606. Q. Are you aware that the Act imposes upon the District Registrars the necessity of ascer- taining for themselves, in the event of a birth or death, the particulars, in order to record them ? ^. I da not know whether the Act explicitly says that. 607. Q. Section 8 says: "Every District Registrar shall inform himself carefully of every birth, marriage, and death happening within his district, and shall as soon as possible after the event, without fee or reward, register the same respectively and the particulars thereof in such books according to the respective forms contained herein and so furnished to him" ; — you are aware of that provision? A. I am not aware of that specifically, as it has never been in the direction of my professional work. I see that it is so. 608. Q. That being the case, can you offer any suggestions for an improved method of registration to get the particulars that you consider necessary perfectly and correctly? A. Tes. I would suggest that, as I said before, a very brief period should be made after the birth of a child during which registration is compulsory, and a very heavy penalty, which should be strictly enforced, should attach to the non-observance of that duty. 609. Q. Do you think it is wise to prevent the registration of a birth if it is not registered before six months ? 4. No. 610. Q. Are you aware of any system of registration in any other country where immature births, stillborn children, are registered ? A. Tes. ' 611. Q. Where ? A. They are registered in a number of countries which I mentioned in an earlier answer in my evidence. 612. Q. And you are in favour of a similar practice here ? A. Tes. 613. BT THE RT. HON. THOMAS HUGHES.] Q. Speaking of registrations as a whole, are they well done, or is there a considerable percentage of imperfect registrations? A. No; they are not well done, to my mind. 614. Q. I mean under the existing system ? A. Tes, Our oflacers go up to the Eegistrar-G-eneral's office periodically to examine their quarterly returns as against these cards, specimens of which I have handed in, and they find numerous errors, and many which have to be referred back to the District Registrars to ascertain particulars. 615. Q. Are these obvious errors that a man of ordinary intelligence would note? A. Tes, very many of them. 616. Q. And that could be avoided if care were taken ? A. Tes. 617. Q. I mean no extraordinary care, but reasonable care? A. Ordinary care. They ought to be found out in most cases at the moment by a little bit of subtraction. Subtraction of the year of marriage from the present year would give the particulars at once in most cases. 618. Q. I think you said that the system of registration should be entirely reorganised? A. I am of that opinion. [Witness retired.] (At 4 p.m. the Commission adjourned until 2 p.m. on Thursday next, the 10th instant.) TWENIY-IOXTBTR 20 TWENTY-FOURTH MEETING— THURSDAY, 10 DECEMBER, 1903, 2 p.m [Board Room, No. 6, Bligh-street, Sydney.'] THE HON. 0. K. MACKELLAR, M.B., CM., M.L.C., President ; T. A. COGHLAN, Esq., I.S.O., Government Statistician; E. FOSBERY, Esq., C.M.G., Inspector-General of Police; E. W. KNOX, Esq., General Manager, Colonial Sugar Refining Company (Limited) ; THE HON. J. B. NASH, M.D , M.L.C. ; R. T. PATON, Esi,.., L.R.C.P. et S. Edin. ; P.R.C.S., Edin. ; M.D,, Univ. Brussels; Government Medical Officer ; T. FIASCHI, Esq., M.D., Ch.M., D.S.O. Dit. R. H. Todd, Associate to the President, was also present. Mr. J. Garlick, Secretary to the Commission, took shorthand notes of the evidence and proceedings. 5526. The Secretary read a letter dated Kst December, 1003, from the Registrar-General of New Zealand, forwarding ajiswers to a series of questions sent to him regarding the birth statistics of New Zealand. The questions sent and the answers received are set out hereunder : — Mr. E. W. VON DADELZEN, Registrar-General, New Zealand, was asked the following questions by post, and has furnished the answers given after them : — 5527. BY THE HON. THE PRESIDENT.] Q. Has there been a decline in the birth-rate in the State of New Zealand 1 A. The decline in the birth-rate in New Zealand has been continuous, from 40-78 per 1,000 of the population, in 1880, to 25-12 per 1,000 in 1899, rising very slightly in 1000 and 1901 to 26-34 per 1,000, and falling again to 25-89 per 1,000 in 1902. 5528. Q. Is the birth-rate affected by the difference in constitution of the population as regards age^ A. At the Census of 1881, the proportion of adults to the total population of all ages was 47-18 per cent., and at the Census of 1901 it was 53-41 per cent.. But of 47-18 per cent, over 21 years in 1881, the very old people (I).") years and up) comprised 1-41 per cent of the total population, while in 1901 this proportion had risen to 4-06 per cent, of the total at all ages. Therefore, the question of varying proportions at different periods of age is not likely to greatly affect the birth-rate. In 1881, 11-73 per cent, of the total population were married women at child-bearing ages (15 to 45 years), and in 1901 this proportion had fallen to 10-28 per cent. ; but of what importance this variation is in influencing the decline of the birth-rate, compared with other reasons (see reply to question No. 5579), has not been determined. ^ 5529. Q. Taking women of child-bearing age, has there been a decline in birth-rate ? A. The birth-rate per cent, of married women at child-bearing ages (15-45 years) declined from 31-34 per cent, in 1881 to 24-38 in 1901 ; or, if all women at those ages be taken, not the married only, the rate is found to have fallen from 19-28 per cent, in 1881 to 10-69 per cent. 1902. 5530. Q. To what extent has there been a decline in the birth-rate, taking women of child-bearing age? A. There was thus a decrease in the birth-rate per cent, of married women (at those ages) of 6-96 in 1901 when compared with the rate shown for 1881 ; or, if all women at child-bearing ages be taken into account, the decrease per cent, will be 8-59. 5531. Q. To what extent is the natural increase of the population affected ? A. The actual number has not been calculated. • 5532. Q. When did decline first become pronounced"! A. The birth-rate has been steadily declining since 1880, with the exception of the last three years. (See answer to Question No. 5527.) 5533. Q. Do the birth-rates of city and country differ materially ? A. In 1902 the birth-rate per 1,000 of mean population for the whole Colony was 25 89, while in Auckland city it was 30-80; in Wellington, 2529 ; in Christchurch, 25-84 ; and in Dunedin, 89-96. 5534. Q. Has this difference always existed? A. In 1883 the rates were : — For the whole Colony ... ... 36 28 per 1,000 of mean population. ,, Auckland City ... ... 39-47 ,, ,, „ Wellington City ... ... 41-71 ,, ,, ,, „ Christchurch City ... ... 34-34 ., ,, ,, ,, Dunedin City... ... ... 33-10 ,, ,, ,, 5535. Q. Has there been a fall in the marriage-rate in New Zealand and in other countries as well 1 A. The marriage-rate fell from 6-64 per 1,000 of mean population in 18S1 to 5-99 in 1886, rising since then to 7-83 in 1901. 5536. Q. How do the average ages of husband and wife compare ? A. The average age at Census of 1901 was 45-03 years for husbands and 4032 years for wives. 5537. (). Has there been an increase in the marriage age? A. In 1902 the average age of men married was 28-89 and of women 25-63 years. In 1893 it was 29-72 and 25-07 years respectively. 5538. Q. Is the marriage age affected by city or country life or conditions 1 A. Nothing to report of material consequence. 5539. Q. Is the marriage-age affected by birth-place 1 A. Nothing to report of material consequence. 5540. Q. Is the marriage-age affected by religion? A. Nothing to report of material consequence. 5541. Q. What proportions of marriages follow conception? A. No data have been extracted from the register. 5542. Q. How do ante nuptial and illegitimate conceptions compare with true legitimate first-births ? A. No data have been extracted from the registers. 5543. Q. Does age influence the amount of illicit conception ? A. No data have been extracted from the registers. 5544. Q. Does the proportion of marriages which follow conception vary? /I. No data have been extracted from the registers. 5545. 21 WUiiess—K W. Von Dadelzen, 10 Dec, 1903. 5545. Q. How does the nearness or remoteness of pregnancy affect the chance of marriage^ A. No data have been extracted from the registers. 5546. Q. How does age affect the chance of marriage after illicit conception 1 A. No data have been extracted irom the registers. ^^;!I; 9- ^°^ ^^° illegitimate births compare with the total births ? A. There are 4-46 illegitimates m every 100 births. ° 5548. Q. Is this a fair comparison ? ^. Probably an under-statement of facts. No doubt many false statements are made in giving information for purposes of the registers. 5549. Q. What is the proper mode ? A. Possibly the answer to Question 5550 gives better informa- tion than the reply to Questions 5547 and 5548, but is still subject to the matters mentioned in reply to Question 5548. ^ -^ 5550. Q. Is the rate of illegitimates per cent, of single women increasing or otherwise ? A. Proportion of illegitimate births per cent of unmarried women, 15-45 years of age : — 1881 1886 1891 1896 1901 1-22 per cent. 1-14 0-89 „ 0-95 „ 0-88 5551. Q. How does age affect these rates 1 A. No information extracted from registers. 5552. Q. How does the age of the mother affect the legitimate and illegitimate birth-rates and the total illicit conceptions? A. No information extracted from registers. 5553. Q. Does the city differ from the country in illegitimacy 1 A. No information extracted from registers. 5554. Q. Is this a real or only apparent difference 1 A. No information extracted from registers. 5555. Q. Is illegitimacy characteristic of any given age of women 1 A. No information extracted from registers. 5556. Q. Does the illegitimate infantile mortality differ from the legitimate 1 A. No information as to the mortality of illegitimate infants has been compiled in this Colony. 5557. Q. Has the illegitimate infantile mortality increased ? A. No information as to the mortality of illegitimate infants has been compiled in this Colony. 5558. (J. Can you give any returns concerning maternity homes? ^. No returns obtained from maternity homes. 5559. Q. Has the fecundity of women declined in the total and at separate ages 1 A. No information as regards fecundity of women in respect of age has been compiled. 5560. Q. To what extent does fecundity depend upon the age at marriage ? A. No information as regards fecundity of women in respect of age has been compiled. 5561. Q. What proportion of marriages are now childless ? A. No statistics as to the infertility of marriages have been compiled in this Colony. 5562. (). Do the barrenness rates differ in different parts of the State? A. No statistics as to infertility of marriages have been compiled in this Colony. 5563. Q. Has birth-place any effect upon fecundity ? A. No information as to fecundity in respect of birth-place of parents has been compiled. 5564. (3, If so, how is the population .situated with regard to the birth-place of the mother? A. See previous answer. 5565. Q. Are there any signs of improvement from this point of view ? A. See answer to Question 5563. 5566. Q. Does the birth-place of the husband affect the fecundity of the marriage ? A. See answer to uestion 5563. 5567. Q. Has religion any effect upon fecundity ? A. No information as to fecundity in respect of religion has been compiled. 5568. Q. If so, how is the population situated with regard to religion 1 A. See previous answer. 5569. Q. Are there any signs of improvement from this point of view ? A. See answer to Question 5567. 5570. Q. Does the religion of the husband affect the fecundity of the marriage ? A. See answer to Question 5567. 5571. Q. What average periods separate the successive births 1 A. No information as to the average periods separating successive births has been compiled. 5572. Q. How does the fact of having previous issue affect the probability of child-bearing 1 A. No information as to effect of previous issue on probability of child-bearing has been compiled here. 5573. Q. Has there been a general decline in the birth-rate without regard to previous issue ? A. See previous answer. 5574. Q. To what extent does the age of the mother influence the period between marriage and the birth of the first child 1 A. No statistics as to the initial fertility of women have been compiled in New Zealand. 5575. Q. How are the durations distributed ? A. See previous answer. 5576. Q. What is the initial fertility within the first two years of marriage ? A. See answer to Question 5574. 5577. Q. Is a woman with issue more likely to bear than one of same age newly-married ? A. See answer to Question 5574. 5578. Q. How does the average issue at present compare with the past ? A. In the year 1881, New Zealand experience showed 5-72 births to every marriage in the previous year ; in 1901, the proportion had fallen to 3-50 births to each marriage ; and in 1902 it had further fallen to 3-23. 5579. Q. What causes may be adduced to whish to ascribe the decline in the average issue ? A. See the reply to Question 5528. Also, the believed means and motives for limiting families are well known and much discussed. The wish for a varied life, with the advantages which money only can procure, probably has great weight with many people. The spread of education would very likely lead in such direction. Possibly, the idea of moneyed classes making still more out of the necessities o workers may have weight with 22 WUiKSS—'E. W. Von Dadelzen, 10 Dec, 1903. with some ; pure selfishness with others ; sheer poverty, with a very limited number only in New Zealand. Also may be mentioned the quantity of household work to be done, along with child-rearing, proving a strain on the powers of women in this colony, who sometimes have also to go out to work if husbands ill, &c. 5580. Q. Does the occupation of the husband have any effect upon the average issue 1 A. Cannot say whether occupation of husband has any great effect in New Zealand. Should think not, because no unhealthy manufacturing industries. 5581. Q. Does the average issue of males differ widely from that of females? A. The births in New Zealand, registered during 1902, were :— Males, 10,653; females, 10,002; total, 20,655. 5582. Q. To what extent does age at marriage affect the average issue? A. No information as to effect of age at marriage on average issue has been compiled. 5583. CJ. What percentage of family survives the parents? yl. No information as to percentage of family surviving parents has been compiled. 5584. Q] Does the birth-place affect the average issue ? A. No information as to effect of birth-place on average issue has been compiled. 5585. Q. Has the average issue declined according to birth-place? A. See previous answer. 5586. Q. Does religion affect the avcragr issue ? yl. No information as to effect of religion on average issue has been compiled. 5587. Q. What religions are most fcitilo at present? A. No information as to religion and fertility has been compiled. 5588. Q. Does birth-place or religion of husband affect fertility ? A. No information as to effect of birth-place or religion of husband on fertility has been compiled. 5589. Q. Have the deaths in child-birth increased ? A. Deaths in child-birth have not increased, the numbers and proportions of such deaths to the 1,000 births having been, in 18SC : 78 (4-04) ; in 1887, 71 (3-71) ; in 1888, 72 (.'iSl) ; and in 1901, 70 (3-42). 5590. Q. What causes of death are most effective? A. Of the specified causes of death from child- birth, the greatest numbers are attributed to— (a) placenta-prasvia (flooding) ; (b) abortion, miscarriage ; (c) puerperal convulsions ; (d) other accidents of child-birth, including unspecified causes. 5591. Q. Are many cases undefined ? A. Estimated at about 20 per cent, of all deaths in child-birth. . 5592. Q. Is there any chance of the bad definition cloaking illegal practice? A. Have no knowledge as to whether there is any chance of the bad definition cloaking illegal practice. 5593. (). What are the comparative risks of death in childbirth in married and single? 4. No information available as to comparative risks of death in childbirth in married and single. 5594. Q. Does +he number of confinements effect the risk of death ? A. No information obtainable as to number of confinements affecting risk. 5595. Q. How does age affect risk ? A. No information available as to age affecting risk. 5596. Q. Combining the two, namely, age and number of previous issue, what is shown ? A. No information available as to combination of age and number of previous confinements. 5597. Q. How does the New Zealand experience compare with others ? A. No information available. 5598. Q. What diseases are most fatal to infants ? A. The diseases most fatal to infants are found to be premature birth, marasmus, &c., enteritis, diarrhoea, pneumonia, bronchitis, convidsious and whooping- cough. 5599. §. Is there an increase or decrease in the infantile mortality? ^4. Deaths of infants under 1 year of age decreased from 8-95 per cent, of total births, in 1880, to 8'35 per cent, of the total births in 1891. 5600. Q. Is there anything to indicate that an observed decline of the birth-rate may be more apparent than real ? A. There is nothing to indicate that the observed decline in the birth-rate may be more apparent than real. The numbers of living children as ascertained at the last three censuses form a close verification of the decline in the birth-rate as disclosed by the vital statistics annually. (See answer to Q. 5528 also). TWENTY-FIFTH MEETING— MONDAY, 14 DECEMBER, 1903, 2 p.m. [Eoard Boom, No. 6, Bligh-street, Sydney.'] 3P««£ttt:— THE HON. C. K. MAOKELLA.E, M.B., CM., M.L.C., President; THE HON. Sir H. N. MacLAURIN, Kt., M.D., LL.D., M.L.C. ; 0. C. BEALE, Esq., President of the New South Wales Chamber of ^Manufactures ; J. FOREMAN, Esq., L.S.A., Lon. ; L. et L., M.R.O.P., Edin. ; iM.R.C.S., Eng. ; E. FOSBERY, Esq., O.M.G., Inspector-General of Police ; R. T. PATON, Esq., L.R.C.P. et S., Edin.; F.R.C.S., Edin; M.D., Univ., Brussels; Government Medical Officer ; and T. FIASOHI, Esq., M.D,, Oh.M., D.8.O. De. R. H. Todd, Associate to the President, was also present. Mr. J. Garlick, Secretary to the Commission, took shorthand notes of the evidence and proceedings. 5844J. In reply to a letter which had been forwarded through the Honourable the Premier, asking for replies to certain questions regarding the birth-rate in Victoria : Mr. W. MoLEAN, Government Statist of Victoria, forwarded the following Memorandum, and the replies set out thereafter : — 5645. ^^ •, i , T Office of the Government Statist, Melbourne, 7th December, 1903. Memorandum tor the President of the Royal Commission on the Decline of the Birth-rate. I NOW beg to transmit to you replies, as far as I am able, to the series of questions submitted to me with your letter of the 4th ultimo. I regret I have been unable to furnish replies to all the inquiries ; but, so far as information is available in this 23 Witness— W. McLean, 14 Dec, 1903. this office, it has been placed at your dispoEal. I am quite satisfied that restrictive measures are at present adopted, and that the practice has not been confined to the last twenty or thirty years only. Generally speaking, I am of opinion that natural causes are, for the most part, responsible for the declining birth-rate in the Australian States, and that the effects of any artificial measures which are adopted are not, as yet, very pronounced. The various figures which have been furnished to you support this view. Throughout the Avhole of the investigation two prominent features forced themselves upon my notice : First, that a high birth-rate (as measured per 1,000 of total ijopulation) is not always, from an economic point of view, of substantial benefit to a community. [.V,- reply to Question j\^o. 5919.] Second, that there is a danger in formulating theories from results m new communities, where age and sex constituents are so unstable. The necessity for precautions will be apparent in many of the replies. In conclusion, as the result of this investigation, I feel constrained to add that I see no solid reason for alarm in respect to the birth-rate in Australia. W. McLeax, Government Statist. 5846. BY THE HON. THE PRESIDENT.] (). Has there been a decline in the birth-rate in the State of Victoria 1 A. Yes ; in the birth-rate, as estimated per 1,000 of the population. 5847. Q. Is the birth-rate affected by the difference in constitution of population as regards age ? A. Unquestionably ; in all new countries the rapidly-varying age-elements in the population are ohiefly responsible for apparently abnormal rates as regards births, marriages, or deaths, as estimated per 1,000 of the population. Thus, in a new population without a normal proportion of old people, such as these States in the sixties and seventies, the age- constitution of the population was such as to be conducive to a high birth- rate, and, at the same time, a low death-rate. In the period, say, 1860 to 1864, the mean birth-rate was 43-3, the mean death-rate 18-4, ascon.pared with those in England, with its normal population, of 34-9 and 22-2 respectively. For the differences between the English and Victorian rates the different age-constitutions were, probably, wholly responsible in the case of the birth-rates, and chiefly so in the death-rates. The following is an extract from "Institute of Actuaries Text-Book," Chapter V, Article 16 ; — To make allowance for the change in the birth-rate due to immigration would necessitate very elaborate calculations, for which, moreover, the data are Insutfioient. See also Chapter III, Article 13, of the same work. 5848. Q. Taking women of child-bearing age, has there been a decline in the birth-rate ? A. Yes. 5849. Q. To what extent '? A. In the period 1870-2 there were 299-9 births per 1,000 married women under 45; in 1880-2, 299 2 ; in 1890-2, 297-8 ; and in 1900-2, 225-7. It must be borne in mind that there has been a great change in the age-constitiution of the wives during these periods, the proportions per 1,000 within different age-groups being as follows : — Age Group. 1871. 1881. 1891. 1901. Under 20 20-5 17-4 13-5 8-1 20-25 130-7 159-7 156-9 99 25-30 211-1 204-4 275-2 198-3 30-35 230-6 205-9 244-1 249-6 35-40 232-9 209-6 172-1 249-3 40-45 174-2 203-0 138-2 195-7 1,000-0 1,000-0 1,000-0 1,000-0 A. The following state- 5850. Q. To what extent is the natural increase of the population affected 1 ment shows the birth and death rates (estimated per 1,000 of the population) in mean quinquennial periods since 1840, also the mean annual increase per cent, of population : — Period. Birth-rate. Death-rate. Natural Increase. Period. Birth-rate. Death-rate. Natural Increase. Per cent. Per cent. 1840-44 47-72 17-31 3 04 1875 -79 32-85 16-45 1-64 1845-49 42-02 9-67 3-23 1880-84 30-65 14-39 1-63 1850-54* 32-28 15-91 1-64 1885-89 32-24 15-83 1-64 1855-59 39-49 17-76 2-17 1890-94 31-98 14-63 1-73 1860-64 43-29 18-44 2-48 1895-99 26-76 13-81 1-29 1865-69 39-77 16-93 2-28 1900-02 25-60 13-12 1-25 1870-74 36-54 14-64 219 * 1853 omitted, the registrations not being regarded as reliable, a change in the methods having been introduced in that year, and not being generally understood. (See also exhibit 99, copied in Appendix.) 5851. Q. When did decline first become pronounced 1 A. A glance at the statement in reply to the previous question will suffice to show that there is some difficulty in answering this question. It will be noticed that, with few exceptions, the decline has been practically uninterrupted since the earliest periods. The most marked decline in recent years is from the quinquennial period, 18904894, to that of 1895-1899, due, however, for the most part, to the emigration from the State, consequent upon the financial crisis. It is by no means obvious that prevention or restriction of families is responsible for the decline in the birth- rate, since the decline has taken place from the earliest periods, and only during and immediately following periods of immigration have there been temporary rises in the rate. The decline is more probably due to change in the age constitution in the population. 5852—3. Q. Do the birth-rates of city and country differ materially? Has this difference always existed? J[. From the following statement, which shows the birth-rate per 1,000 of the population in Melbourne and suburbs and in the country districts (exclusive of other urban districts), it would appear that the rates have been almost persistently greater in the city than in the country districts, though the difference in the rates is now much less than formerly : — Period. Birth-rate, Melbourne Birth-rate, Country and Suburbs. Districts. Period. Birth-rate, Melbourne and Suburbs. Birth-rate, Country Districts. 1885 1870 1875 1880 1885 43-63 38-81 37-71 I 41-29 33-63 29-64 31-19 28-72 34-94 1 26-95 1 1890 1895 1900 1901 1902 37-72 29-64 24-62 24-85 24-85 28-93 25-40 24-26 23-99 23-22 24 WUtms—y^. McLean, 14 Dec, 1903. It -would be idle, however, to draw any scientific deductions from these rates. Age constitution must be considered, and probably many births take place in Melbourne, which should really be credited to the country districts. No information, however, is available upon this point. 5854. Q. Has there been a fall in the marriage rate in Victoria, and in other countries as well? A. The marriage rates for each year since 1840 in Victoria will be found in Exhibit No. 99. [For copy, see Appendix.] The following statement shows the mean annual rates in quinquennial periods : — Period.; Eato. Period. Rate. Period. Rate. Period. Rate. 1840-44 1845-49 1850-54 1855-59 19-95 9-09 13-55 10-24 1860-64 1865-69 1870-74 8-lG 6-94 6-44 1875-79 1880-84 1884-89 6-21 7-06 s-03 1890-94 1895-99 1900-02 6-89 6-44 6-99 The following shows the marriage rates in certain European States for quinquennia 1886-90, 1891-95, and 1896-1900:— Country. Period. 1886-90, 1801-00. i.s:jr-i~iriiio Country-, United Kingdom . . . , England and Wales Scotland Ireland Denmark N orway Sweden Austria 6-89 7-35 6-51 4-33 7-04 6-32 611 7-77 Hungary ! 8-S7 7-ir, 7- 7-57 s- 6-80 7- 4-74 4- 6-90 7- 6-46 6- 5-76 6- 7-91 8-( 8-98 8-^ ?-63 ■;-04 7-30 t-96 7-48 3-89 3-11 ^-08 3-48 Switzerland German Empire Prussia The Netherlands Belgium France Spain Italy Period. 1886-90. 1891-95. 1896-1900 7 04 7-91 8-10 6-98 7-08 7-19 7-13* 7-77 717 7-96 8 06 7-23 7-60 7-45 8-12 7-42 7-71 8-41 8-43 7-44 8-29 7-58 7-62 7-14 5855. Q. How do thf; average ages of husband and wife compare 1 A. In the following statement will be found the average ages of married women under 45, of all married women, and of all married men at the Censuses of 1861, 1871, 1S81, 1891, and 1901 :— Average A^e. 1861. 1571. 1881. 1591. 1901. Married women under 45 29-8 .32-3 36 -G 31-7 35-9 40 7 31-8 38-7 43-7 30-7 38 43-2 32 -6 All married women 39-6 43-9 It is remarkable, but it can scarcely be regarded as a fortuitous circumstance, that the ages in the three series are correlated with the extent of migration in the tk cades preceding the dates above shown. Thus, at the first period, 1861, the lowest average age followed upon the extraordinary immigration during the intercensal decade 1851-1861, viz., 400,045. The immigration during the next iutercensal period fell to only 41,789. This was followed by an increase in age. Similarly in the period L"^71-1881, -nhen there was a loss by emigration. But with the next period .showing a gain of 116,950, there was another fall in the average ages. In the last intercensal period, when there was a loss of 111,577, there was another increase in the age. 5856. Q. Has there been an increase in the marriage age 1 A. It is presumed that this question refers to women marrying within the reproductive period— that is to say, under 45 years of age. The following statement shows for various periods the average ages of brides marrying under that age, also the average ages for the same periods of bridegrooms marrying such brides : — • A^e at Marriage. Period. Age at Marriage. Period. Bridea under 45. Bridegroom of Brides under 45. Brides under 45. Bridegroom of Brides under 45. 1870-74 24-13 years 23-83 „ 29-93 vc.irs 28-61 " ,, 1890 94 24-66 years 25-49 ,, 28-66 years 29-75 „ 1880-84 1898 1902 From this it -will be seen that the average age of brides is now higher than at any previous period ; also that the differences between the ages of the contracting parties is less now than formerly. The increase of age of women sit marriage is, of course, one contributing factor towards a declining birth-rate. For purposes of comparison, the average ages at marriage in England and Wales, about the same periods shown above, are given in the following statement :— Age at Marriage. Period. At ^c at Marriage. Brides under 45. Bridegroom of Brides under 45. Brides under 46. Bridegroom of Brides under 46. 1870-1 '880-1 24-28 24-26 26-54 26-57 1890-1 1900-1 24-64 24-99 27-04 27-23 Mean of three years. 25 Witness— W. McLean, 14 Dec, 1903. A comparison with the Victorian results shows that, although the average age of brides at marriage •was lower in Victoria for the first three periods than in England, it is now half a year higher ; whilst the ages of bridegrooms at marriage have been persistently higher throughout. It is also seen that in an old community the fluctuations are confined to narrower limits than in a new community, and that the differences between the ages of the contracting parties are much less. However, there has been a slight continued increase in the average ages of both brides and bridegrooms since 1880 ; and, as before remarked, this is contributory to a declining birth-rate and smaller families. 5857. Q. Is the marriage age affected by city or country life or conditions 1 A. No Victorian Statistics are available on this subject. It is thought that the average age at marriage is earlier in the country than in the cities. (See reply to Question No. 5899.) 5858. Q. Is the marriage age affected by birth place t A. No Victorian statistics available. It is probable, however, that warmer climates are conducive to earlier development, and, consequently, to earlier marriage. It is also probable that the reproductive period closes at an earlier age, and thus any economic advantages arising from the earlier marriage (due to climate) are neutralised. 5859. Q. Is the marriage age affected by religion 1 A. No Victorian statistics available. It is not considered that religion can have any such effect, except, perhaps, in an old country with a predominant religion to which the natives would generally belong, and who naturally marry at an earlier age than immigrants, whatever their religion may be. 5860. Q. What proportion of marriages follow conception ? A. According to the experiences of the years 1897, 1900, and 1901, 23 per cent, of the marriages of women under 45 followed conception — the total marriages of women under 45 years during those years being 23,868, and the total antenuptial conceptions being 5,530. 5861. Q. How do ante-nuptial and illegitimate conceptions compare with true legitimate first births ? A. It is difficult or impossible to effect a true comparison, as experience shows that first births may occur at any period within a range of twenty years, or even beyond. The antenuptially-conceived children born during the three years 1897, 1900, and 1901 numbered 5,579, illegitimate children 5,279, whilst the true legitimate first-births, within eighteen months of marriage, numbered 9,402. 5862. Q. Does age influence the amount of illicit conception ? A. If by this question is meant, " Is there any difference between the number of illicit conceptions — i.e., antenuptial and illegimate conceptions — per 1,000 women of each age-group," the reply is "Yes"; and approximately — for the Victorian experience is limited to the two years 1900 and 1901 — the rates per 1,000 unmarried women in each age-group are as follow : — Age. Illicit Conception per 1,000 Unmavried Women. Age. Illicit Conception per 1,000 Unmarried Women. 15-20 20-25 25-30 30-35 131 37-0 26-3 17-5 35-40 45-50 15-45 12-2 4.4 21-6 These figures do not, however, afford an idea of the amount of illicit intercourse in the various age-groups. To determine this approximately the force of natality — or the power of reproductivity — must be taken into account ; but there is no Victorian experience on this point. 5863. Q. Does the proportion of marriages which follow conception vary ? A. There is no experience in Victoria except for the years 1897, 1900, and 1901. (See reply to Question No. 5861.) 5864. Q. How does the nearness or remoteness of pregnancy affect the chance of marriage? A. The following are the number of antenuptial conceptions, the period elapsing from marriage to the birth, together with the percentages for each period — experience of Victoria, 1900 and 1901 : — ■ Period from Marriaure to Birth of Child. No. Per cent, of Total. Period from Marriac^e to Birth of Child. No. Per cent, of Total. 158 191 277 384 467 4-28 5-17 7 '49 10 -.39 12-64 5 to C months 479 602 614 524 12-96 G „ 7 ,, 16-28 7 „ 8 ,, 16-61 3 4 14-18 3,696 100-00 From this it is seen that of those who marry after conception the largest proportion do so in the earlier stages of pregnancy. But the figures do not show the probabilities of marriage at any month after conception has taken place, which the question involves. The method of arriving at these probabilities is as follows :— During the two years 1900 and 1901, there were registered 7,230 births following upon illicit conceptions— both antenuptial and illegitimate. Of the 7,230 women involved in these conceptions, 524 were married within one month; hence the probability of being married within one month after conception is ,^3^3*0 = -0725. There -were thus left at the beginning of the second month 7,230 minus 524, or 6,706, of whom 614 were married before the expiration of the second month ; and the probability of marriage during that month; is therefore /^o* =-0916. Proceeding in this manner throughout the whole term the results are as follow : — Period after Conception. Under 1 month 1 and under 2 months 2 ,j ,, *> >» * J) 4 „ 5 „ Probabilifcj' of Marriage during period. •0725 •0916 -0988 ■0872 •0932 Period after Conception. 5 and under 6 months 6 ,, 7 ,, 7 ,1 8 ,, 8 ,, 9 ,, Probability of Marriage during period. •0845 •0666 •0492 •0428 39608 235— D 26 Witness— V7. McLean, U Deo., 1903. These figures show, according to the experience of Victoria for the two years 1900-1901, the probability of marriage at each month of pregnancy. The greatest chance of marriage would appear to be during the third month. From that period there is almost an unbroken fall to the ninth month. The fourth month appears to hold an anomalous position, the chance being less than that of the fifth month. This is probably accidental, which further experience may correct. It is also reasonable to conclude that the lesser chances of marriage within the first and second months after conception are due to the entire absence of knowledge in the first month that conception has taken place, and of lingering doubt in the second. 5865. Q. How does age aflFect the chance of marriage after illicit conception ? A. This will clearly be seen from the following statement, showing the percentages of illicit conception in various age groups which were followed by marriage experiences of 1900 and 1901 : — Age Group. IVi-centage of Illicit Conceptions followed by Marriage. Age Group. Percentage of Illicit Conceptions followed by Marriage. Ill 44-G 57 5 54 6 38-5 15 and under 20 vears 35 ,, 40 27.8 20 .. 25 40 ,, 45 ,, 20-3 25 ,, 30 51-1 586G. Q. How do illegitimate births compiire with total births ? A. The following statement shows the percentages of illegitimate to all births in Victoria for the periods mentioned : — Period. 1863-70 1871-80 1881-90 Percentage of illegitimate to all births. Period. Percentage of illegitimate to all births. 2-70 3-67 4-77 1891-1900. 1901-1902. 5-49 5-54 5867. Q. Is this a fair coaiparison 1 A, No. 5868. Q. What is the proper mode? A. To compare at various peiiod.s, when the numbers of single women in each age group are known, the rates of il^gitimacy incidental to each age group at each period. The objection to taking the proportion of illegitimates to all single women is the same as that urged against taking the birth-rates as per 1,000 married women. Age constitution must be taken into account. 5869. Q. Is the rate of illegitimates per cent, of single women increasing or otherwise ? A. Diminishing, as will be seen from the rates shown for each census year since ISCl : — - Period. Illegitimate births per 100 single women. Period. Illegitimate births per 100 single women. 1861 1-72 1-39 1-30 1891 1-43 104 1871 1901 1881.. It will be noticed that these results are in opposition to those obtained in reply to Q. 5866. 5870. Q. How does age affect these rates? A. As per following statement for the year 1901 : — Age period. Illegitimate births per 100 single women at each age. Age period. Illegitimate births per 100 single women at each age, 13-20 ■73 1-50 1 10 30 35 110 •85 •32 20-25 35-40 40-4.5 25-30 5871. Q. How does age of ihe mother affect the legitimate and the illegitimate birth-rates, and the total illicit conceptions? A. Regarding the effect of age of mother upon the legitimate birth-rate, there are no statistics available. "With regard to the effect of age upon the illegitimate birth-rate and upon the total illicit conceptions, see replies to Qs. 5862 and 5870 respectively. _ 5872. Q. Does the city differ from the country in illegitimacy ? A. Yes ; as will be seen from the following table, which shows that the ratios of illegitimate biiths to all births in Melbourne and suburbs, in other urban districts, and in rural districts for various periods : — Period. 1863-1870 1871-1880 1881-1890 Illegitimate births iicr 100 of all births. Melbourne and suburbs. 4-25 5-88 7-19 Other urban. 2-25 3-31 4.39 Kui-al. 1 -73 2 '26 2 36 Period. Illegitimate births per 100 of all births. Melbourne and suburbs. Other urban. Kural. 1891-1900 1901-1902 8-36 8-47 5'11 5-43 2-61 2-51 This method of comparing illegitimacy is certainly a bad one ; but it is all that is available in this office, and, although the comparison is not a fair one as for the periods, it would be approximately correct for the different districts at any one period— that is, so far as the actual births are concerned, not as regards the actual conception. •11 ^^'^■^' ^' ^-^ ^^^^ '^ ^^'^^ °'^ °°^^ apparent difference? A. It is a matter of common knowledge that the illegitimate births in the cities are increased by women leaving their homes in the country to be confined in the cities, but to what extent this is done must only be a matter of conjecture, for no statistics iire available on the subject. 5874. 27 Witness— W. McLean, 14 Dec, 1903. 5874. Q. Is illegitimacy characteristic of any given age of -women 1 A. The reply to question 5870 shows that the age-group 20-25 exhibits the highest illegitimacy rate, being 15 births per 1,000 single ■women of that age. The rate between 25 and 35 is 11 per 1,000 single women. 5875. $. Does the illegitimate infantile mortality differ from the legitimate? ^. Yes. There is one year's experience in Victoria, namely, 1901. The legitimate infantile mortality was 9 4 per 100 births; the illegitimate, 25-5 ; and the total 10-3. It may not be out of place here to state that a life-table was constructed in this office for legitimate and illegitimate children up to 5 years of age, from which it would appear that of 1,000 legitimate births 873 survived to attain age 5, whilst of a similar number of illegitimate births only 711 survived. It is also very noticeable that the probability of surviving each year up to the second was much greater with legitimates than illegitimates. From that year, how ever, to the fifth the probabilities were slightly in favour of the illegitimates. The reason is sufficiently obvious, and requires no comment. 5876. Q. Has the illegitimate infantile mortality increased 1 A. There are no other statistics available in Victoria beyond those for 1901. 5877. Q. Can you give any returns concerning maternity homes ? A. There are seven establishments in Victoria for the reception of fallen women ; and these are more or less maternity homes. The information contained in their annual reports is very meagre as regards vital statistics, and, beyond what is contained in these reports, there is no information in this office nor with the Inspector of Charities. The Committee have, however, been asked to furnish full particulars, and, when supplied, will be transmitted to you. 5878. (?. Has the fecundity of women declined in the total, and at separate ages 2 /I. If by fecundity is meant "non-sterility," no statistics are available ; but if by fecundity is meant "prolificness," the matter is dealt with in the reply to question 5919. 5879. Q. To what extent does fecundity depend upon the age ab marri-ige 1 A. No Victorian Btafistics. 5880. Q. What proportion of marriages are now childless 1 A. No Victorian statistics. 5881. Q. Do the barrenness rates differ in different parts of the State 1 ^. No Victorian statistics. 5882. Q. Has birth-place any effect upon fecundity? A. No Victorian statistics. 5883. Q. If so, how is the population situated with regard to the birth-place of the mother ? A. No Victorian statistics. 5884. Q. Are there any signs of improvement from this point of vie-w ? A. No Vijtorian statistics. 5885. Q. Does the birth-place of husband affect the fecundity of the marriage. A. No Victorian statistics. 5886. Q. Has religion any effect upon fecundity ? A. No Victorian statistics. 5887. Q. If so, how is the population situated with regard to religion? A. No Victorian statistics. 5888. Q. Are there any signs of improvement from this point of view? A. No Victorian statistics. 5889. Q. Does the religion of the husband affect the fecundity of the marriage? A. No Victorian statistics. 5890. Q. What average periods separate the successive births? A. No Viotoi-ian statistics. 5891. Q. How does the fact o5 having previous issue affect the probability of child-bearing? A. No Victorian statistics. 5892. Q. Has there been ageneral decline in the birth rate without regard to previous issue? A. No Victorian statistics. 5893-4. Qs. To what extent does the age of the mother influence the period between marriage and the birth of the first child ? How are the durations distributed ? A. In Exhibit 100 (for copy, see Appendix) will be found the combined statistics for 1900 and 1901, regarding interval from marriage to birth of child and age of mother. But it is considered that no satisfactory deductions can be drawn from these data to satisfy Question 5893. Nor is it thought that, if the data extended over an unlimited number of years, more than superficial and specious conclusions could be drawn. To reply to Question 5893 even approximately would require elaborate calculations if all necessary data were available. 5895. Q. What is the initial fertility within the first two years of marriage ? A. If by initial fertility is meant the number per 100 "unprejudiced" marriage, of women under 45 years, of births within tWo years of marriage, the reply, so far as the marriages of 1899, 1900 and 1901 are concerned, is 5865. But, if ante- nuptial conceptions are not excluded, the number is 68-08. As, however, these resultants are compounded of the various rates for the different age-groups, the latter are exhibited separately in the following table : — Age-group. Probability of Birth within 24 months of marriage. Age-group. Probability of Birth within 24 months of marriage. Excluding anto-nuptialg. Including ante-nuptials. Excluding ante-nuptials. Including ante-nuptials. Under 20 20-25 25-30 34-42 58-04 70-44 61 04 69-69 75-46 30-35 35-40 40-45 66-27 38-64 13-14 70-34 44-16 1703 The first series shows the true initial fertility and the latter series the apparent. An inspection of the figures of the first series reveals the fact that the maximum fertility in women is reached at age 25-30 and not at the earliest ages. It is also probable that the rate for age, 40-45, is too high for women marrying for the first time at those ages. Most of these first births are due to re-marriages of widows who may have borne children by previous marriages, and to whom the probability of a birth is much greater than to a woman who had not borne children. (See reply to Question 5896.) 5896. Q. Is a woman with issue more likely to bear than one of the same age newly married 1 A. There are no statistics in this ofiioe regarding Victoria, which would furnish a reply to this question, but from calculations made in this office from New South Wales statistics ib would appear that up to age 35, the probability of a birth within tv/elve months to a newly married woman is greater than to one having previous issue. After that age t\\e probability is les§ — considerably so at the later ages of the child-bearing period. 5897-8. 28 Witiiess—W. McLean, 14 Dec, 1903. 5897-8. Qs. How does the average issue at present compare with the past ] What causes may be adduced to which to ascribe the decline in the average issue? yl. There are no statistics available frota which the present or past average issue could be determined. Unless the marriages for the years selected for comparison could be placed under observation until completion of all families — a course which is, however, impracticable — it is diflScult to conceive what statistics could furnish a reply to this question. Even if the average number of children to each living married woman wore determined from the census, the average thus obtained would, of necessity, be less than the correct average because of the number of wives who had not completed their families. If the average issue be determined from the registered deaths of married women, the average is again too small, seeing that the number of women who die within a few years of marriage, and who necessarily have small families, are altogether out of proportion to those who have survived to the end of the reproductive period, ami consequently with completed families. This condition arises from the inequalities in the annual number of marriages now and in past years. 5899, Q. Does the occupation of the husband have any effect upon the average issue 1 A. No statistics available in this State. Venturing an opinion, however, it is considered that the occupation of the husband in itself would not have any effect upon the average issue, but as, in unskilled occupations, a man may earn at an early age as much, or moi-e, than he will when older, he will probably marry early and — subject, of course, to the age of his wife — have a larger family than the man whose occupation or profession requires, moin or less, apprentiicslilp, whose income increases with his experience, and whose marriage is consequently deferred. To this extent only has occupation an effect upon the average issue. Thus those engaged in agricultural pursuits would have larger families than professional men. The former class, indeed, would appear, from the New South Wales statistics, to be amongst the most prolific, and the undue growth of urban, as compared with rural population in the Australian States, is also possibly a contributing factor towards a declining birth-rate. Probably, also, the declining rate in Great Britain is partly due to the same cause. 5900. (J. Does the average issue of males differ widely from that of females? ^. No Victorian statistics. 5901. 5902. 5903. 5904. 5905. Q. To what extent does age at marriage affect the average issue 1 A. No Victorian statistics. Q. "What percentage of family sur\ives the parents ? A. No Victorian statistics. Q. Does the birth-place affect the average issue 1 A. No Victorian statistics. Q. Has the average issue declined according to birth-place? A. No Victorian statistics. Q. Does religion affect the average issue? A. No Victorian statistics. 5906. Q. What religions are most fertile at present? A. No Victorian statistics. 5907. Q. Does birth-place or religion of husband affect fertility ? A. No Victorian statistics. 5908. Q. Have the deaths in child-birth increased 1 A. The death-rates per 10,000 births for various periods are as under : — Period. Deaths of Mothers per T>o,.in.i 10,000 Births. ±-erioa. Deaths of Mothers per 10,000 Births. 1864-69 1870-74 1875-79 1880-84 50 58 71 66 1885-89 1890-94 1895-99 1900-02 54 50 60 61 5909-10. Qs. What causes of death are most effective ; — are many cases undefined ? A. Of the 3,150 deaths from child-birth registered in Victoria from 1887 to 1902 inclusive, the percentage due to each cause is as follows : — Cause of Death. Per cent. Cause of Death. Per cent. Puerperal fever 35-7 12 5 11-3 4-9 Puerperal mania 1-6 Placenta prjBvia (flooding) , •8 Abortion (miscarriage) 33 '2 * Septicemia following; confinement. 5911. (). Is there any chance of the bad definition cloaking illegal practice? ^1 . Of course there must be a chance, but what the mathematical value of sucli chance is cannot be determined, and any opinion formed can have no statistical value. 5912. §. What are the comparative risks of death in child-birth in married and single ? .4. No statistics, but it can hardly be a matter of doubt that tlie risk of the latter is much greater than that of the former for very obvious reasons?. 5913. Q. Does the number of confinement.s affect the risk of death ? ,1. No Victorian statistics. 5914. Q. How does age affect risk? A. No V'ietorian statistics. 5915. (^.Combining the two, namely, age and number of previous issue, what is shown? yl. No Victorian statistics. 5916. Q. How does the Victorian experience compare with others ? A. No Victorian statistics. 5917. Q. What diseases are most fatal to infants? A. Exhibit 100 (for copy, see Appendix) shows the number of deaths from principal causes, also the death-rates from such causes per 10,000 births — for the decades 1882-91 and 1892-1901. 5918. (). Is there an increase or decrease in infantile mortality? ^. A decrease— being less now than at any past period, as will be seen from the following table : Period. Infantile mortality. Period. Infantile mortality. 1867-9 13 -.32 1I'61 12-47 12-02 1885 9 13-27 11-44 1870-4 1890 4 1875-9 1895 9 11-28 1880-4 1900 2 10 -23 29 Witness— ^Y. McLean, 14 Dec, 1903. For the births, deaths under 1 year, and mortality rate for each year since 1863, see Exhibit 102 (copied in Appendix). 5919. Q. Is there anything to indicate that an observed decliae in the birth-rate may be more apparent than reall A. It is considered that the decline in the birth-rate is more apparent than real, or rather (since there is no question that there is a decline) that such decline, judging from figures which are for the most part now placed before the Commission, is due more to natural than to artificial causes. Natural causes include (1) changes in the age constitution of the people and of the married women of the reproductive period ; (2) increased age at marriage ; (3) decreased infantile mortality ; and (4) change in physique of married women. Factors (1) and (2) have already been discussed in replies to previous questions. Factor (3) has not, so far as I am aware, received the consideration its importance deserves. A cursory examination only of the following figures will show that a high infantile mortality (that is the number of deaths under 1 year of age per 100 births) is intimately associated with a high birth-rate. Country. South Aiistralia .. , Victoria New Zealand Sweden New South Wales Tasmania Switzerland Queensland Birth-rate per 1,000 of the population. 25 25 26 27 28 28 28 Deaths under 1 year per 100 births. Country. Birth-rate per 1,000 o£ the population. Great Britain Belgium Denmark Western Australia Italy Holland Prussia Austria 287 28-9 30 30-6 339 32'1 36 '5 37 2 Deaths under 1 year per 100 births. 150 170 140 140 190 20 210 25 This is what might reasonably have been expected after consideration of the subject, for it is obvious that the death of an infant under 1 year (and, according to the experiences of Victoria, New South "Wales and England, about one half of those who die within under one year die within three months of birth) if it does not facilitate, certainly does not present any obstacle to conception, though, on the other hand, the nurture of a child is an impediment. In dealing with this question, generally, in connection with the Victorian Year Book for 1902 (not yet published), the following extract may be of interest: — Extract eeom Vital Statistics. Connection between Infantile Mortality and Birth-rate. It is remarkable that those countries in which the greatest infantile mortality occurs are those which possess a high birth-rate, and, on the contrary, those countries which have a low birth-rate have also the lightest mortality. It is evident, therefore, that there is an intimate association between the birth-rate and the infantile mortality, and, in view of the importance at present attaching to the subject of the declining birth-rate, both by medical men and economists, the figures shown above should prove of some interest. So great indeed is the mortality per 1,000 births in the high birth-rate countries that the ultimate gam to population of those countries at the expiration of five years is in some cases below that of the low birth-rate countries, and it is highly probable that, could the mortality have been traced for a year or two beyond that period, it would be found that the supremacy rests with the low birth-rate countries. The following statement shows the birth-rate per 1,000 of the population, and the number surviving their fifth year similarly estimated : — Country. Birth-rate. 39-4 37-2 36-5 34-2 33-9 321 30-3 30 Surviving the fifth year. Country. Birth-rate. Surviving the fifth year. Hungary Austria Prussia... Spain . . . Italy Holland Norway Denmark 23-6 22-8 25-0 19-5 21-4 23-6 25-4 22 7 England Belgium Switzerland New South Wales Sweden New Zealand Victoria France 29-2 22- 28-9 21- 28-4 21- 27 '4 23- 26 9 21- 25-7 22- 26-2 21' 22-0 16- Thus it will be seen that the superiority of the birth-rates of European States, so far as population is concerned, has, for the most part, disappeared at the end of five years. With regard to the fourth factor — change of physique in married women — it is obvious (from the fact that the women of the earlier population of the States were generally of specially-selected lives, and that, on the cessation of immigration, the women gradually assumed the physical character of a general community) that the physique has gradually deteriorated. This is, without doubt, a most important factor in connection with the question at issue. A critical examination of the fall in the birth-rate per 1,000 married women under 4.5 in Victoria has also been made in connection with the Year Book, with the following result : — Year. Births per 1,000 Married Women, 15 to 46. 1899 302-1. 1901 227-9. Decrease 742, or 24-6 per cent. Pursuing the investigation, this percentage fall is accounted for approximately as follows : — Altered age- constitution, 8-9 ; absence of husbands, 1-8 ; all other causes, 13 9. Total, 24-6. Comprised in "all other causes" are factors (3) and (4) already referred to, viz., decreased infantile mortality, and change in physique in married women, to which may be added the effect of the undue migration of young adults from the rural to the urban districts. This matter was dealt with in reply to Question No. 5899. Of the total decline since 1891, viz., 24-6 per cent., altered age-constitution and absence of husbands account for 10-7, the other two causes, although not capable of being mathematically determined, must account for a great part of the balance, so that the decline due to preventives must be very small compared with that due to natural causes. 30 ir(V7i(;.*3— W. McLean, 14 Dec, 1903. causes. In further corroboration of this view, I would invite your attention to the following figures which are extracted from part " Conjugal Condition and families " of the New South Wales Census of 1901, page 471, showing the average issue to all living married women in various age-groups ; — Age-group. Average Issue. Age-group. Average Issue. Under 20 •64 1-23 214 3-31 .35-40 4-57 20 25 40 45 5-75 25 30 45 6-10 30 35 6-67 These figures, showing a steady and uninterrupted increase in tbe issue from age-group to age-group, do not indicate any extensive adoption of preventive measures, and the average issue at each age, as disclosed by these figures, cannot be (itherwi.':e regarded than as highly satisfactory to any community. This view is further confirmed by taking the average i-s-ue (jf married women dying at ages over 45 (Vital Statistics of New South Wales), l!^08 1901, which are, for various age-groups, as follow : — New South Wales. .\ge at Death. Average Issue. 5-81 Age at Death. Average Issue. 45 to 50 ' 80 to 85 6 02 50 to 55 5-78 85 to 00 579 55 to 60 6-16 90 to 95 614 60 to 65 6-26 95 to !00 5-49 65 to 70 (i57 100 and over. 5 00 70 to 75 5-n,) 45 and upwards. 6 09 75 to 80 619 These figures relate to women who, for by far the most part, had completed their families before the knowledge of scientific preventive measures, and it will be seen that the average issue is about equal to that of women of 45 living at the time of the census ; and, in view of this and other facts elicited by these questions, the conclusion is forced upon one that if restrictive measures have been adopted during the last twenty years, then either the practice could not have been as extensive or efiective as is popularly believed, or that women of previous generations were equally well acquainted with measures to attain the same end, though doubtless of a less scientific character. The latter alternative is probably true, and that the practice is generally restricted to the same class at the present time as in past periods. The birth-rate of New South Wales is 27 per 1,000 of the population ; in Buda-Pesth the rate is nearly 40 — an extremely high rate. No suspicion of adoption of preventive measures would be entertained in a country with such a high rate. Yet, critically analysed, age by age, the results, which are as follow, are somewhat surprising : — Age-group. Births per 1,000 married women living at each age. Age-group. Births per 1,000 married women living at each age. 15 to 20 20 to 25 25 to 30 Buda-Pesth. New South Wales. 428 563 358 :;n7 2&2 299 30 to 35 35 to 40 40 to 45 1 BiulaPesth. Nuc South Wales. 206 227 1-17 173 59 1 SS These figures are perfectly comparable; in both cases ante-nuptial conceptions are rot withdrawn, and notwithstanding the great superiority of Buda-Pesth when the birth-rate is estimated per 1,000 of the jtopulalion, yet the New South Wales woman is, in every age-group, the more prolific. TWENTY-SEVENTH MEETINC—MOXD AY, 21 DECEMBER, 1903, 2 p.m. \Board Room, No. 6, Bligh-street, S>/dnf>j.] ^Present: — THE HON. C. K. M.ICKELLAR, M.B., CM., M.I.C., Pkesiuent; THE HON. SIR H. N. MaoLAURIN, Kt., M.D., LL.D., M.L X^. ; O. C. BEALE, Esq., President of the New South "Wales Chamber of aianufactures ; T. A. COGHLAN, Esq., I.S.O., Government Statistician; J. FOREMAN, Esq., LS.A., Lon. ; L. et L., M.B.C.P., Edin. ; M.R.C.S., Eng. ; THE HON. J. B. NASH, M.D., M.L.C. ; and R. T. PATON, Esq., L.R.CP. et S., Edin.; F.R.O.S., Edin.; M.D., Univ., Brussels: Government Medical OHioer. Dr R. H. Todd, Associate to the President, was also present. Mr. J. Garlick, Secretary to the Commission, took shorthand notes of the evidence and proceedings. 6181, In reply to a letter which had been forwarded through the Hon. the Premier of New South Wales, the Hon. A. H. Barlow, for the Premier of Queensland, forwarded the following letter and replies to the questions hereunder set out regarding the birth rate in Queensland, prepared by Mb. J. HUGHES, Registrar-General for Queensland. Sifj . Statistical Office, Brisbane, 27 November, 1903. Referring to the letter of the 13th instant, addressed by the Honorable the Premier of New South Wales to the Honorable the Premier of this State, applying for certain statistical information on behalf of the Roval Commission of Inquiry into the Decline of Birth-rates, and which was minuted, through you, to me, for action :— The information sought for is embodied in seventy-four questions. All of these that can be replied to, by compilation from the tabulated data at the disposal of the Statistical Department, has been answered in the return enclosed ; but the reply 31 Witness— J. Hughes, 21 Dec, 1003. reply to quite a number of them, whilst in nearly every instance capable of being furnished, would involve an elaborate analysis of the Births, Marriages, and Death Registers of the State for a number of years, and, in some instances, tabulating from the original Census schedules, all of which would involve a delay in time and an expenditure in money, whilst the replies are asked to be furnished by the middle of December at the latest. It is estimated that to fully answer all the questions would occupy, in addition to the supervision, the time of six men for five months, and would, with the necessary printing and material, involve an expenditure of at least £700. I am not, therefore, proceeding further with the compilation until I receive definite instructions to do so. I have, &c., J. HUGHES, The Under Secretary, Treasury. Registrar-General. 6182. BY THE HON. THE PRESIDENT.] Q. Has there been a decline in the birth-rate in the State of Queensland "i A. Yes. 6183. Q. Is the birth-rate affected by the difierence in constitution of population as regards age 1 A. Yes, 6184. Q. Taking women of child-bearing age, has there been a decline in birthrate? A. Yes. 6185. Q. To what extent ? A. (Shown by the following table) :— BiETHS to each 1,000. Year. Legitimate births to married females — 15 to 45 years of age. niejj;itimate births to unmarried females— 15 to 45 years of ag-e. All births to all females — 15 to 45 years of age. 1871 305-81 18-71 220 60 1881 325'71 22-34 207-48 1891 31504 19-76 185-93 1901 250-95 16-77 137-29 6186. (). To what extent is the natural increase of the population affected? yl. Comparing the figures for 1881 and 1891, had the ratio which obtained in 1881 of births to women of child-bearing age been maintained in 1901, the total number of births for the latter year would have been increased by 50 per cent. 6187. (?. When diJ decline first become pronounced ? .4. (See answer to <3- 6185.) The greatest decline in decade 1891-1901. 6188. Q. Do the birth rates of city and country differ materially? A. In Queensland, it would not be possible to form any authoritative conclusion on this point. With a few exceptions, registration districts containing towns, comprise also rural population in considerable numbers ; moreover, many women properly belonging to rural districts come to the urban districts for their confinement. 6189. Q. Has this difference always existed ? A. (See answer to Q. 6188.) 61 90. Q. Has there been a fall in marriage-rate in Queensland, and in other countries as well 1 A. Yes. 6191. Q. How do the average ages of husband and wife compare? A. The mean of the average ages of husbands and wives for the past ten years were : Husbands 28-85. Wives 24-16. Difference 469. 6192. $. Has there been an increase in the marriage age? yl. During the last decade, husbands' ages have advanced about 1 -50 year and wives' about 1 -00 year. 6193. Q. la the marriage age affected by city or country life or conditions? .4. No attempt has been made to tabulate this information, which could be best obtained from census data, as to employ registration data would be of little value in Queensland as many rural residents come to towns to be married. 6194. Q. Is the marriage age affected by birth place ? A. This information has never been tabulated. Elaborate investigation of census data would be necessary to ascertain this satisfactorily. 6195. Q. Is the marriage age affected by religion? A. Not tabulated. 6196. Q. What proportion of marriages follows conception? A. Not tabulated. 6197. Q. How do antenuptial and illegitimate conceptions compare with true legitimate first births? A. Not tabulated. 6198. Q. Does age influence the amount of illicit conception ? A. Not tabulated. 6199. Q. Does the proportion of marriages which follow conception vary ? A. Not tabulated. 6200. Q. How does the nearness or remoteness of pregnancy affect the chance of marriage 1 A. Not tabulated. 6201. Q. How does age affect the chance of marriage after illicit conception ? A. Not tabulated. 6202. Q. How do illegitimate births compare with the total births 1 A. The ratios of illegitimate births, to each 100 total births have been as follow : — 1893 4-91 1898 6-04 1894 4-52 1899 5-97 1895 4-93 1900 6-40 1896 5-22 1901 5-93 1897 6-02 1902 6-04 6203. Q. Is this a fair comparison ? ^. It is the result arrived at by compilation of registration. 6204. (J. What is the proper mode? ^. See previous answer. 6205. Q. Is the rate of illegitimates per cent, of single women increasing or otherwi.se? A. Illegitimate children born to unmarried women have never been separately tabulated. 6206. Q. How does age affect these rates ? A. Not tabulated. 6207. Q. How does age of the mother affect the legitimate and illegitimate birth-rates, and the total illicit conception ? A. Not tabulated. 6208. Q. Does the city differ from the country in illegitimacy ? A. Apparently it does, but as many of the expectant mothers of illegitimate children who ordinarily reside in rural districts seek the secrecy securable in towns for their confinement, it would be unwise to draw conclusions from the facts as recorded in the registers. 6209. 32 Witness— 3. Hughes, 21 Dec, 1903. 6209. Q. Is this a real or only apparent difFerenoe 1 A. Probably more apparent than real. 6210. Q. Is illegitimacy characteristic of any given age of women? A. Not tabulated. 6211. ^. Does the illegitimate infantile mortality differ from the legitimate? ^.Investigations made with respect to Brisbane show a greatly increased mortality among illegitimate children, and a similar condition no doubt obtains with respect to the whole State, but figures have not been tabulated. 6212. (?. Has the illegitimate infantile mortality increased; ^. Never sufficiently tabulated to justify conclusions. 6213. Q.Gun you give any returns concerning maternity homes? A. Lying-in hospitals and maternity homes numbered five last year, and afforded assistance to 817 women. 6214. Q. Has the fecundity of women declined in the total and at separate ages ? A. The decline in birth-rate indicates that such is the case ; but facts have not been tabulated with respect to age. 6215. Q. To what extent does fecundity depend upon the age at marriage? A. Not tabulated. 6216. Q. What proportion of marriages are now childless? A. Not tabulated. S217. Q. Do the barrenness rates differ in different parts of the State ? A. Not tabulated. 6218. Q. Has birthplace any effect upon fecundity? A. Not tabulated. Q. If so, how is the population situated with regard to the birth-place of the mother? 6219. 8-l * Oil the census population of the following year. 624.5. C/ What causes of death are most effective? .J. The following statement shows the. most effective ; — Year. Abortion, Miscarriages. Puerperal mania. Puerperal convulsions. Placenta pr;uvia. Flooding. Phlegmasia dolens. other accidents of child-birth and undefined. 1885 ... 1890 ... 1895 ... 1900 ... 1901 ... 1902 ... 5 7 10 7 7 6 5 2 ■3" 2 5 14 6 7 2 3 5 8 4 5 1 4 6 10 5 6 "i" "1 49 48 38 23 28 31 6246. Q. Are many cases undefined ? A. The majority are indefinitely defined. 6247. Q. Is there any chance of the bad definition cloaking illegal practice ? A. There is, of course, opportunity ; whether it is availed of, and, if so, to what extent, is not known. 6248. 33 mtness—G. H. Ayliffe, 21 Peg., 1903. 6248. Q. What are the compai-ative risks of death in childbirth in married and single ? A, Not tabulated. 6249. Q. Does the number of confinements afftct the risk of deaths ? A. Not tabulated. 6250. Q. How does age affect risk t A. Not tabulated. 6251. Q. Combining the two, namely, age and number of previous issue, what is shown? A. Not tabulated. 6252. Q. Ho-w does the Queensland experience compare with others? A. Unknown. 6253. $. What diseases are most fatal to infants? yl. Enteritis, premature births, convulsions, diarrhoea, whooping cough, pneumonia, bronchitis, and dentition. 6254. Q. Is there an increase or decrease in infantile mortality ? A. A regular, though slight, decrease. 6255. Q. Is there anything to indicate that an observed decline in the birth-rate may be more apparent than real t A. More apparent than real, as the birth-rate is influenced adversely of late years by the absence of immigration of young adults, which obtained to a large extent up to about 1885, 6256. The Secretary reported the receipt, through the Under Secretary, Chief Secretary's Department, of a letter, dated 14th December, from the Hon. the Premier of South Australia, forwarding information in regard to the birth-rate in that State, compiled by Mr. G. H. ayliffe, Registrar-General of Births, Deaths, and Marriages, of South Australia, as under :— 6257. Sir, Office of the Registrar-General of Births, Deaths, and Marriages, Adelaide, 1 1 December, 1903. I have the honor to return the accompanying correspondence, and to submit the following report in reference to the subject thereof : — 6258. The list of questions forwarded with the correspondence seems to have been sent here in the belief that we have in this State, as they have in New South Wales, a very comprehensive system of registration, requiring that several particulars over and above those absolutely necessary must be stated in the registration entry of every birth, death, or marriage, and that we have a number of clerks constantly engaged in tabulating in a great variety of ways, and otherwise arranging for a comparison, the many details so recorded. The facts, however, are very different. South Australia was, I think, the first — at all events, it was one of the very earliest — of the Australasian dependencies to institute a general system of registration of births, deaths, and marriages. In doing so, it adopted — and, though there have been trivial alterations, has practically retained ever since — the English forms of registration, which require in each case the entry of only very few particulars. It so happens, then, that, as far as between forty and fifty of the questions in the list are concerned, our records do not contain the detailed information necessary to enable us to answer them. It may be added that similar questions could not, I feel certain, be answered by the Registrar-General of England. With regard, however, to the remaining questions, I shall endeavour to reply to most of them as clearly and as fully as I can, considering that the clerical stafif of this Department is small, and that none of its members can be spared, even temporarily, to engage solely in the compilation of statistics. It will, I think, best serve the purpose and convenience of the Royal Commission if, instead of answering the questions separately in a disjointed fashion, I reply to them by stating, in a number of explanatory paragraphs, all that I know in reference to the decline of the,birth-rate in South Australia — for it has declined, — and in reference to those of the other statistical particulars respecting which I can give information. In doing so, I shall have to refer occasionally to tables in our Annual Report for 1902, a copy of which is forwarded herewith. 6259. Decline in Births. Previously to 1886 we had nothing to complain of with regard to bicths, but in that year a decline set in, commencing with a considerable falling off both in number and rate, and though each succeeding year since then has not always been worse in this respect than the one immediately preceding it, there has never been any real sign of recovery, and, taking one year with another, the tendency has been steadily downward. In 1885 the registered births numbered 12,046 : while in 1902, notwithstanding the increase of population in the meantime, there were recorded only 8,927, being the lowest number registered in any year since 1877. In 1885, the birth-rate was 39'03 per 1,000 of population ; while in 1902 it was only 24 '84. which was below the rate of any other of the last fifty years. If the births of 1881, 1891, and 1901 be compared with the number of females of the child-bearing age, as shown in the census returns of each of these years, we find that the rates per thousand were 180 35, 156 58, and 107 '03, respectively. If, in like manner, we compare the legitimate births of the same three years with the number of married women of the child-bearing age, as shown in the census returns of each of the years, we find the rates per 1,000 were 329'65, 31253, and 236'26 respectively. All tbesie facts show that there has been a very serious decline in the birth-rate of this State. I venture to attribute the decline to the following causes : — First, to the falling off in the number of marriages celebrated. This also commenced in 1886. In the twelve years, 1874-1885, the mean annual marriage rate per 1,000 of population was 8'54 ; while in the seventeen years, 1886-1902, it was only 6'49. Second, to the consequent raising of the average ages of the men and women constituting the married portion of the population. Third, to the fact that, ever since about 1886, it has been the custom for a considerable number of South Australian husbands to be absent from their homes and wives for a great part of each year, being away working or otherwise engaged in business at Broken Hill or in Western Australia. Besides these causes, there has probably been another one. I believe, though I cannot offer any undoubted proof on the point, that in recent years some of our married people have preferred not to have many children, and have, in consequence, had recourse to various means to restrict the number of their offspring. See the last table in page 8 of Annual Report, 1902, which shows for seventeen years the proportions of legitimate births to marriages, and how, in recent years, the proportions have shown a downward tendency. [The return referred, to will be found copied in the Exhibits, No. 103-1 6260. Decline in Natural Increase. For the quinquennium ended with 1885 — just before the falling-ofif in births and marriages set in — the average annual increase from the excess of births over deaths was 7,000, while for the five years 1898-1902 it was only 4,885. 6261. Proportion of Male to Female Births. For every 100 female births registered in the decennium 1893-1902 there were nearly 105 male births recorded, the exact proportion being 10486. 6262. Birth-rates of Metropolitan, and extra-Metropolitan Districts. For the purpose of comparison in this case, two periods of three years each, having a census year in the middle of each, have been selected, bscause, in reference to the six years, the estimates of population used in calculating the rates may be assumed to be very nearly correct. The mean annual birth-rate per thousand of population of Adelaide and suburbs for the three years ended with 1892 was 33 '57, while the mean annual extra-metropolitan birth-rate for the same period was just a little lower, viz., 3303. For the three years ended with 1902 — that is, ten years later — the mean annual birth-rate of the city and suburbs came down to 24 '53, and the corresponding extra-metropolitan rate to 26'04, the decline in the former being very much the greater of the two. 6203. lUegitimacij. As far as can be judged from our records, illegitimate births have, relatively to population, never been numerous in South Australia, A table in page 4 of Annual Report, 1902 [copied in Appendix as Exhibit No. 104], shows for each of the last twenty-two years the proportion per hundred which illegitimate birth a bore to the total births registered. It will be seen that the proportions, though on the average low, have been rising in recent years. If, however, we take the 39608 254— E illegitiaiate 34 'Witims—a. H. Ayliflfe, 21 Dec, 1903. illegitimate births of 1881, 1891, and 1901, and compare them with the number of unmarried females (including widows) of the child-bearing age, as shown in the census returns of each of these years, we find the percentaa;es calculated in this way were 0'87, 0'89, and 0'75 respectively, showing that, in proportion to the number of women exposed to temptation, there has been rather a decrease in immorality in this respeot. The illegitimate births in South Australia not being numerous, we Jiave not heretofore thought it necessary to distinguish those occurring in Adelaide and suburbs from those occurring in the 'rethainder of the State. Moreover, it would have been somewhat misleading to have done so, for it often happens that an illegitimate birth takes place in Adelaide simply because the mother of the child has come temporarily into the city to be confined. 6264. Ages of Persons Married and of Persons MarryiiKj. According to the returns of the last census, the average ages of the married men and women of the population of this State were 44-71 years, and 40'92 years respectively. The average ages at time of marriage of the nien and women who married in 1885— the year before the decline in the marriage rate set in— were 28 '28 years, and 24'36 years respectively, while the corresponding average ages of those who married in 1902 were 29'69 years and 25'85 years respectivelyi It will be seen that the average ages have risen considerably. 1 - 6265. rvfantile Mortality. - The rate of infantile mortality in this State is not high, and is not increasing. At foot of page 6 of the Annual Report, 19(t2, will be found a table showing for several years the proportions of deaths of infants under 1 year of age to the total births registered. [Copied in Apjiemlix as Jix/iil/U No. 105], and in page 9 of the same report will be found a similar table in reference to Adelaide and Rutmibs [cojiial in Appendix as E.':Jiiljit 106.] It has not been, our practice, 'heretofore, to compare the infantile mortality of children born in wedlock with that of those illegitimately born ; but, on ■examining the registers for 1902, wo find that, in proportion to 100 birth';, the rate in that year of infantile mortality amongst legitimate children was 8'68, and, amongst illegitimate, 24 '68. Stated in order of fatality, the following were the principal causes of infantile mortality in the deoennium 1893-1902 : — Atrophy and debility, diarrhceal diseases, premature "birth, enteritis, convulsions, bronchitis, pneumonia, whooping-cough, dentition, inflammation of brain or its membranes, measles, tubercular meningitis. 6266. J'ealhs in C'h!/dhhih. Deaths in child-birth have not increased ; on the contrary, both relatively to population, and absolutely, they have , decreased. In page 6 of Annual Report, 1!I02, will be found a table showing for twenty-one years the rates which deaths lin child-birth bore to 1,000 births registered. [Oopial, in. Ajjpriirlix n.i Exhibit No. 107.] The mean proportion was 4'69, which was liot a high rate. Of the 486 deaths in childbirth regi.stered in the ten years 1893-1902, 194 were caused by , puerperal fever, 31 by abortion or miscarriage, 8 by puerperal mania, 36 by puerperal convulsions, 74 by plaoenta-prawia, pr flooding, 5 by phlegmasia dolens, and 138 by "other accidents of child-birth." As, hitherto, we have not made it a practice; in reference to aiiy cause of death to distinguish Ijetweeri the deaths of married and unmarried women, I cannot say "'wrhat are the comparative risks of death in child-birth in married and single." With respect to the question, "Is .there any chance of a bad definition cloaking illegal practice ? " 1 answer, " Yes, but I do not know of any cases of the .kind." It is not in iny power to give any returns oonoerning maternity homes. A Bill has been drafted and is in print, -Vhich, when it becomes law, will enable this department to supply such returns, biit at present it cannot do so. 6267. Conclusion. In writing the foregoing paragraphs, I have endeavoured to keep in view and deal with every such question in the list as I was able to give any reply to. It is hoped the information furnished, though so far short of what the Eoyal 'Commission expected to obtain, may, neverthelesss, be found useful, especially with regard to the chief subject of inquiry — the decline of the birth-rate. With the One exception of the average ages of ths married men and women of the population, &,11 the particulars given in this report must be understood ks referring only to South Australia proper. In calculating "these ages, however, it was found uede'ss'ary to Use a fiensus return which included the married people of the Northern Territory. I have, &c. , ; G. H. AYLIPFE, The Honorable the Chief Secretary. Registrar-General of Births, &c. 6268. In reply to a letter whicli had been forwarded through the Hon. the Premier of Xew South .Wales, the Hon. Walter James, the Premier of Western Australia, forwarded the following repKes to the questions hereunder set out regarding the birth-rate in Western Australia, prepared by Mr. M. a. C. .eraser, Registrar-General for Western Australia. 6269. BY THE HON. THE PRESIDENT.] Q. Has there been a decline in the birth-rate in the State of Western Australia? A. During the ten years, 1893 to 1902, the "crude" birth-rate of this State has fluctuated somewhat, the figures for the period being as follows : — Year. Estimated mean ■ Population; No. of Births per 1,000 of mean Population. Yoar. Estimated ii'..-aii . No. of Births per 1,000 Population. i of mean Population. 1893 61,690 75,055 90,148 122,696 1.55,563 168,999 34-24 2.S-2n 26-32 22-67 25-K5 29-40 1899 168,528 177,073 188,603 207,142 .30-70 30-80 30-32 30-09 1894 1900 1895 1901 1896 1902 1897 Mean for 10 years... 1898 141,550 28-93 The,se figures exhibit a rapid decline in birfch-iatc from 1893 td 1896, followed by a gradual increase in the four succeeding years, and a slight decline in 1901 and 1902. Judging from the experience of the first ten months of the present year, it appears probable that the birth-rate for 1903 will be somewhat higher than that for 1902. (See also Reply to Q. 6342.) 6270. Q. Is the birth-rate affected by the difference in constitution of population as regards age ? A. Yes ; and also as regards sex. 6271-4. Qs. Taking women of child-bearing age, has there been a decline in birth-rate T To T(vhat extent ? To what extent is the natural increase of the population affected? When did decline ^first become pronounced? ^. The following table furnishes for the years 1893 to 1902 particulars .for this State relative to birth-rates, based on the number of women of child-bearing age (15 years and under 50) : — Year. Estimated female mean population between the ag-es of 16 and 50. Number of Births. Number of births per 1 ,0(K} of estimated female mean population between the ages of 15 and 50. Year. Estimated female mean population between the ages of 16 and 60. Number of Births. Number of births per 1,000 of estimated female mean population between tli6 ages of 16 and 60. 1893 .... 12,186 13,8-26 16,384 21, .387 28,467 2,112 2,123 2.373 2,782 4,021 173 1.54 . 145 130 141 1898 1899 1900 1901 1902 3.3,164 34,751 37,706 41,101 45,238 4,968 5,174 5,4.54 5,718 6,232 150 ] i;i 145 139 -138 1894 ;.. 1895,.-. 1896 1897.'...:....' 35 Witne-is—U. A. C. Fraser, 21 Dec, 1903, The fluctuations noted in the reply to Q. 6269 in connection with the "crude" birth-rate, are again in evidence here, viz., a rapid decline from 1893 to 1896, succeeded by a rise in the two following years, and a subsequent slight decline. 6275. Q. Do the birth-rates of city and country differ materially 1 A. The " crude " birth-rate of Perth and suburbs has during the past iive years been considerably higher than that of the remainder of the State, being as follows : — Year. Numter of Births per 1,000 of mean population. Year. Number of Births per 1,000 of mean population. Perth and Subiirhs. Remainder of State. The whole State. Perth and Suburbs. Remainder of State. The whole State. 1898 1899 1900 37-42 36-68 35'-02 - 27-24 29-18 29-74 29-40 30-70 30-80 1901 ... 1902 .. 35-10 35-48 29-15 28-77 30-32 30-09 6276. Q. Has this difference always existed'! A. During the five years 1898 to 1902 for which the requisite particulars are available, the metropolitan birth-rate has consistently exceeded the extra- metropolitan rate. 6277. Q. Has there been a fall in marriage rate in Western Australia, and in other countries as well 1 A. Western Australian marriage rates for the ten years 1893 to 1902 are as follows : — Year. Number of Marriag;es per 1,000 of mean population. Year. Number of Marriages per 1,000 of mean population. 1893 6-35 6-42 7-02 8-78 10-66 9-91 1899 9-92 1894 1900 ... . 10-06 1895 1901 9-66 1896:.;:...:.:...:..::....'.... 1902 ....: 9-77 1897 Mean for 10 years 1898 9-34 It will be seen that the marriage rate of this State increased rapidly from 1893 to 1897, and remained fairly uniform from the latter year to 1902. 6278, ^. How do the average ages of husband arid wife compare'! .4. The mean of the recorded ages at marriage of husbands and wives married in this State during each of the years 1898 to 1902 are as f-ellows : — Year. Mean ages at Mai-riage. Year. Mean ages at Marriage. Husbands. Wives. Husbands. Wives. 1898 . , 28-96 29-19 29-12 2501 2£;-13 21-99 1901 1902 • 29-43 29-54 25-31 25-34 1899 _ 1900 ......... 6279. Q. Has there been an increase in the marriage age 1 A. There are no figures available for this State prior to 1898, but those given above for that and subsequent years appear to indicate .a -tendency for the marriage age to increase. 6280. Q. Is the marriage age affected by city or country life or conditions 1 A. No figures available for this State. 6281. Q. Is the marriage age affected by birthplace? A. Ne figures available for this State. 6282. Q. Is the marriage age affected by religion ? A. No figures available for this St^te. 6283. (). What proportions of marriages follow conception ? .4. Particulars for this State for the years 1897 to 1902 are as follow : — Year. Number of Births within 9 months of Marriage. Total Number of Marriages. Percentage of Number of Births within 9 months of Marriage. Total Number ' of , Marriages. Percentage of (1) on (2). 1897 (1) 355 369 385 (2) 1,659 1,674 1,671 (3) 21 -39 per cent. 22-04 „ 23-04 „ 1900 (1) 411 413 443 (2) 1,781 1,821 2,024 (3) 32-08 per cent, 22-68 „ 1898 1901 1899 1902 21-89 „ Total ... 2,376 10,630 22-35 per cent. , . ■ -In the reply to this and other questions relating to illicit conception, it has been assumed that all births occurring within nine months of marriage are the results of antenuptial conception. No figures are available for this State prior to 1897. 6284. Q. How .do antenuptial and illegitimate conceptions compare with true legitimate first births? .4. Assuming that all illegitimate births are first births, the results for this State for the six years 1897 to 1902 are as follow : — Particulars. Number during six years 1S97-1902. Percentage on total First Births. Erst births of postnuptial conception First births of antenuptial conception No. 6,987 2,376 1,446 64-64 per cent, 21-98 „ 13-38 „ Total, first births 10,809 100-00 per cent. 36 Witness— M. A. C. Praser, 21 Dec, 1903. 6285. Q. Does age influence the amount of illicit conception 1 A. Information not available for this State, 6283. 6286. Q. Does the proportion of marriages which follow conception vary 1 A. See reply to question 6287. Q. How does the nearness or remoteness of pregnancy affect the chance of marriage ? A. Tabulated according to the number of months elapsing between date of marriage and date of birth of first child, the figures relating to the number of antenuptial conception cases in this State during the six years 1897 to 1902 are as follows : — Period elapsing between date of Marriage and date Number of Births during Percentage on totals within of Birth of First Child. 6 years 1897-1902. 9 Months. 1 month and under 70 118 2-95 4-97 per cent, Over 1 month but not exceeding 2 months ... ,, 2 months ,, ,, 3 173 7-28 >, 3 >. ,. .. 4 208 8-75 ., 4 5 213 8-96 >, 5 6 323 13 59 ,, 6 7 370 15-57 .. 7 8 348 14-65 „ 8 9 Total M'ifcliin 9 months ..... 533 23-28 2,376 100 00 per cent. A. Information not 6288. Q. How does age affect the chance of marriage after illicit conception 1 available for this State. 6289. Q. How do illegitimate births compare with the total births 1 A. The following table gives the number and percentage of illegitimate births registered in this State during the ten years 1893 to 1902 : — Year. Total births registered. Illegitimate births reifisterod. Percentage of illegitimate on total births. Year. Total births registered. Illegitimate births registered. Percentage o illegitimate on total births. 1893 1894 1895 1896 1897 1898 2,112 2,123 2,373 2,782 4,021 4,968 88 99 106 156 212 248 4-17 per cent. 4-66 ,, 4-47 5-61 5-27 4-99 „ 1899 1900 1901 1902 Total... 5,174 5,454 5,718 6,232 254 2(33 222 247 4"91 per cent, 4-82 „ 3-88 „ 3 96 40,957 1,895 4*63 per cent. 6290. Q. Is this a fair comparison 1 A. The method used above is that usually adopted for presenting rates of illegitimacy, but fails to give a correct view of the increase or decrease in the illegitimate birth- rate, since the rates obtained by this means depend on the fiuctuations in the number of legitimate births. 6291. Q. "What is the proper mode ? A. The most accurate method of ascertaining the Ulegilimate birth-rate is that of basing it upon the number of unmarried women of child-bearing age. 6292. Q, Is the rate of illegitimates per cent, of single women increasing or otherwise 1 A. Basing the computation on the number of unmarried women of child-bearing age, the illegitimate birth-rate of this State for the ten years, 1893 to 1902, is as follows ; — Number of illegitimate births Year. mean population between the ages of 16 and 60. Number of Illegitimate per 1,000 of estimated unmarried births. female mean population between the ages of 15 and 60. 1893 5,445 88 16 1894 6,077 99 16 1895 7,087 106 15 1896 9,105 156 17 1897 11,929 212 18 1898 13,682 248 18 1899 14,112 254 18 1900 15,078 263 17 1901 16,187 '^i^ 14 1902 17,816 247 14 It will be seen that during the last three years of the decennium, a decrease in the illegitimate rate has been in evidence. 6293. Q. How does age affect these rates 1 A. See reply to Q. 6294. 6294, Q. How does age of the mother affect the legitimate and the illegitimate birth-rates, and the total illicit conceptions? A. Tabulated according to the ages of the mothers, the legitimate and illegitimate birth-rates of this State for the year 1901, are as follow : — Age group. Legitimate Birth-rate, 1901. Illegitimate Birth-rate, 1901. Number of legitimate births per 1,000 of married female mean population in each age group. Number of illegitimate births perl, 000 of unmarried female mean population in each age group. 15 years and under 21 396 366 282 233 174 81 10 9 18 19 22 15 21 25 26 30 30 35 35 40 40 45 3 45 „ 50 15 and under 50 Total, 221 14 37 Witness— U. A. C. Fraser, 21 Bee, 1903. Information relating to illicit conceptions tabulated, according to ages of mothers, is not available for this State. 6295. Q. Does the city differ from the country in illegitimacy 1 A. The following table gives the percentage of illegitimate on total births for Perth and suburbs, the remainder of the State, and the whole State respectively for each of the five years, 1898-1902 ; — Year Percentage of illeftitimale on total births. Perth and Suburbs. Remainder of State. The whole State. 1898 .... 7 '42 per cent. 8-87 „ 6-37 „ 7-87 „ 8-51 „ 3-69 per cent. 4-09 „ 3-63 „ 315 „ 2-78 „ 499 per cent. 4-91 ,, 1899 1900 4-82 „ 1901 3-88 ,, 1902 3-96 ,, Five years, 1898-1902 7 '81 per cent. 3 43 per cent. 4 '48 per cent. It will be seen that, for the five years for which the information is available, the percentage in the case of Perth and suburbs has been more than twice as great as that for the remainder of the State. True, illegitimate birth-rates, based on the number of unmarried women of child-bearing age, are not available for the Metropolitan and extra-Metropolitan Districts separately. 6296. Q. Is this a real or only apparent difference 1 A. The difference is undoubtedly to some extent more apparent than real, since the existence in the Metropolis of maternity homes, and other facilities for obtaining medical and nursing attendance, together with the fact that the shame attaching to illegitimacy is more easily hidden in the city than the country, must all tend to divert to the Metropolis a number of cases which would otherwise have occurred and been registered in the extra-Metropolitan districts, the result being that the Metropolitan percentage is unduly increased and the extra-Metropolitan correspondingly diminished. There are, however, no data available to enable a numerical estimate to be made of the extent to which such migration takes place. 6297. Q. Is illegitimacy characteristic of any given age of women ? A. See reply to Question 6294. G298-9. Q. Does the illegitimate infantile mortality differ from the legitimate ;— has the illegitimate infantile mortality increased 1 A. No information available for this State. 6300. Q. Can you give any returns concerning maternity homes ? A. See "Eeport of Superintendent of Public Charities for the year 1902," as follows : — Women's Home, Perth — Maternitij Ward. As mentioned in previous reports, the maternity ward is well adapted for the purpose, and is under the care of an experienced nurse. There were 28 admisaions during the year (18 single and 10 married women). There were 4 inmates remaining on the 3l3t December, 1902. 6301. Q. Has the fecundity of women declined in the total and at separate ages 1 A. No information available for this State. 6302. Q. To what extent does fecundity depend upon the age at marriage ] A. No information available for this State. 6303. Q. What proportion of marriages are now childless? A. No information available for this State. 6304 Q. Do the barrenness rates differ in different parts of the State? A. No information available for this State. 6305. Q. Has birthplace any effect upon fecundity 1 A. No information available for this State. 6306. Q. If so, how is the population situated with regard to the birthplace of the mother? A. See volume II of "Western Australian Census Report, Part III, pages 12, 13, and 14; and Part V, pages 10 and 11. [Note. — These tables are omitted from the evidence, as they do not contain any information as to the issue of the people of various birthplaces^ - 6307. Q. Are there any signs of improvement from this point of view ? A. Information not available for this State. 6308. Q. Does the birthplace of husband affect the fecundity of the marriage ? A. Information not available for this State. 6309. Q. Has religion any effect upon fecundity ? A. Information not available for this State. 6310. Q. If so, how is the population situated with regard to religion ? A. See volume II of Western Australian Census Report, Part IV, pages 8 to 17, and Part V, page 12. {Note.— These tables give merely the number of husbands and wives of the various religions, and not the number of children born to them, which is necessary to answer the question. The returns are therefore not included in the evidence.'] 6311. Q. Are there any signs of improvement from this point of view ? A. Information not available for this State. 6312. Q. Does the religion of the husband affect the fecundity of the marriage ? A. Information not available for this State. 6313. Q. What average periods separate the successive births ? A. Information not available for this State. 6314. Q. How does the fact of having previous issue affect the probability of child-bearing ? A. Information not available for this State. 631.5. <3. Has there been a general decline in the birthrate without regard to previous issue ? A. Information not available for this State. 6316. Q. To what extent does the age of the mother influence the period between marriage and the birth of the first child ? A. Information not available for this State. 6317 How are the durations distributed ? A. Information not available for this State, ^' 6318. 38 Witness— U. A. C. Praaer, 21 Dec, 1903. 6318. Q.Wh&t is the initial fertility within the first two years of marriage ? ^. The number of first births occurring within two years of marriage for each of the years 1897 to 1902, and the percentage of such births in each case on the number of marriages performed in the preceding year, are as follow ;— Year. 1897 1898 1899 1900 1901 1902 Total No. of Birth8 within two years of Marriage. Total No. of Marriages in preceding year. (1) 1,072 1,415 1,309 1,3.35 1,434 1,.549 8,114 (2) 1,077 1,659 1,674 1,671 1,781 1,821 9,683 Percentage of (1) on (2). (3) 99 '54 per cent. 85-29 „ 78-20 „ 79-89 80-52 „ 85-06 „ 83-80 per cent. The experience of this State for the six years 1897 to 1902 thus indicates that in the case of about 84 per cent, of the marriages performed the birth of the first child occurs within two years of the date of marriage. 6319. Q. Is a woman with issue more likely to bear than one of same age newly married J A. Information not available for this State. 6320. Q, How does the average issue at present compare with the past ? A. Information not availT .able for this State. 6321. (?. What causes may be adduced to which to ascribe the decline in the average issue? A. Inforrnation not available for this State. 6322. (). Does the occiipation of the husband have any efifect upon the average issue? A. Informa- tion not available for this State. 0323. Q. Does the average issue of males difi'er widely from that of females? A. Information not available for this State. 6324. Q.To -what extent does age at marriage afi"ect the average issue? A. Information not available for this State. _ . 632.5. Q. Whatpercentageof family survives the parents? A. Information not available for this State. 6326. Q. Does birthplace affect the average issue 1 A. Information not available for this State. 6327. (J. Has the average issue declined according to birthplace? A. Information not available for this State. 6328. Q. Does religion affect the average issue 1 A. Information not available for thi^ State. 6329. Q. What religions are most fertile at present ? A. Information not available for this State. 6330. Q. Does birthplace or religion of husband affect fertility I A. Information not available for this State. 6331. (3. Have the deaths in child-birth increased ? ^ . The number of deaths in child-birth registered in this State during each of the ten years 1893 to 1902 is as follows :^ Year. Number of Deaths in Child-birth. Year. Number of Deaths in Child-birth. ,. _ Number of Deaths ' '^"- in Child-birtli. 1893 1894 1895 1896 5 8 8 15 IS'.iy 1 22 1898 j 26 1001 . 28 ' 1902 37 1900 39 Total j 215 , 6332. Q. What causes of death are most effecti\e f A. The following table exhibits the deaths in child-birth for the ten years 1893 to 1902, tabulated according to cause of death : — ■ Cause of Death. Number of Deaths in Child-birth rcKistorcd duriiii,^ the tun ^oars IS1I3 to llWi. 27 6 28 64 15 Cause of Death. Number of Deaths Child-bh-th registered during the ten yews . 1893 to 1902. Ab.ortion, Miscarriage Plilccrmasia T)olGn<^ 1 79 Puerperal Mania Puerper.al Convulsions Total Puerperal Fever Placenta Prsevia (Flooding) 215 1,..^- f »mi, a"^.?^ f '^/nu-'^f!""^,l "^^ ^^'^ ''"™^^'" °* '^•■^'^^■^ *°r tl^e ten years tabulated under the heading of "Other Accidents of Child-birth," amounted to 79, or about 37 per cent, of the total number; ninvl f ^^' ''°^^^®''' ^«re more or less clearly defined on the certificates, but were included under the Th71,;fw "J ^'=°°'-.'^'^"°^ 7\th the ,sy.strn, of classification in force in this office, viz., that of Dr. Ogle. The number of cases in which the cause of death was absolutely undefined is not available. fiqq^' ^'wi.''"/ ™°''''^^^'®^'''^ '^''fi'^^'^^°'^ cloaking illegal practice? ^. Very probably. ■ tion not fvaili^.IeTtrstte""''"'-'^''^" "^'^ °' '^^'^ ''' '^'"'^"^^^^'^ '^ '"^"-'^ ^"^ ^^^'^ ' ^- ^^^^^^^ for thisSe ^' "^°^' *^^ '''"°^'''' °^ ''°''fi"^'"«"^t« 'Effect the risk of death ? A. Information not available till' n ^°\'^°P^ ^g^ '^ffs*^* "«k ? A. Information not available for this State. 'yilnf.rnZ'y^^TA the two namely, age and number of previous issue, what is shown - A. Information not available for this State. i "W"., a.ve.ihhh ice this^t'l *^°^^ ^^^ Western Australian experience compare with others? A. Information^not 6340. 39 Witness— M. A. C. Fraser, 21 Dec, 1903. 6340; Q. What diseases are most fatal to infants ? A. In the following table is shown the number of deaths in this State of children imder twelve months of age during the six years, 1897 to 1902, the principal causes of death being given in the order of fatality ;— Causes of Death. Number of deaths of children under 12 months of ajye registered during the six years, 1897 to 1902. Enteritis Debility, atrophy, inani tion. Premature birth 971 819 590 Causes of Deaths. Diarrhi.eal diseases Diseases of respiratory system. Other causes Total .', Number of deaths of children uqder 12 months of age registered during the six years, 1897 to 1902. 468 315 1,434 4,597 6341. <3. Is there an increase or decrease in infantile mortality ? il. The infantile mortality of this State for each of the years, 1897 to 1902, is as follows : Year. Number of births registered. Number of deaths of children under 12 months. Infantile Mortality, per- centage of (2) on (1). 1897 (1) 4,021 4,968 5,174 5,454 5,718 6,232 (2) 738 825 724 688 737 885 (3) 18-35 per cent; 16-61 ,, 13-99 12-61 12-89 (, 14-20 1898 1899 1900 1901 1902 .; Total 31,567 4,597 14-56 per cent. 6342. Q. Is there anything to indicate that an observed decline in the birth-rate may be more apparent than real 1 A. So far as this State is concerned, the decline in the birth-rate which was noticeable during the years 1893 to 1896 can be attributed largely to the disproportion in the sexes caused by the influx during those years of male immigrants, and to the temporary separation of married couples brought about by the rush to the gold-fields. The Hon. 0. K. THE HON. SIR H. N. TWENTY-NINTH UEETINQ, THURSDAY, 31 DECE2IBER, 1903, 2 p.m. \_Board Room, No. 6, Bligh-str'eet, Sydney.'] MACKELLAU, M.B., CM., M.L.C., President; MacLAURIN, Kt., M.D., LL.D., M.L.C. ; p. C. BEALE, Esq., President of the New South Wales Chamber of Manufactures ; T. A. COGHLAN, Esq., I.S.O., Government Statistician ; T. FIASCHI, Esq., M.D., Ch.M., D.S.O. ; J. FOREMAN, Esq., L.S.A., Lon. ; L. et L, M.R.C.P., Edin. ; M.R.C.S., Eng. ; THE RT. HON. THOMAS HUGHES, Lord Mayor of Sydney ; E. W. KNOX, Esq., General Manager, Colonial Sugar Refining Company (Limited) ; G. S. LITTLE JOHN, Esq., President of the Sydney Chamber of Commerce ; THE HON. J. B. NASH, M.D., M.L.C. ; and R. T. PATON, 'Esq., L.R.C.P. et S., Edin. ; F.R.O.S., Edin. ; M.D,, Univ., Brussels; Government Medical Officer. Mr. Dr. R. H. Todd, Associate to the President, was also present. J. Garlick, Secretary to the Commission, took shorthand notes of the evidence and proceedings. Mr. J. B. TRIVETT, F.R.A.S., F.S.S., Registrar and Actuary of Friendly Societies, was recalled and further examined as under : — 6618. BY THE HON. THE PRESIDENT.] Q. You are aware, Mr. Trivett, that a series of questions concerning the alleged decline of the birth-rate, of a character somewhat similar to those which I personally addressed to you when you were examined on the 1st September last, was forwarded to the various statisticians throughout the Commonwealth and New Zealand. Answers have been received which seem to indicate that there has been, during recent years, a general fall throughout the States in the proportion of children born to the number of the population. It has been pointed out that a calculation based upon the ratio of births per thousand of the population is somewhat unsatisfactory, in view of the changes which may have taken place from time to time in the age-constitution of the females, and" that a calculation based upon a consideration of the proportion pf births to the number of married Women of child-bearing age is a more satisfactory comparison. But you have told us that you have made a calculation based upon a consideration of the proportion of births to the number of women of child-bearing age, which seems to show that the acknowledged decrease in the birth-rate is not accounted for by the difference in the age- constitution of the women. It is now suggested that in the computation the number of women should be taken in age-groups, so that no error should be allowed to creep into the calculation by reason of our failing to examine the question whether amongst the married women capable of bearing children the proportion of those in the earlier (and therefore more prolific) child-bearing period was greater at one time than another. I shall, therefore, ask you a few questions to make that point clear, and also to give the Commission some further information concerning the fluctuations of the birth rate, and those of infant mortality, the general increase in the proportion of old people in the Commonwealth, and certain other phases of our inquiry. Can you tell us what has been the gross rate of increase of the population from 1856 up to the present time 1 A. 40 Witness— J. B. Trivett, F.R.A.S., F.S.S., 31 Dec, 1903. A. Yes. I have a table here giving the rate of increase for inter-censal periods for the population of this State. To give a comparative review of what those rates really mean, I give comparative rates of the increase, taking the present rate as standard, that is, taking the rate in 1901 as unity. In other words, taking the present rate as unity, as a standard, the numbers represent the co-efficient comparatively with the present time. It will be seen that the first period, 1856 to 1861, would have been very nearly three times the rate of increase in the last period. Comparative rate of increase taking present rate Period Bate of Increase. as standard. 1856-1861 1-05401 2-931 1861-1871 1871-1881 1881-1891 1891-1901 1-03688 2-001 1-04076 2-212 1-04184 2-270 1 01843 1-000 6619. Q. Have you found that the age incidence of women varies materially in the several Australian States ? A. It does not differ very materially comparing one State with the other. I have a table prepared from the 1901 census which gives the relationship which one State bears to another in five-year groups in the conceptive period, that is from 15 to 45 years of age. 6620. (The table was put in and marked Exhibit No. 112. For copy see Appendix.) 66-Jl. Q. Have you examined the age incidence of married women between the ages of 15 and 45 years, and does that materially difinr in the several States ? A. Yes, I have ; and I hand this table in also as an exhibit. If I were to read it it would possibly not convey as much information as when printed. 6G22. (The table was put in and marked Exlnbit No. 113. For copy see Appendix.) 6623. BY Me. COGHLAN.] (J. Perhaps you would give the range at each age ? A. The highest and lowest for the youngest group, 15 to 20 years of age, are — Tasmania 1 82, and Victoria -81 respectively, that is per cent, of the total women of conceptive age. At ages 20 to 25 the Victorian is the lowest, 989 ; and the West Australian is the highest, 13-68. For the next group, 25 to 30 years of age, the lowest is Victoria, 19-83 ; and the highest is West Australia, 26-29. In age-group 30 to 35 the lowest is Tasmania, 21-84; and the highest is West Australia, 26-36. In age-group 35 to 40 the lowest is West Australia, 19 69 ; and the highest is Victoria, 24 93. In agn-group 40 to 45 the lowest is West Australia, 12-45 ; and the highest is South Australia, 2062. "; 6624. BY THE HON. THE PRESIDENT.] Q. Whatbearing would that particularly have upon the question that we are now considering ? A. It would have this bearing, that, of course, the State which, other things being equal, that is, the conceptive power, age for age, being equal throughout Australasia, the State which showed the higher proportions or percentages in the older ages would be comparatively in the worse position with regard to reproductiveness. I have another table here which will show that. [Exhibit No. 114.] 6625. Q. Have you made comparisons as to the relative conditions of the Australasian States for productiveness arising out of the age incidence of married women 1 A. Yes ; in this case for the various age-groups I have taken the birth-rate in New South Wales as a standard ; that is, I have taken five-year groups from 15 to 45 years of age ; I have established what the New South Wales rate tor each age group is at the present time ; and I have applied that to the women of conceptive age in age-groups throughout the whole of Australasia. It gives the results in this return, which I propose to hand in as an exhibit. \Iieturn, marked Exhibit No. 114. For copy see Appendix.'^ It is a means of comparison as showing (considering the conceptive power to be equal, age for age, throughout Australasia) the fitness of each State as regards available women to show a birth-rate. Taking New South Wales as a standard, we get a standard of 23 3 per cent. Taking that standard we find that the Victorian figures are 21-99; South Australian 22-20; Queensland, 23-50 ; West Australian, 24 62 ; Tasmanian, 2310; and New Zealand, 23-16 ; and the higher any State is in that order the better situated will that State be, under natural conditions, for showing a good birth-rate. Arguing from that standpoint, we find that West Australia is the first in ability, if there is no prevention of conception, to show the best birth-rate. New South Wales and Queensland are very much on a par, and the others follow in this order : New Zealand, Tasmania, South Australia, and Victoria last. Victoria is the worst situated for showing an annual increase in the population from births. That is the hypothetical consideration. The actual facts stated in the last line of the table show a better state of afTairs in every case, except that of West Australia ; that is, they show better results than the hypothetical results would be, based on our birth-rate age for age. 6626. BY Mb. COGHLAN.] Q. That is to say, if their population were situated as ours is exactly, then their rates would be as you read at first ? A. Yes. 6627. Q. And the actual rates are somewhat in excess? A. Yes, in all, except one, West Australia. 6628. BY THE HON. THE PRESIDENT.] Q. What would you estimate to be the approximate loss by the drop in the birth-rate since 1861, and by the higher infantile mortality of illegitimates as compared with that of legitimates? A. If the loss of births for each year since 1864 be calculated on the supposition that the rate subsisting in 1864 had prevailed continuously, then we have lost 320,257 births. Of these births, 52,326 would have dropped out by death under ordinary conditions, leaving 267,931 who would have been born, and would have survived until the present. From the illegitimacy of the years 1882 to 1901 (42,289) we find that the illegitimates per total births for the same period (737,295) were 5-7357 per cent., and this rate applied to the total births (1,148,164) of the period 1865 to 1902 gives a total of illegitimates of 65,855 ; and, using the illegitimate infantile mortality rate of these 65,855 births, there would have died 18,184. If they had been legitimate, and, consequently, taken on the legitimate rate, the deaths would have been 6,500, giving a difference of 11,684. Thus the entire loss, first, by the reduction of the birthrate (267,931), and, second, by the higher death-rate of the illegitimates (11,684), would be 279,615 at the present time— say, 280,000. The loss of the births is 21| per cent, of what would have been born on the 1864 basis ; but this is not all owing to any possible system of prevention, because the age constitution of the people having slightly altered since then, it would, of course, come in as a factor. This estimate is on the supposition that the age incidence is constant for the whole period. 6629. Q. But since 1864 about forty years have elapsed ;— and, therefore, many of these children born in the early period would have passed through the reproductive period, and would themselves have borne children 2 ^. Yes; that has been allowed for. We have assumed that the rate per 1,000 of the population was constant throughout the period. 6630. 41 iritocAS— J. B. Trivett, F.K.A.S., F.S.S., 31 Dec, 1903. 6630. Q. Have the fluctuations of imports and exports seemed to affect the birth-rate during the last forty years ? A.l have a table from 1860 to the present time showing the rates as to births and as to trade (that is, total trade), and apparently there is no marked connection between the rise and fall in trade and in the birth-rate. There is apparently no necessary connection. [Table put in and marked Exhibit No. 115. For copy see Appendix.^^ 6631. Q. How does the birthrate of New South Wales compare with that of other Australian States and with England, when the births are strictly related to married women of conceptive ages? A. Here is a table which I propose to hand in, showing the number of married women between the ages of 15 and 45, the number of legitimate births, and the proportion o£ legitimate births to a thousand married women. \Tahle put in and marked Exhibit No. 116. For copy see A2)pendix.~\ 6632. Q. Have you got the average for those States ? A. No ; I have not taken out the averages. I might mention that the highest as regards the Australian States is Tasmania, and the lowest is Victoria. 6633. Q. How do the rates of deaths in child-birth in New South Wales compare with those of England 1 A. I have a table here which I consider is a most important one. It gives the deaths in child-birth for New South Wales, and for England and Wales, for the period 1896 to 1900, in rates per 10,000 births. I have the five years individualised, but if ycu would prefer it I will give the totals, and the rest will go in as an exhibit. For the quinquennium the deaths from septiceemia in child-birth in New South Wales were 5-45 per 10,000 births ; in England and Wales, 1-63, which is less than a third. Puerperal fever : New South Wales, 2-113 ; England and Wales, 20 77, showing not very much difference. Abortion and miscarriage : New South Wales, 12 69 ; England and Wales, 2-13, or just exactly one- sixth ; i.e., our rate is six times that of England and Wales. " Others " is a miscellaneous heading under which general accidents of child-birth are put. On the whole, the New South Welsh rate is SO per 10,000, and that of England and Wales is 48-89, or slightly over a half. 6634. Q. In what section of the list you have juat read is there the gi-eatest difference 1 A. In " Abortion and Miscarriage," undoubtedly. Our rate is six times the English rate. yFahle put in and marked Exhibit Xo. 117. For copy see Appendixl\ 6635. Q. In that you do not include septicemia with the abortions ; you have a separate table for septicsemia ? J. Yes. 6636. Q. Does not the septicaamia shov;" an equaldifference, or a considerable difference 1 A. I might mention in that connection that these are shown here as they were classed ; possibly, if they had been classified by an expert, some of these abortions would have been classified under puerperal fever. 6637. BY Me. COGHLAN.] Q. What are the rates for septicremia ? A. In New South Wales, 5'45 ; in England and Wales, 1-63. 6638. BY Dr. FOREMAN.] Q. Would not most of the septicpemia cases come from miscarriages and abortions ? A. Presumably, yes. 6639. BY THE HON. SIR H. N. MaoLAURTN.] Q. Are all these septica;mia cases connected •with the puerperal state % A. Yes ; they are in child-birth. 6640. (3. They are distinctly marked down, I suppose? ^1. They are taken as such, although I mentioned in my former evidence that, where it is septic:emia in child-birth, I thought it ought to be included in puerperal fever. 6641. Q. Is there no possibility of septicsemia being connected with other conditions \ A. Yes, it may be ; but these are all connected with child-birth. 6642. Q. Are all these st;rictly connected with women who have had child-ljirth within a month? A. Yes. 6643. BY THE HON. Dr. NASH] Q. From where is the cause of death taken? A. From the compilers in former 3-ears. 6644. Q. Is it taken from the death ceitiScatfis? A. Yes, from the death cards. 6645. Q. These terms of death are taken from the death certificates given by medical men ? A. Yes. 6646. BY THE HON. SIR H. N. MacLAURIN.] Q. What I wanted to know was whether they were strictly confined to diseases occurring within a month after delivery — within the puerperium ? A. Yes, undoubtedl}'. Of course, we never upset a classification unless it is transparently bad. We take the doctor's classification as good. 6647. BY THE HON. THE PRESIDENT.] (;. Have you made any calculation as to the number of deaths occurring from diseases incidental to the puerperal state in the hospitals ? A. No ; we have not got them sufficiently defined to go into that with any hope of being exact. 6648. Q. You are, no doubt, aware that il; is stated that the deaths incidental to parturition are very few in number in the Maternity Hospitals ? A. Yes. 6649. Q. But you have not got any figures ? A. No. 6650. Q. Have you the means of comparing the infantile mortality of the Australian States? A. Yes. I have a ten-year table here for each of the Australasian States. The mean for the whole period is : New South Wales, 110-62 ; Victoria, 109-0 ; South Australia, 106-0 ; Queensland, 103-2 ; West Australia, 146-1 ; Tasmania, 95-3 ; New Zealand, 81-4. There has been a considerable fluctuation in every State during the ten years, up and down. There is a great agreement in the rates for New South Wales, Victoria, South Aus- tralia, and Queensland ; a distinctive and high rate for West Australia, but improving ; and low rates for Tasmania and New Zealand throughout. {Table put in and marked Exhibit No. 118. For copy see Appendix."] 6651. Q. Is there any relationship between the fluctuations in the birth-rate and those of the infantile mortality rate, considering the rural population separately ? A.l have a table referring to that ; but, if you would not mind, I would like to take this first, as it leads up to that. 6652. Q. Can you supply any statistics giving a review of the birth-rates of the Australian States for a number of years in conjunction with the infantile mortality for the same years ? A. Yes. I have a table here which I propose to hand in. It is extensive ; but it shows, in all the examples, that a period of a high or low infantile mortality rate does not necessarily coincide with a period of high or low birth-rate. No doubt a high infantile death-roll will mean a diminished period of lactation and correspondingly increased exposure to conception, and must necessarily have some favourable effect in the direction of an increased birth-rate. But the fact of the infantile mortality rate for one period being higher than that of another period, -whilst the converse appears for the same periods respecting the birth-rate, shows that other influences are at work, having more effectual results. Take the periods 1891 to 1895 and 1895 to 1900, •which is the succeeding flve years. In New South Wales, -we find that the infantile mortality in the two 39608 254— F periods 42 Witness— J. B. Trivett, F.R.A.S., F.S.S., 31 Dec, 1903. periods was almost equal, there being an increase of 2 per 1,000 of the infantile population in the latter period ; but in the birth-rate there was a distinct decrease of no less than 5 per 1,000 of the population in the latter period. In Victoria and Queensland there was a similar phenomenon. In South Australia, in the latter period, there was a distinctly higher infantile mortality rate, and a very much lower birth- rate ; and the same in West Australia, which is distinctly against what has been said by many people. In Tasmania there is an increase of i per 1,000 in the infantile death-rate, and a decrease of 4 per 1,000 in the birth-rate. In New Zealand, for three quinquennial periods, the infantile death-rate remained about the same, but there was a distinct decrease of 6 per 1,000 in the birth-rate. [Table put in and marked Exhibit Ro. 119. For copy see Appendix.] 66.53. Q. Is there any relationship between the fluctuations of the birth-rate and those of the infantile mortality rate, considering tin-, urban and rural population separately 1 J. 1 have come to the conclusion, as the result of my investigations, that there is no effective resultant on the general birth-rate traceable to the variations in the infantile mortality rate ; and in support of that I give figures here for the metropolis, the country, and the .State generally. In 1893, in the metropolis, we had a very high infantile mortality rate— 146'7 per thousand— when the birth-rate was 33-32 ; in 1898— five years later— the infantile mortality rate was 153, which is somewhat higher, but the birth-rate had dropped down by 8 per 1,000. The same is noticeable in the country, and, of course, it would be also noticeable in the State as a whole, the figures being a combination of the other two. [Tables put in and ^narked Exhibit No. 120. For copy sec. Appendl.v..'] 6654. r,Y THE HON. THE PRESIDENT.] (?. You have already told us that the mortality from abortion in New South Wales is six times as great as in England '! A. Yes. 665.5. Q. May we conclude from that that if the rate of mortality from abortion were as low in New South Wales as in England, our birth-rate would be considerably higher than it is ? A.l do not know that that necessarily follows immediately. 6656. Q. Has the infantile mortality increased in New South Wales in the last forty years? A. I should say not. From 1864 up to elate there have been ebb and flow continuously in the rate during the whole period. I have a table here which shows that. The rate goes up and down, and I take it that it is merely a local matter. For instance, in miasmatic diseases it is due to epidemics. [Exhibit 121. For copy see Apjyendix.] 6657. Q. Is the variation considerable? A. Yes. In 1871 we had the lowest rate, about 90 per 1,000; and the highest in 1885, when it reached 131 per 1,000. 6658. Q. Was there not an epidemic of measles in 1885 ? A. 1 cannot charge my memory so far back as 1885 ; but there is one thing which was a distinct factor in the high rates in 1885 and previous years, which is that the city, which contained a large proportion of the population of the State, had not then obtained its good water supply and sewerage, which were first brought into use to any considerable extent just about 1885. 6659. BY THE HON. SIR H. N. MacLAURIN.] Q. With respect to the abortions here and in England, how many years did you take your figures for 1 A. For the period 1896 to 1900 in both cases. 6660. Q. And what was the actual number of deaths from abortion in each ? A. In New South Wales it was 233. 6661. Q. Distributed over five years ? A. Yes. 6662. Q. Did they run equally over the five years? A. The numbers were as follow : — 38, 58, 36, 52, 49. 6663. Q. And in England? .4. They were very "much larger numerically: — 180, 215, 191, 179, 218, giving a total of 983. Our total number was 233, about a quarter of the English, whereas our population is very small in comparison to theirs. 6664. Q. Is there any apparent relationship between the trend of the natural increase and that of the infant mortality ? .4. No. The following table gives the comparison. [Table j^ut in and marked Exhibit No. 122. For copy see Appendix.] W^hilst the natural increase rate has been uniformly declining, the death rate of infants has fluctuated continuously during the last forty years. The rate of natural increase is about three-fifths now of what it was in 1864. 6665. Q. Has the difference between the infant mortality of legitimate and illegitimate altered to any extent of late years? xi. I propose to answer this at some length. The following table shows the rates during the last ten years, so far as they can be obtained. [Table put in and marked Exhibit No. 123. For copy see Appendix.] I have been able to get those under two months, under three months, and under twelve months. That gives us a very valuable comparative review; but unfortunately I cannot get legitimate and illegitimate separately under two months. As before, the rate for illegitimates is two and three-quarter time the rate for legitimates, if you take all who die during the first twelve months. Evidently the intensity of the death-risk for illp^i^itimalcx who survive the fii'st three months shows a slackening as compared with that of legitimates of similar a.no. Tims, the death-rate for legitimates for twelve months is just twice the rate for three months ; whilst the rate for illo^itimates for twelve months is one and nine-tenths times that for three months. This is in acconlance with the tendency to approach equal rates for the two classes as life pi'ogicxses, as shown in a taMe which I will give later. For the total births.legitimate and illegitimate coniliined, it sliows that the de;ith-rat(> for the first two months is 4r4 per 1,000, for the first three months 55f per 1,000 ; and for the fir.st twelve months 110^ per 1,000 ; that is to say that half the death-rate of childi-en of the first year is e\))erioneed in less than the first three months. This information, I might mention, sir, is also a fullilment of a promise made by me in a previous examination, in answer to a question by Mr. Fosbery, to give illegitimate deaths in small subdivisions of time after birth. 6666. Q. Can you give the propoi-lion of births which occurred one, two, three, four, &c., months after marriage for decennial periods since 1 860 ? A. Yes. I have a table which has been taken out for each of the periods 1860, 1870, 1880, 1802, 1902, showing the percentage of first births within nine months at the various stages after marriage. \l\Me put in and marked Exhibit No. 124. For copy see Ajjpendix.] 1 would remark that the rate for the year 1902 is exactly twice the rate which obtained in 'i860. 6667. Q. This diagram (No. 11) shows the illegitimate birth-r.ate since 1893 ? A. Yes. 6668. ^,-1. Can you give us the proportion of illegitimate and quasi-legitimate births since 1860? yf. No ; because we have not the means of information. I have had great difficulty in extracting even this little bit of information. These are what I call the tainted births. To make a comprehensive review would take more time than I have at my disposal. But you will find that this table is a very valuable one [Exhibit 124]. It give the rates for each month froiri the first to the ninth, and it gives the percentage within 43 Witness— J. B. Trivett, F.R.A.S., F.S.S., 31 Dec, 1903. ■within the periods of gestation. Taking the columns which represent the percentage of first births we find the number per cent, of first births occuri'ing at tlie various stages after marriage for the stated year periods. In 1860 tlie number is comparatively low for each of the monthly stages until the last month. In 1870 and 1880 much the same law is evident, but the rates are higher than those for 1860 in every case. In the last periods, 1892 and 1902, the numbers for each monthly period show little progressive ditTerence after the third month, and show a much more ilattened curve than in the earlier years. The rates from 1892 range from twice to three times those of the year 1860. A remarkable drop is experienced in the rate of the last month under present-day conditions, when compared with the figures for 1860. The inferences are very obvious, in my opinion. It would appear (1st) from the large percentage who in 1860 married immediately after having conceived, that the man in those days had a keener sense of his duty towards the woman with whom he had had intercourse ; and (2nd) from the flattening of the curve in the recent period, that there was not much inclination on the part of either man or woman to seek marriage — presumably because they felt confident, under modern conditions, of avoiding the shame of exposure. 6669. By Mr. COGHLAN.] Q. Might not these births within nine months after marriage evidence a sort of morality on the part of the parents ; — you see they might otherwise dispose of the unborn child ; A. I have said that I thought the flattening of the curve in the later periods pointed in the direction of the parties, especially the women, having the notion in their minds that they could get rid of the child ; and consequently the months go on and the woman is in no particular hurry to get married. 6670. BY THE RT. HON. THOMAS HUGHES.] Q. Marriage is not so essential to her good name ? A. No ; whereas forty-two years ago 6671. BY Mr. COGHLAN.] Q. They got married at once ? A. Yes. That is shown by the child coming to light nearly nine months after marriage. Then the proportion who came shortly after marriage was small, and the proportion who came nearly nine months after marriage was large. That shows that the men married the women almost immediately after the damage was done. The later figures show a sort of blunting of the moral idea in the woman's mind, or an absence of the idea of matrimony at all. The number born at very nearly nine months after marriage is small now ; but in the old days it was large, which indicated that the marriage took place as soon as the trouble occurred, and as far as they could, they remedied the wrong ; there was a keener moral susceptibility. 6672. BY THE HON. SIR H. N. MagLAURIN.] Q. That might be the interpretation; but there might be another ; — it is not easy to make arrangements to get married within a fortnight or so, and I think from that that where the marriage does take place within a fortnight, or within a few weeks of conception, they had probably agreed previously to get married, and they simply gave way too soon ? A. 1 cannot say. 6673. Q. Does the age of illegitimate children influence the death-rate as compared with the death-rate of legitimatvs 1 A. 1 have an important return just before that, based on the last question. It is a table showing the truly legitimate, the quasi-legitimate, and the illegitimate for the years 1860, 1870, 1880, 1892, 1902, and the con-esponding percentages of first births. \_Table put in and marked Exhibit No. 1 25. For copy see Appendix.] Comparing the first and last years, we have to remark that the proportions have gradually been transformed during the last forty years, and the rates have changed as follows ; — The truly legitimate, which, in 1860, were 70-66 per cent, of all first births, have dwindled down to 52-27 per cent, in 1902 ; that is a reduction of 26 per cent, on the rate. The quasi-legitimates have increased from 13-69 to 25-09 per cent., an increase of 83 per cent, on the rate. And the illegitinnates have increased from 15-65 to 2264 per cent, of all first births, being an increase of 45 per cent, on the rate. Comparing, also, as above, but leaving out the illegitimate, which just brings in those who are truly legitimate, and those who are legally legitimate but morally are not, the truly legitimate have altered from 83 77 per cent. of those born in wedlock to 67-57 per cent, between 1860 and 1902 ; and the quasi-legitimates have increased from 16-23 to 32-43, or an increase of 100 per cent, in the rate. That points most remarkably the moral to be drawn from that table. 6674. BY Mr. KNOX.] Q. Taking that into account, together with the great increase in the practice of abortion, and the increase in the use of preventive measures, I presume you have no doubt that there has been an enormous increase in sexual immorality in the last forty years? A. I certainly think so. 6675. BY THE HON. SIR H. N. MacLAURIN.] Q. It is an extremely complicated question, and, before one can come to a conclusion, one must consider it from every point of view, because I think very diflerent interpretations can be put on it — interpretations which would not involve such pessimistic views of the morality of the people. I think a conclusion that there has been such a large increase in immorality among the people is a very grave one ? .4. I do not know whether I made myself quite clear. The later table which I gave dismissed entirely the illegitimates, and took into consideration only the children born in wedlock, whether within one, nine, or twenty months of marriage. [Witness again quoted the figures given in Answer No. 6673,] 6676. Q. Was any notice taken of seven-months children'? A. No. 6677. BY THE HON. THE PRESIDENT.] Q. No notice was taken in either case of what might have been seven-months' children? A. No ; we could not distinguish. 6678. BY THE HON. SIR II. N. MacLAURIN.] Q. Then, of course, you must make a very con siderable reduction in the number of quasi-legitimates ? A. A. reduction, but not a very considerable reduction. 6679. THE HON. SIR H. N. MacLAURIN.] Yes; there are a good large number of seven- months' children. 6680. THE HON. THE PRESIDENT.] But it would make the same difference in the earlier period as in the later. 6681. Q. Does the age of illegitimate children influence the death-rate as compared with the death-rate of the legitimate ? A. Yes ; considerably. The following table shows the results obtained- by tracing for a period of five years the mortality of children (legitimate and illegitimate) born during the years 1895 to 1898 inclusive. [Table put in and marked Exhibit No. 126. For copy see Appendix.] Without repeating the details I find that at age 0, that is, in the first year of life, the legitimate death-rate was 10-11 per cent., and the illegitimate 27-4. I have shown those in previous tables. But at age 1, that is, the next year of life, we find a closer approachment, 259 for the legitimate, and 3-51 for the illegitimate ; at age 2, or the third year of age, they are -81 and -85 respectively; in the fourth year of age, -52 and -49, which shows to the advantage of the illegitimate ; and for age 4, or the fifth year of age, the illegitimate is distinctly lower at -28 as against -35 for the legitimate. The results show that during the first year of age the 41 Witne-ii—J. B. Trivett, P.R.A.S., F.S.S., 31 Dec, 1903. the illegitimate death-rate is two and three quarter times the legitimate; in the second year it is one and one-third times ; in the third and fourth they are about on a par ; and in the fifth the illegitimate is lower ; but it is to be noted that in the fifth year, towards the latter end, it is more difficult to trace the deaths of illegitimate children, because a parent often allows it to appear as a legitimate child, and the fact of illegitimacy is not easily discernable, and that makes the results misleading beyond the third year of life. Nevertheless, they distinctly show that after the first year of life the death-rate of illegitimates compares very favourably indeed with the Ifgitimate dealh-rate. 6682. Q. That would seem to indicate, to my mind, that the weakly ones among the illegitimates died early, and those who remained were of a more robust constitution 1 A. Yes. 6683. Q. In fact, that the treatment the illegitimate infants received had weeded out_ the weakly ones 1 A. It shows that if they survive the suckling age they are quite as good lives as the legitimate. 6684. Q. Better? A. The tendency is to be better ; but I should say at least as good. 6685. Q. How do the particular diseases or classes of diseases afTect legitimate and illegitimate mortality respectively? A. On the whole, for all diseases, the rate for illegitimates is 2-82, or a little better than two and three-quarter times the legitimate rate. The following table shows the infantile mortality for recent years for both legitimate and illegitimate children arising from the several diseases named in the first column, and tho last column in the table represents the intensity of the mortality rate for the illegitimate children as compared with that for the legitimate. The following diseases show more than an average intensity : — Diarrheal diseases and enteritis (I'ljnibinfid), malnutrition, which is commonly known under the name of niiiiasmua, nr debility, and what are called " others," to which 1 do not attach much weighty because they are distributed all over the list. 1 have the causes of death mentioned here, and I give the intensity rate of illegitimates, takini; the legitimates as 1 or unity. For miasmatic diseases the illegitimate rate is 1'3-') times the legitimate ; for eliarrhfcal diseases and enteritis combined it is 3 36 times ; malnutrition or marasmus, 686 times; tabes raesenterica, 252 times; other tubeicnlar diseaises, 2-31 times ; prematurity, 192 times; other developmental diseases, 1-70 times; meningitis and convulsions 2, or twice; bronchitis and pneumonia, r59 times ; debility, 4-70 times ; and with the " othf r^" the total of illegitimate mortality is two and three-quarter times that of the legitimate. [The inldr iras put in a^.d marked E iJiibit No. 127. For copy see Appe)idix.'\ 6686. V- With regard to the method of calculating the ratio of births, do you consider that the method whiuh is usually adopted, of considering tho births in relation to ti.e whole population, is a satisfactory method, particularly in new countries where chinges in age-constitution of population are extreniely rapid? A. I consider that that mode may be unsatisfactory and misleading, particularly in new countries where changes in age-conslitution of populaticin may be extremely rapid. But, provided the proportion of luomen of hearing age, and of men of virile age, he fairly constant vhen compared with the total population, the variation in age-constitution of the remainder of the community v:iU not affect tlie result vihen quoted in comparison with the coinmunity generally. And, further, unless the proportion of effective men and women be less as percentages of the whole of males and females respectively, then, under normal conditions of production (that is, without artificial restraints), tlie conditions for a high birth-rate will be more favourable. Therefore, if the birth-rate under such conditions should appear as a lower rate per thousand of the population, the conclusion is intensified in the mind that there has been an absolute decline. 6687. Q. What have been the proportions of child-bearing women in New South Wales ; and what are the consequent deductions, in view of your previous answer? A. Ever since 1871 the proportion of women aged 15-45 has been increasing as a percentage of the total female population, as shown by my Exhibit No. 4, the rates being : — 1871 ... ... ... ... ... ... ... 4 3| per cent. 1881 45 1891 46i „ . 1901 _ ._ 48| „ and taking the quinquennial age-groups which make up the class of women aged 15-45, very little disturbance in the ratio is apparent, as shown in Exhibit 4. The above figures relate to loomen of marriage age, the numbers of women of the several ages actually married in the earlier years being unobtainable. But a fair idea of the relative numbers married may be obtained by considering the annual marria£;e rates, which were as follow : — 1881 8-21 per 1000 1891 7-41 1901 768 These are comparable, because tho women of marriage age have been fairly constant for all the years named, and therefore the basis is not affected for the reason stated in my previous answer. Looking at these marriage rates we find an actual increase of nearly 1 per cent, in the rate, namely, from 741 to 7-68, during the last ten years under review, and for tho same two year periods the birth-rate has fallen from 34-55 per 1,000 to 27-60, or a fall of 20 per cent. The conclusion is inevitable that the decline is not merely apparent, but only too real. 6688. (,). Do you think that the proportionate increase of old jieople in the population explains in any way the decline in the birth-rate? /(.it seems to mv that that is arguing from effect to cause, rather than from cause to effect; or in other Wdrds, that the premises are stated as the result of the conclusion, to say that there is an apparent decline because the percentage of elderly persons over the age of 65 has increased at the last census as compared with the preceding censuses. The fact is that the larger proportion of elderly people per 1,000 of population is in evidence, for the simple reason that the supply of human beings of tender years has been restricted ; and, the death rate not having increased, the old people obtain an increased importance relatively to the general population. To put it briefiy, we have an increased percentage in old age because we have deliberately diminished the percentage in childhood. The following tables shows (1st) the advantage obtained in the later years through the increased percentage of female population of conceptive ages ; and (2nd) the increased percentage of elderly people (population) on account of the diminution of the per,sons of tender age. They show that there is a larger percentage of possible mothers ; so that, though it may be in an inconclusive way of stating the birth-rate, it is not necessarily an inconclusive way. [The tables referred to were put in and marked Exhibit No. 1 28, For copy see Appendix.'] 6689. Q. Do you wish us to conclude that tho disparity between the age-condition of the population now and thirty or forty years ago has been chiefly caused by the circumstance that the children under 15 years 45 Witness— J. B. Trivett, P.R.A.S., P.S.S., 31 Deo., 1903. years of age are comparatively less ? A. No. Turn it round the other way, Mr. President, — the conditions are actually more favourable now, because the women of conceptive age are proportionately more. We have got more women in the conceptive period of life now than ever we had before. 6690. BY Mr. COGHLAN.] Q. Notwithstanding what the President says, that the children under 15 are less numerous proportionately, the number of women capable of bearing children is greater 1 A Yes. 6691. BY THE HON. Sill H. N. MacLAUEIN.] Q. What ^^as the percentage of women of conceptive age in the last year quoted ? A. 48-64. 6692. Q. And in the first year quoted there'! A. 47-32, and then down to 43 79 in 1871, 6693. §. Take 47-32 for instanced ^. Yes. 6694. Q. Of course you know that a woman is more likely to conceive at the earlier part of the conceptive period than at a later? .4. Yes. 6695. Q. It is quite possible that, if most of the women in 1861 were at the early part of the conceptive period, they would have been more prolific than an equal number of women of conceptive age who were older. A woman nearer the inferior limit of the conceptive period is much more likely to conceive than one nearer Ihe superior limit of that period ">. A. Yes. I allow that. 6696. BY THE HON. THE PRESIDENT.] Q. Before dealing with the question which Sir Normand MacLaurin has raised, I would ask you whether you can fairly derive any inference as to the favourable character of the birth-rate by merely considering the natural increase % A. The comparison of the naiiiralincreases of various countries, just as they appear — that is, in the rough— causes misleading conclusions. For instance, supposing you spoke about the natural increase of Russia as against the natural increase of New South Wales, without knowing the surrounding conditions in each case, you run a very great risk of coming to a wrong conclusion in any conclusion you might come to. I think it is more befitting to consider — the age-incidence of women being the same — what results would appear if the death- rates were identical in any two cases under comparison. Thus, taking the country with the highest birth- rate for the period 1890 to 1899, we got the following comparisons : — New South Wales birth-rate, 31-11 ; Hungary, 40-50; New South Wales death-rate, l-J-49 ; Hungary, 30-28; New South Wales natural increase, 18-62 per 1,000; Hungary, 1022. On this showing, the natural increase for Now South Wales is 18-62 per 1,000, and compares most favourably with the relative increase in Hungary, namely, 10-22. But supposing the New South Wales death-rate were the same as that of Hungar}-, we should then have an annual increase of only 83 per 1,000, instrad of 1022 per 1,000, as shown by Hungary. The inference is that it is only our favourable mortality rate that gives us any natural increase at all, so rapidly is the birthrate declining. If we argue from the standpoint of identit.-al birth-rates, the same inference appears. So considering the conditions of two countries roughly leaves us open to fallacious inferences. 6697. Q. That you referred to at some length during your previous examination ? A. Yes. 6698. Q. What do you consider to be the definitive test of the falling-off or otherwise of the birth- rate 1 A, To decide voheiher there really is a falling-off in the birthrate no doubt the rigidly correct mode of procedure is to relate the births in every case to the exposures — that is, to compare the births to the number of women of conceptive age, from whom alone births can be expected. This must be admitted to be the correct mode of comparison, unless the custom of the country as to the relation between the sexes has radically changed in the interval betweeil two comparison dates — such, for instance, as the taking of celibate vows by the whole community. This, of course, is simply ideal and absolutely improbable. Taking the married women in the way suggested, in small age-groups, to get a closer comparison, we can compare the years 1891 and 1901 only, as no data for earlier years are available. Taking the census figures for the two years named, and the births for the mothers of corresponding ages, the following results appear. [Table put in and marked Exhibit No. 129. For copy see Appendix.^ From this comparison the following obser- vations are at once deduced : — In the age-group under 20 there has been an advance in the birth-rate of 17-1 percent.; and In the age-group 20 to 25 there has been a decline of 4-6 per cent. ,, ,, 25 „ 30 ,, ,, I0-5 „ „ „ 30 ,, 35 ,, „ 22-4 ,, 35 „ 40 „ „ 27-0 „ „ _ „ 40 „ 45 „ „ 25-6 „ This is the subject to which Sir Normand MacLaurin referred. The advance noted in the first age-group is not entitled to much weight, as the numbers of the women in this group were only 2-3 per cent, of all married women in 1891, and less again, namely, 1-7 per cent, in 1901, and are too small in volume to give stability to the results appearing therefrom. The great characteristics of the table as a whole are that a very distinct decline in the birth-rate is most palpable, and that the decline is of greater degree progressively with the age of the mother, thus evidencing an increasing disinclination to bear children as the age increases. The decline in the birth-rate as regards New South Wales must, in the light of all the figures which have been presented, be considered to have been unmistakably proven. Comparison of tiie figures with those of other countries may reveal, with respect to such countries, a lower birth-rate in the age-groups, as taken above, respecting New South Wales. The only inference deducible from such a supposititious case would be that such countries have proceeded further down the incline of national disaster than has New South Wales, and that the undeniable sapping of the natural growth lias arrived in such countries earlier in order of precedence than in our own case. It does not alter the fact clearly proved that the birthrate in New South Wales is declining. 6699. BY Mr. COGHLAN.] Q. Would the decline have been greater if you had been able to take off the ante-nuptial conceptions? A. I think so, because pre-nuptial conceptions have been showing such enhanced values of late years. 6700. BY THE HON. SIR H. N. MacLAURIN.] Q. I do not think you have quite answered the question that I put, which was whether the greater number of the women of conceptive age now were in the later stages of the conceptive period, because, if so, there would be fewer births from them 1 ' A. Precisely.'' The only figures you can give are [interrupted.'] 6701. THE HON. SIR H. N. MacLAUEIN.] You cannot give the figures for the earlier period, and, therefore, you cannot make a comparison. 6702. WITNESS.] I was fortified in my opinion, not having the married females in the various censuses by taking the women themselves, and assuming marriage conditions equal in the periods compared. That 46 ■s—J. B. Trivett, P.R.A.S., P.S.S., 31 Dec, 1903. That would be a fair comparison. For instance, if you take the census of which I give an exhibit, No. 4, you will find that there is not much difference in the quinquennial age-groups of women, and, if anything, it is really in favour of the present period — that is to say, it is more favourable in the number of women available for conceptive purposes. 6703. BY THE HON. SIR H. N. MacLAURIN.] Q. Do you mean that there are a greater number of women in the lower age-groups than in the higher age-groups in the conceptive period 1 A. Yes, on the whole ; and taking the assumption for what it is worth that the number of married women per total women of conceptive ages i.s not materially diflferent now from what it was then. 6704. BY Mk. COGHLAN.] Q. Have you the slightest doubt in your mind whatever that there has been a great decline in the birth-rate of all classes of women in New South Wales? ^. Not the faintest. "With that table before me I could not possibly, unless I disbelieved the evidence of my own eyes, come to any other conclusion. 6705. BY Mr. BE ALE.] Q. You have told us that, though the proportion of women of conceptive age is at the present time highertlian previously, the proportion of children under 15 years of age isdecliningf A. Yes. 6706. Q. So that, in the immediate future, there will inevitably be a decline in the proportion of women of concepti\ e aijc, as there is net a sufficient number of children growing up to take the places of women who pass out of the conccpti\o i>'3riod? A. Yes. 6707. Q. Then, (he decline of the birth-rate has not reached its lowest point;— it must decline still further ? A. Yes, unless the practices which have caused the decline cease ; and, even then, in order to keep up the birthrate, a larger number of children per family will be necessary, because of the less number of women of concepti^■o age froiu whom families may be expected. 6708. BY THE HON. THE PRESIDENT.] Q. It has been stated in evidence that the decline in the birth-rate has been due to natural rather than to artificial causes ; but I gather from you that your opinion is that it is due to artificial rather than to natural cau.ses 1 A. Certainly. I think if you were to look at Exhibit No. 4, which I gave in my last evidence, you will find that the women between 15 and 45 have been an increasing percentage of the total females at the last four censuses ; and, further, that, on the whole, the proportions in the .several age-groups of the reproductive periods of female life are cceteris paribus favourable to an increase rather than to a decline, if they are left alone. 6709. BY Me. COGHLAN.] Q. What Sir Normand MaoLaurin was hinting at, that the age- arrangement of women from 15 to 45 at one period being different than at another would only tell unfavoui-ably on the birth-rate should the women group themselves in the higher ages t A. Yes. 6710. Q. As a matter of fact there is no such grouping 1 A. No. 67 n. Q. This diagram which you have been good enough to prepare shows that there has been very little change in the constitution of the female population during the last forty years, though there has been some change? A. But not a materially marked change. 6712. BY THE HON. THE PRESIDENT.] Q. The increase in the age at marriage has been advanced as a natural cause of the decline of the birth-rate : do you think it is likely to produce a serious decline ? A. Not very much. The average age at marriage has been shown in a previous answer to have advanced barely one year during the last fifteen years, viz., from 22-84 to 23 95, and this would indicate very little change in the fertility (for fertility and not fecundity is here involved) and very little alteration indeed in the number of women exposed to birth probabilities in the age groups. In any case the outcome would be a very small factor in the resultant figures shown in the tables of comparative birlh-rates. They are only moved a little bit further along in their particular age-group. 6713. Q. Could you say that the decrease in infantile mortality may be regarded as in any measure a cause of the decline? A. No. I should rather regard it as an effect of the decline. I have seen it stated that a high infantile morality is most intimately associated with a high liirth-rate; but think the proposition is not correctly stated. The two are not collateral with one another ; but may possibly be related as cause to effect, and mortality being the effect and the births the cause, takins; the question as a whole. A table has been shown me giving the birth-rates and infantile mortality rates for a number of countrie.s (year not stated), and thence arguing up inferentially to the conclusion that a high infantile mortality rate will produce a high birth rate. This method of comparison is hardly justifiable, because in comparing the phenomena of different countries many widely different factors, social, climatic, and otherwise, should necessarily be considered. To duly study the question, it would be fairer to take a comparative review of each State and examine whether the same results appear for the same conditions at dirfercnt times. If we take the State of New South Wales, we find the case not proven, as shown by me in an earlier stage, and, in fact, the same remark applies to all the Australian States. In any case, admitting, for the .sake of argument, the truth of the statement that they are associated, would it not be more logical and conclusi\ e to say that the high hirthr&i^e produced the high death-rate, in view of the enormous infantile mortality as contrasted with the mortality of adults ; and not viri.i vernA. Dr. Newshohne thus sums up the results of his investigations on the influence of the birth- rate on death-rate : — Populations having a contiuuou.sly liigh birth-rato sliould, sanit;uy conditions being equal, have lower death-rates than populations having low birth-rates, because a continuously high birth-rate means an exctpt tonally large proportion of young adults in a population, and consequently an unduly sm.iU proportion of old people. Conversely, a low birth-rate means a small proportion of young adults, and a large jiroportion of adults and old people, and is therefore unfavourable to a low death-rate. It has been ascertained that the inferiority of the birth-rates of European States, so far as population is concerned, has for the most part, disappeared at the end of five years ; and this lends support to the view I have expressed— that is, that a high birth-rate produces most probably a high death-rate, but that the converse statement does not necessarily hold. I think there is a confusion of ideas entirely : it is the birth-rate which produces the death-rate, and not necessarily tlie death-rate the birth rate ; and it does not necessarily follow that they will be coincident. 6714. BY Me. COGHLAN.] Q. You may have a very h^gh death-rate accompanied by a low birth-rate ? A. Yes. , 6715. BY THE HON. THE PRESIDENT.] (?. The natural increase of many of those countries which have a high birth-rate is very small ? A. Yes ; as I showed a little while ago in the case of Hungary, where they have an exceptionally high birth-rate and also a frightfully high death-rate, and consequently their advantage in one direction is neutralised by their disadvantage in another. It is not a fair thing to just loosely compare one country with anot^ier without knowing the surrounding conditions. 6716. 47 Witness— j. B. Tiivett, F.R.S.A,, F.S.S., 31 Dec, 1903. 6716. Q. I do not agree that there has been any decadence of the physique of women ; but, for the sake of argument, given that there is a decadence, would you regard that as in any measure a cause of the decline ? A. I also, with you, do not admit that there is any decadence. I think it has yet to be proved that there is any decadence in the physique of the women of New South Wales 6717. THE HON. THE PRESIDENa\] I think, myself, that the reverse has been proved. 6718. WITNESS.] I have seen a remark that the cessation of immigration has stopped the selection of specially-selected lives, and that the women have gradually assumed the physical character of a general coQimunity, and so their physique has gradually deteriorated. This is very much open to question unless you admit the existence of some widespread custom which would be extremely adverse to the maintenance of the vigour of the female population, and of which, no doubt, the medical evidence before the Commission will treat. The mere stoppage of immigration ought not to lower, rapidly, the physique, if at all. The progeny of a strong robust race of women ought to retain their vigorous characteristics for at least a generation. But, admitting, for the sake of argument, that there is a clearly perceptible deterioration in the physical aspect, it would be much safer and more probably correct to argue that the widely-suspected cause of the decline in the birth-rate has produced the change in the phy.sique than that the converse is, and has been the case. 6719. BY THE HON. THE PRESIDENT.] Q. You have had an opportunity, have you not, of examining the statistics of the physique of the young people of this country which have been compiled by Mr. Coghlan? ^. I have seen some. 6720. Q. And have you recognised that there is certainly an absence of decadence 1 A. As far as my observation serves, they show up extremely well from the point of view of physique. I do not think the decadence is by any means proved ; it is merely an assertion. ^ 6721. Q. Can you derive any conclusions from the issue tables of the Census, 1901, as to a decline in the birth-rate? A. No, not from the tables as they stand, because the issue tables of the Census of 1901 only give the figures relating to one year, and you can never form a conclusion unless you have something in relief, something in the back ground, to make your comparison with. The tables represent facts at a given time, and their value lies in providing means of comparing certain vital phenomena with similar phenomena at a previous period. It is impossible to say whether or not they can be regarded as satisfactory to the community until we have related them to some standard which expresses the conditions at another date. Such a comparison will be impossible before the next Census ; but the comparison for testing the decline or otherwise has already been placed before the Commis.sion in Exhibits 31, 34, 36, as the result of exhaustive special tabulations made in our statistical office, and the figures admit of only one conclusion. 6722. BY Mr. COGHLAN.] Q.Wh&t is that conclusion? ^. That there has been an absolute decline of the birth-rate in every age. 6723. BY THE HON.' THE PRESIDENT.] Q. Then I presume the same remarks apply if we attempt to draw conclusions, from the average issue of married women dying at ages over 45, for one period only ? A. Yes, for the same reason. A comparison must be made with similar figures for some other period if we look for declension or increase. Again I would refer to Exhibits 19, 31, 34, 36, 38, to show a comparison of the nature I indicate. I would further remark that since, as nearly as can be gauged, preventive customs came into extensive use about the year 1888, we should allow about fifteen years more to elapse (namely, thirty years from 1888) to admit of the generation of women, aged 15 in 1888, completing their generative history before we can get a clear-cut comparison in the form shown in the Vital Statistics of New South Wales for ages over 45. Thus we would have in contrast the average issue of women of completed period for the generations of the ante and postpreventive times, and this would be a correct means of gauging the average issue, and thence drawing the deductions which might appear. What I mean is that, as this system of prevention became pronounced about 1888, you must wait until the girls who were then 15 years of age have gone through their generative history, or until the year 1918, before you can make a comparison with the figures shown in the Census of 1901. We would then have in contrast the average i.ssue of women who had completed their conceptive periods in ante and postpreventive times. It is extremely fallacious to take the figures as they stand and try to draw a conclusion when you have no basis of comparison. 6724. Q. Is there any other information which you consider would be likely to be of service to the Commission ? A. I should like to hand in these twenty-seven diagrams, which, in accordance with the Commission's request, have been prepared under my supervision, to illustrate the mathematical evidence placed before the Commission. 6725. The witness then handed in the diagrams, of which the following is a list : — Lisi of Diagrams prepared in Exemplification of Exhibits. Diagram. Exhibit. Matter Exempliflod. 1 Comparison of Total Trade with Births, Deaths, Natural Increase, and Marriages. New South Wales. Birth-rates per 1,000 of Population — Countries of the World. Reduction per cent, in ten years in Rate. Proportions — Age Groups to Total Population. Censuses 1861 to 1901. Females. New South Wales. Proportions— Age Groups to Total Population. Censuses 1861 to 1901. Males. New South Wales. Proportions — Age Groups to Total of Conceptive Ages. Censuses 1861 to 1901. New South Wales. Proportions — Age Groups to Total Group (15 to 55). Censuses 1861 to 1901. Males. New South Wales. Birth-rates. New South Wales, Countr3', and Metropolitan. Natural Increase per 1,000 of Population — Countries of the World. For period 1890-1899. Marriage of llinors. New South Wales. Legitimate and Illegitimate Birth-rates. For period 1891-1900. New South Wales. Illegitimate Birth-rates. For period 1893-1902. New Soutli Wales. Illegitimate Birth-rates. For Age Groups. Period 1893-1902. New South Wales. Infantile Mortality. Legitimate and Illegitimate. New South tt^ales. Fecund Marriages per 1,000, Ante-Nuptial included. Comparative Table. New South Wales. 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 , 14 1 4 To accompany Exhibit 4 Do do Do do 5 6 10 11 14 14 17 19 Witness— J. B. Trivett, F.R.A S., F.S.S., 31 Deo., 1903. 48 Diagram. Exhibit. Matter Exemplified. 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 '24 ■21! 20 21 31 31 37 38 45 47 48 Geographical Distribution of Fecundity Census, 1901. Number of Childless Marriages per 1,000, according to age attained of Mothers. New South Wales. Childless Marriages per 1,000 Marriages of over 5 years' duration, according to Marriage Age. Number of Children Born per annum to 1,000 women under 45, according to previous issue. New South Wales. Number of Children born per annum to 1,000 women under 4.5, according to previous issue. New South Wales. Average Issue of Women married prior to 1881. — Census, 1901. Average Issue according to Birth-place — Present Marriages. Deaths in Cliildbirth from ' ]^y;emia, Septicfemia, Organs of Generation, Diseases of Parturition-Periods 1884 to ISS8 (inclusive), 1898 to 1902 (inclusive). New South Wales. Deaths of Married Women in Childbirth, according to number of Confinements — Adjusted Figures. New South Wales. Cuinparison of New South Wales Death-rates in Childbirth and those by Dr. Matthews Duncan.— Prijnipane, .Multipara-. Infantile Mortality from Miasmatic Diseases, Diarrhoial Diseases and Enteritis, Mal- nutrition, Taljcs Men iilerici, other Tubercular Diseases, Meningitis and Convulsions, Bronchitis and Pneumonia, Debility, others; Deaths under 1 year to 1,000 Births, Legitimate and Illegitimate. New South Wales. Legitimate Births to ATarriod Women, in Age Gioiips. New South Wales. First Births within nine months after Marriage to Total First Births. New South Wales. Same as No. '2(j, but 10 yenr pei'iod divided. 6726. THE HON". THE PRESIDENT.] We have to thank you, Mr. Trivett, for the enormous amount of trouble you liav(.' taken, and tho vast amount of information which you have placed at our disposal. THE HON. Dr. NASH.] Yes. Mr. BEALE.] Yes, indeed. Q. The decline in the birth-rate is absolute 1 A . There is not the slightest doubt at all 6727. 6728. 6729. about that. 6730. Q. But we will not be able to get full information as to the extent of the decline until a full generation has elapsed "i yj . N"o ; you can only form an estimate of it. 6731. (?. There are grounds for supposing that the extent of the decline will be very terrible? A. My conclusion is that you will have lower depths beneath these deeps. Unless something is done, we will have a wor.^e state of affairs than we have at the present time. 6732. BY THE HON. THE PRESIDENT.] Q. In your opinion, then, we will be in a much worse state if this condition of things continue than, for instance, the United States, where the population is continually regenerated, we may say, by the influx of foreigners ? A. ^\e will come to much the same condition, at any rate 6733. Q. It is alleged that the native-born Americans are not by any means so prolific as the foreigners who make the United States their home ? A. Yes ; that is an ascertained fact. 673-i. 0. And that the comparatively slight annual addition to the population of the United States IS mostly due to the introduction of foreigners? A. That i.s so, certainly. It is especially the case in the State of Massachusetts. There, speaking from memory, the increase has gone down to less than the French rate ; but the influx of the French Canadians has brought a good bearing type of community, and they keep a fair rate through them only. 6735. Mb. COGHLAN.] There is one feature aljout it that is hopeful : the women of Wales birth are not less fecund than women of other birthplaces. 6736. BY Mr. BEALE.] Q. Is it your view that the line of the birlh-rate is sloping downwards at present ? A. Yes. ° 6737. Q. Is there the slightest ground to believe that it has arrived at a level below which it cannot A. No. woman into the New South fall? 6738. Q. Is it not a fact, arithmetically, that the decline must continue? A. Yes are all in that direction. 6739. BY Dr. PATON.] Q. The decline will not only continue, but it will be accentuated ? [Witness retired.] (At -1-30 p.m. the Commission adjourned sine die.) the evidences A. Yes. TUimiETll 49 TRIBTIETR MEETING— THURSDAY, li JANUABT, 1904, 2 p.m. \_Board Boom, Ko. 6, Bllgh-sircct, Sydney.'] THE HON. C. K. MAOKELLAR, M.B , CM., M.L.C., Puesident; THE HON. SIB, H. N. MacLAUEIN, Kt., M.D., LL.D., M.L.C. ; 0. C. BEALE, Esq., President of the New South "Wales Chamber of Manufactures ; T. A. COGHLAN, Esq , I.S.O., G-overnment Statistician ; J. FOEEMAN, Esq., L.S.A., Lon. ; L. et L., M.E.C.P., Edin. ; M.E.C.S., Eug. ; E. POSBEET, Esq., C.M.G., Inspector-General of Police ; E. W. KNOX, Esq., General Manager, Colonial Sugar Eefining Company (Limited) ; G. S. LITTLEJOHN, Esq,, President of the Sydney Chamber of Commerce ; E. T. PATON, Esq, L.E.C.P. et S., Edin.; F.E.O.S., Edin.; M.D., Univ., Brussels; Government Medical Officer ; and T. riASCHI, Esq., M.D., Ch.M., D.S.O. Dh. E. H. Todd, Associate to the President, was also present. Me. J. Gahlick, Secretary to the Commission, took shorthand notes of the evidence and proceedingB. 6744. The Secretary reported the receipt from Mr. "W. McLean, Government Statist of Victoria, of answers to four additional questions sent to him regarding the birth-rate. They are copied hereunder -.—^ Me. W. McLean, Government Statist of Victoria, replies to questions sent by post. 6745. BY THE HON. THE PEESIDENT.] Q. The following statement of the number of married women at the censuses of 1891 and 1901 and the number of births occurring amongst them has been prepared for the Commission by the Actuary of Eriendly Societies. They relate to New South Wales : — Age Groups. Married Women. Legitimate Births. Birth-rate per cent. 20 and under 25 25 „ 30 30 „ 35 35 ,, 40 40 „ 45 20 and under 25 25 ,, ,30 30 ,, 35 35 „ 40 40 „ 45 1891. 20,043 8,344 41-63 32,041 11,333 35 '37 29,505 8,622 29-22 22,584 5,336 23-63 18,018 2,134 11-84 19,662 7,805 39-70 32,618 9,742 29-87 34,608 7,848 22-68 33, 108 5,711 17-25 26,900 2,369 8-81 Have you any corre.'ponding figures for Victoria? A. No experience has been obtained for Victoria. 6746-7. Q. Tou will observe that in every age-group there has been a decline in the number of children born per 100 married women ; have you any reason for thinking this decline is not real ; if so, please give such reasons; — have you any reasons for supposing the figures prepared by the Actuary are incorrect? A. These figures are before mo for the first time, and I have no data to check them, but at the same time I have no reason to doubt their accuracy ; and, further, not only have I no reason for such doubt, but, on the contrary, the results are generally of the character I had anticipated, and I see no necessity to modify my reply to Q. No. 5919, as I still consider that the various causes contributing to a general decline — i.e., change of age constitution, increased age at marriage, decrease of infantile mortality, and change of physique — operate within the groups as over the whole. Moreover, the conditions obtaining in 1891 were so entirely different from those of 1901 — the former being a year in a prosperous period, and the latter representing the sixth year of an unprecedented drought, both as regards duration and intensity — and to compare these periods is to compare unlike things. In addition to the causes, which I have already mentioned, I think it is not only probable, but the fact that motives of commendable prudence under the extreme circumstances of the latter period have been factors in bringing about the result shown in the tables in Q. No. 6745 ; but, if this be so, the condition can only be regarded as temporary, and will doubtless pass away with returning prosperity. Notwithstanding the decline shown in the results for 1901, it is nevertheless worthy of special notice that the quinquennial rates for that year are higher than those of Buda Pesth, where the ordinary birth-rate is one of the highest in the world, and do not compare unfavourably with many of the European States in similar groups, where the ordinary birth-rate is high. 6748. Q. Have you any reason to suppose that the experience of New South "Wales differs in any important respect from that of the other States ; if you have, please state your reason ? A.l see no reason why the experience of the other States should diiier from that of New South Wales. (At 4 p.m. the Commission adjourned until Monday, the 18th instant, at 2 p.m.) 39608 23.J— G THIRTY-SECOFD 50 TEIBTT-8E00ND MESTINQ, TEUE8DAY, 21 JANUABY, 1904, 2 p.m. [Board-room, Ho. 6, BligTi-street, Sydney.l THE HON. C. K. MAOKELLAR, M.B., CM., M.L.C., President. THE HON. SIR H. N. MacLAUEIN, Kt., M.D., LL.D., M.L.C. ; T. A. COGHLAN, Esq., I.S.O., Government Statistician ; J. FOEEMAN, Esq., L.S.A., Lon. ; L. et L., M.E.C.P., Edin. ; M.E.C.S., Eng. ; E. EOSBEET, Esq., C.M.G., Inspector-General of Police ; E. W. KNOX, Esq., General Manager, Colonial Sugar Eefining Company (Limited) ; G. 8. LITTLEJOHN, Esq., President, Sydney Chamber of Commerce ; TPIE HON. J. B. NASH, M.D., M.L.C. ; E. T. BATON, Esq., L.E.C.P. et S., Edin. ; E.E.C.S., Edin. ; M.D., Univ., Brussels; Government Medical Officer ; and T. EIASCHI, Esq., M.D., Ch.M., D.S.O. De. E. H. Todd, Associate to tte President, was also present. Mb. J. Gaelick, Secretary to the Commission, took shorthand notes of the evidence and proceedings Mb. J. B. TEIVETT, E.E.A.S., E.8.8., Registrar and Actuary of Friendly Societies, was recalled and further examined as under : — 6779. BY THE HON THE PRESIDENT.] Q. I understand that you have certain documents regarding the birth-rate in 1871 and 1881 to produce ? A. Yes. 6780. Q. Have you got them with you ? A. It will be in the memory of the Commission that at my previous examination I gave the birth-rates in age-groups for the years 1891 and 1901, and drew a comparison showing the decline in the ten years which elapsed between those two years. Since that date we have had the records of the Eegistrar-General's Department searched, and we have now rates in age-groups for the years 1871 and 1881, in addition to the two years we took before. I have here a statement which I propose to put in as an exhibit giving the birth-rates per cent, of married women in the quinquennial age-groups from 15 to 45. I might just read the results here and draw a few comparisons afterwards. Age of mother. 1871. Birth-rate. 1881. Birth-rate. 1891. Birth-rate. 1901. Birth-rate. per oeut. per cent. per cent. per cent. 15-19 50'10 51-60 47-91 56-28 20-24 44-15 4579 41-63 39-70 25-29 40-75 10-52 35-37 29-S7 30-34 33-67 33-86 29-22 22-68 35-39 2704 27-36 23-63 17-25 40-44 13-41 12-89 11-S4 8-81 45 and over •71 ■78 •55 -43 15-44 33-65 3347 2070 2336 There is one inference in particular derivable from that. In the years 1871 and 1881 there is a most striking resemblance between the birth-rates in each age-group. That would seem to show that, for those ten years, there was an absolute level rate in each age-group, from which you might derive that, at any rate for a considerable period about that time of the State's history, there was an absolute standard rate which you could quote in the age-groups of women ; but when you compare that with the periods 1891 and 1901 you will ilnd a very serious reduction. You will remember that, in giving my former evidence, I quoted rates showing the decrease of 1901 on 1S91 (in Q. 6698) ; but by comparing those rates for 1901 and 1891, — -that is the last two decennia — with those for 1871 and 18S1, they show such striking reductions on what you might adopt as a standard rate for that period, that they seem to me to point a most umistakable moral. I have combined the rates for the periods 1871 and 18SI, which I have already stated separately, and weighting them, I derive what I call a standard rate for the purpose of comparison. Leaving out the childish period, 15 to 19, in which there are very few births, I take the first real woman- hood period, 20 to 24, and that gives a weighted rate, which I call a standard, of 45-15 per cent, of the married women exposed. The following are the standard rates for eack successive quinquennial age group : — Age-group 20-24 Standard rate 45-15 25-29 „ 40-62 30-34 „ 33-78 35-39 „ 27-23 „ 40-44 „ 1309 Adopting 51 ]]Mne.'iS—J. B. Trivett, F.R.A.S., F.S.S., 21 Jan., 1904. Adopting those as standards for the various age-groiips, and relating them to the birth-rates for 1891 and 1901 respectively, we find a decline in each case ; and the decline is progressive as time goes on. Comparing the 1891 period with the standard, we find that — Por the age-group 20-24 there is a decline of 780 per cent,. „ 25-29 „ „ 12-92 „ 30-34 „ „ 13-50 „ 35-39 „ „ 13-22 „ 40-44 „ „ 955 Proceeding to the 1901 period, and comparing that with the standard, we find that :— For the age-group 20-24 there is a decline of 1207 per cent. 25-29 „ 26-46 „ 30-34 „ 32-86 „ „ 35-39 „ 36-65 „ 40-44 „ 32-70 „ I have not given the decline over the whole period of coneeptive life 20-44, but a glance at these rates is quite sufficient to disclose that approximately there is a reduction of a third in the effective rate from what I call the standard rate. 6781. BY Mh. COG-HLAN: Q. Can you say what ages were affected first by the decline, the younger or the older ages ? A. Yes. An analysis of the lines of declination, compared with the line of equal or standard birth-rate, seems to show that the decline in the birth-rate started from the younger and proceeded to the older ages. It was evident in the younger ages first, and progressively in the next higher ages, and came last in the age-group 40-44 about the year 1887. 6782. Q. That refers to the time in which the preventive check was first applied ? A. Yes. 6783. Q. But as regards the extent of the decline, which ages have been most affected ? A. The most aflfected has been the group 35-39, and thence backward to the younger ages. That would seem to lend colour to what I have just said. In the course of the years 1881 to 1901, as that has been progressive from the younger to the higher ages, those who, at the first part of the time, were, say, 20 years of age and are now 40, have been able to give almost the whole of their womanhood existence under the preventive regime, and you get the full volume of it in the higher ages. You will remember that in evidence I quoted the period 1888-9, as that in which the climax seemed to have arrived, which caused a vast declension in what I call the vulgar birth-rate — that is, the birth-rate per 1,000 of the population. I cannot say with exactitude, because I have not got enough data, at which period the preventive system started ; but everything seems to point to the fact that we have had varying terms of years prior to the period 18S8-9, in which prevention was adopted by various generations of women ; but, as I have said, they seem to have given it full force, over all ages, in that period, and thus have caused the immense cataclysm which I pointed out before. I have pointed out that preventive measures were adopted by the older women, 40^5, at about the middle of 1887, and that would give about two years of practice in that age-group before it came to its climax. I might also draw attention to the fact, that, in Q. 6698, I quoted the decline in age-groups from 1891 to 1901 ; but, as this later investigation shows, 1891 was only a period in the downward track of the birth-rate. You can easily see, therefore, that formerly we were compariug a deep decline with a previous period which was not so deep, but which, nevertheless, was a decline itself. But now we get a reference or comparison to a period which, it is shown very clearly, is a standard period ; and if you compare the percentages which were quoted ia Q. 6698, with the declinations per cent, which I have just now quoted for 1901, you will see that it is much accentuated, and the case is brought into much more vivid contrast. To give an example, I quoted the decline of 1901 on 1891 as 4-G per cent. ; but if we take it as a decline from the standard of 1871- 1881 it is 1207 per cent., in the age-group 20-24. In the next age-group, 25-30, it was 15-5 ; here it is 26-5. For the next age-group, 80-34, it was 22 4 ; here it is 32-8— an increase in the decline of 50 per cent. For the period, 35-39, it was 27 ; now it is 36-6. For the last period it was 25-6 ; now it is 32-7. So that now you get a clear-cut comparison with what may be accepted as a standard period. 6784. BY THE HON. SIR H. N. MacLAOEIN: §. Have you made any investigafions of the years since 1893 ; — did the decline of the birth-rate become more accentuated aftef that ? j1. I have not got 1898 specifically done. 6785. Q. The reason I ask is, that 1893 and 1894 were years of very great commercial depression ? A. I should exceedingly like to get the figures for each and every year, but of course preferably we have taken the census years, because then we have an exact statement of the women in the age-groups. In other years you can only make an assumption as to the exposures. 6786. THE HOISr. 8IE H. IN". MacLAUEIN : It would be a very great advantage if it could be got. 6787. WITNESS.] I might mention, Mr. President, as another item possibly of interest to the Commission, that, as a check on that calculation, I made a comparison of the married women in the various periods, and the relation which they bore to the standard. I accepted 1871-1881 as a standard in each case, both of women and births. Eelating them to the later periods, 1891 and 1901, you get the multiples they are of the standard. I have done the same with the children, and then I have related again those two multiples to one another, and it gives to a nicety the exact figures which we got in the previous case, thereby proving the correctness of the calculation. But it enables us at the same time to put in popular shape what would, perhaps, be considered technical matter by outside readers. If you take the married women of 1891-1901 as multiples of the married women for the periods 1871-1881, and do the same with the children, and then relate those women to the children, of course, naturaillyj if there was a standard, you would expect the same relationship to obtain ; but the very fact of your getting a decline for each period I have quoted here shows in vitid contrast that, whereas with the multiplicity of women you should have got a corresponding multiplicity of children, hoi only (Jid you not get that corresponding multiplicity, but the declension of one multiple from the other was exactly the same as the declension in the birth-rate. That Tf ould be a popular wa.y of stating the case if my ;f reviotis discussion of the matter were not understood. 6788. 1871. 1891. 2'58 2-30 1GS2 1G02 25-32 25-G2 22-47 2359- -a slight rise 19--1G 18-OG 13-35 14-41 52 Wiiims—J. B. Tmett, F.K.A.S,, F.S.S., 21 Jan., 1004. G788. BY Me. COGHLAN.] Q. Something has been said here regardiog the age-constitution of those groups ;^do you think the average age in one decennial period differs much, or at all, from that of any- other decennial period within those five-years groups? A. The average age of all women — I do not think so. In the various quinquennial groups you will find fluctuations up and down in the composition per cent, of conceptive women ; but it is rather interesting if you take tvA^o periods. I simply offer this because, as it happens, there is an identity between the figures, and it enables us to point a moral from it. If you take the year 1871 and the year 1891, and take the women in the various 'quinquennial age-groups, 15 to 45, you will find they are almost identically the same. Age-group. 15-19 ... 20-24 ... 25-29 ... 30-34 ... 35-39 ... 40-44 ... That shows a very strong similarity in the age-conslilution of the women of conceptive age for those two periods. But if, on the other hand, you compare llio birtli-rntes, which I have already given, you will find a very big declension in every age-group. [Fide Fjchibit No. li\.] That, again, is significant proof of the declension, if any were required. That dieposcB, then, of the argument which has been adduced by some that there has been a diflbrenco in the age-constitution of the women, and that that would account for the diminution of the birth-rate. Here you have two periods where the age-constitution is about the same, and yet you find a declension in every age-group. 6789. Q. Within the age-groups, do you think it possible that the average age could be different? A. No, not to any material extent. There is not room for any serious diminution, as the variations between the percentages of the total women are so small. G790. (A table, showing the number of married women in age-groups, the number of births to those women, and the birth-rates per cent, of those women, for the years 1871, 1881, 1891, 1901, was put in and marked JSxMbii JSfo. 141. For copy see Appendix.) G791. (A table showing the decline of the birth-rate in 1891 and 1901, as compared with a standard taken from the 1871-18S1 rates, was put in and marked Exhibit No. 142. For copy see Appendix.) G792. (A table showing the number of married -n'omen in age-groups for the years 1871, 1881, 1891, and 1901 was put in, and marked Exhibit No. 143. For copy see Appendix.) G793, (A diagram, showing in graphic form the results set out in table Exhibit No. 142, was put in and marked Exhibit No. 14 k For reproduction see Appendix.) [Witness retired.] THIBTY-THIRD MEETING— MONDAY, 15 FEBBUABT, 190 1, 2 p.m. [Board Boom, Public Works Bepartmenf, St/dney.l ^UQzni:— THE HON. C. K. MACKELLAR, M.B., CM., M.L.C., Pbesident; T. A. COGHLAN, Esq., I.S.O., Government Statistician ; J. rOEEMAN, Esq., L.8.A., Lon. ; L. et L., M.E.C.P., Edin. ; M.E.C.S., Eng. ; E. W. KNOX, Esq., General Manager, Colonial Sugar Eefining Company (Limited) ; THE HON. J. B. NASH, M.D., M.L.C. ; E. T. BATON, Esq., L.E.C.P. et S., Edin. ; F.K.C.S., Edin.; M.D., Univ. Brussels; Government Medical OfiScer; and T. FIASCHI, Esq., M.D., Ch.M., D.S.O. Mr. J. Garlick, Secretary to the Commission, took shorthand notes of the evidence and proceedings. 6845. The Secretary reported that, by direction of the Hon. the President, ho had sent some additional questions to the Government Statist of Victoria, and had received replies. Directions were given that they be incorporated in the evideijce, as follow : — Me. W. McLean, Government Statist of Victoria, further examined, by post, stated :— 6846. BY THE HON. THE PEESIDENT.] Q. The birth-rates in Exhibit No. 161 have been quoted by the witness (Actuary for Friendly Societies) for the various quinquennial age-groups of married women for the years 1871 and 1881. Noting the striking resemblance in the rates for the two years for collateral age-groups, might not the figures combined from the weighted means of each age- group be regarded as a local standard of fertility for such age-group ? A. The mean rates for the two periods 1871 and 1881— whether arithmetical or weighted — cannot, in my opinion, be regarded as a local normal standard, in view of the fact that a large proportion of the women of the reproductive 53 mtness—'W. McLean, 15 Feb., 1904.- agos wa8 physically a selected class — having been introduced into the State in accordance with the provisions of the Immigration Act, or, if unassisted immigrants, still necessarily of a vigorous type. The rates quoted for the period of course may bo accepted for comparision with any other period ; but iu effecting any comparison great care must be exercised in attaching due weight to all factors operating to bring about any change in results, and to which I have already alluded iu answers to previous questions. 68i7. Q. If they may be so regarded, how do you interpret the very large percentage decline disclosed in the corresponding figures for 1891 and U)Ol, as'per Table B (Exhibit No. 163) ? A. The rates for the periods J 871 and 1881 are, for the reasons set forth in the previous answer, abnormally high (i.e., for an ordinary population aa distinguished from a differentiated one), and in this view I am supported by the Government Statistician of New South "Wales, who on page 36 of his pamphlet, " The Decline of the Birth-rate," writes, " There can be no question but that the women who came to Australia between 1850 and 1870, and who form a large proportion of the older married women now living, were of a type likely to be prolific in children, and the evidence of their fruitfulness is seen . . . ." This period, in my opinion, should bo extended to about 1886, when it may be said that assisted immigration practically ceased, as an examination of the New South Wales immigration returns will reveal. The effect of the cessation of immigration is, at all events, partly responsible for the lesser decline in 1891, and for the larger decline in 1901, when the more prolific women (as a class) were approaching, or had actually passed, the reproductive limit, and the women as a whole were approaching the conditions of a more settled population, with its due proportion of frail and infirm. This is an additional reason to those advanced in replies to Questions 674G and G7i7 to account for the decline in the birth-rate in 1901, and it may be added that, even if the physique of the married women in 1901 was equal to that of 1871 or 1881, the conditions of 1901 before referred to were sufficient to warrant some decline, unless motives of prudence were utterly disregarded. The obvious interpretation of all these facts appears to me to be that the rates for the earlier periods were abnormally high, and that of the later possibly abnormally low for the reasons already set forth in replies to Questions G7-1G and 6747. 6848. Q. Do you consider the decline more apparent than real ; — kindly give reasons for your answer? yl. It has been already explained in reply to Question 5919 that there is no doubt that the decline is arithmetically real, and that the Tables A (Exhibit No. 162) and B (Exhibit No. 163) now furnished show such decline in the various age-groups. 6849. Q. The interpretation placed upon the decline above-mentioned by the Actuary for Friendly Societies is that it affords, together with other phenomena within the ken of statisticians, indubitable proof of the practices of artificial restraint ; — if you are of a contrary opinion, will you kindly adduce facts in support of your opinion ? .4. I do not concur in the view that the decline is indubitable proof of the practices of artificial restriction, and the phenomena referred to as corroborative of this view have not yet come under my notice. Certainly the decline is not the measure of artificial restriction. My answers to previous questions fully explain my views as to the causes of the decline. I am quite aware that preventive measures are adopted to restrict the size of families ; but ample evidence exists that practices for the attainment of the same end — though doubtless of a different character — are not of recent origin ; but the comparative extent of the practice in ancient and modern times cannot possibly be stated. 6850. Q. As the birth-rate has been continuously declining in this State during very many years, whether the seasons have been wet or dry, is this phenomenon not so marked as to lead the analyst to seek for some other main cause of the singular decline than that of hard times induced by drought? A. It is inferred, from the fact that the expression " very many years " is used in this question in connection with the decline, that the birth-rate referred to is that estimated per 1,000 of the population. A reference to the Vital Statistics of New South Wales shows that such rate was over 40 in the sixties, and it may be said to have almost continuously declined ever since. In many of the replies to previous questions I have endeavoured to account for such fall, specifying the principal contributing factors; and it was only suggested that drought and its concomitant hardships were probably factors in bringing about the decline between 1891 and 1901. 6851. Q. As the main question of the comparative decline between 1891 and 1901, previously submitted to you in my letter of the 21st December, 1903, was based on the relative birth-rates in each quinquennial age-group, thus practically tying up the reference to a central age with an average of two and a half years older or younger, in which the age constitution might vary, is it not begging the question " Have you any reasons for thinking this decline is not real ?" to attribute the decline for each age-group, infer alia, to change in age constitution ? A. Exception appears to have been taken in that portion of my reply to Questions 6746 and 6747, " I still consider that the various causes contributing to a general decline, i.e., change of age constitution, increased age at marriage, decrease of infantile mortality, and change of physique, operate within the groups as over the whole," to the inclusion of change of age constitution as an operating factor within the groups. I did not, and do not attach much importance to the alterations within the groups from this cause ; but whatever movement has taken place is in the direction I have indicated. 6852. WITNESS (continuing) : As I understand, from the Secretary's letter of 3rd February last, the Commission on the Decline of the Birth-rate is now about to consider its report, I presume no further questions on this subject will be submitted to me. I, therefore, avail myself of this opportunity to explain that my attention was first drawn to this subject by the perusal of the pamphlet prepared by the Government Statistician of New South Wales, who was good enough to supply me with a copy. Later on, I was called upon to give the matter fuller consideration in connection with the Vital Statistics for the " Victorian Year Book for 1902." At this time I was aware that a Commission was appointed to investigate the subject, and I thought it my duty to carefully consider the whole question. In the course of the investigation which I have made, I found that there were many contributing factors all of a more or less complex character, and to which it was difficult, if not impossible, to assign exact values. I regard the decline as principally due to natural causes, which I have already explained in my replies, and I not only do not concur in the view of the Actuary for Friendly Societies, viz., " That the decline affords, together with other phenomena within the ken of statisticians, indubitable proof of the practices of artificial restraiut," but I have failed to find any evidence in support of his views. I have, on the contrary, from 54 Witn£ss—'W. McLean, ] 5 Feb., 1B04. from such evidence as I have been able to collect, arrived at the conclusion that the decline in the birth- rate of the Australian States and New Zealand is not a cause for alarm in view of the reasons set forth as under : — (a) It is noticed that high birth-rate and high infantile mortality {i.e., deaths under 1 year of age per cent, of births) are intimately associated. (See reply to Question 5919.) No one in my opinion can regard this association as merely fortuitous, and a little consideration of the subject, will show that it is natural and reasonable. (b) Notwithstanding the differences in births between the high and low birth-rate countries, the numbers of children in both cases surviving their fifth birthday are almost on an equality. Thus of Hungary's high birth-rate of 39-4 per 1,000 of the population, only 23-6 live to attain 5 years of age, whilst of the low birth-rate of New South Wales, viz., 27-4, no less than 23-3 live to attain that age. As pointed out in reply to Question 5919, could the inquiry have been extended beyond the five years there could be no doubt that the superiority would have rested with the low birth-rate countries. (c) Notwithstanding the low birth-rates of the Australian States — lower indeed than in any European country except Sweden — yet the natural increase in the Australian States is greater than in any of the European countries, and the following figures (which, with the exception of Spain, are the mean of the twenty-five years ended with 1900), will illustrate this : — Katural Increase Country. Birth-rate. Death-rate. per 1,000 of Population. Norway 30-7 16-6 141 Prussia 37-5 23-7 13-8 Holland 340 203 137 Denmark ... 31-3 18-3 130 England and Wales 320 19-1 12-9 Grerman Empire ... Scotland ... 370 ;j20 24-2 19-2 12-8 12-8 United Kingdom 30-9 190 11-9 Sweden 286 170 11-6 Hungary ... Italy ■ 42 7 36-5 323 26-3 10-4 10 Belgium ... 30 201 9-9 Austria 37 9 2S6 93 Switzerland 2:s7 20-6 81 Ireland 23-7 18-2 5-5 Spain 35-5 30 3 5-2 The normal rate for Australia assumed by Mr. Coghlan (page 3 of his pamphlet) is 148, which does not differ essentially from that of the present time. Another point in this connection must be noted, viz., that this high rate of i:atural increase has been achieved at a minimum expense of deaths. Thus, in New South Wales, 100 deaths are more than compensated (numerically) by 237 births, in Victoria by 189, in New Zealand by 2G6, whilst in the I'nited Kingdom 100 deaths are only compensated by 160 births, in the German Empire by 169, and in Hungary with the highest European birth-rate by only 143 births. (d) At the assumed rate of natural increase (viz., 14'8), the population of Australia would double itself every forty-seven years — a rate which, independent of immigration, cannot be otherwise regarded than as perfectly satisfactory. In view of all these facts it might reasonably be asked what are the advantages of a high birth- rate when it is accompanied, as seems to be invariably the case in a normal population, by a high infantile mortality rate. Clearly it is no satisfaction for any community to have a high birth rate to achieve in a few years results which are accomplished by communities with a low birth-rate at no such sacrifice of human life. (At 3-30 p.m. the Commission adjourned until 2 p.m. on Thursday, the 18th instant.) THIBTY-FOUBTB 55 TSIBTT-FOTTBTR MEETING— THUB8DAT, 18 FEBBUABY, 1904, 2 p.m. [Board Boom, Puhlio Works Department, Sydney. "] ^ztmxd: — THE HON. C. K. MACKELLAE, M.B., CM., M.L.O., Peesidbnt; THE HON. SIR H. N. MacLAUEIN, Kt., M.D., LL.D., M.L.C.; 0. 0. BBALE, Esq., President of the JSTew South "Wales Chamher of Manufactures ; J. EOEEMAN, Esq., L.S.A., Lou.; L. et L., M.E.C.P., Edin. ; M.R.C.S., Eng. ; E. EOSBBET, Esq., C.M.a., Inspector- General of Police; THOMAS HUGHES, Esq., Alderman of the City of Sydney ; E. "W. KNOX, Esq., General Manager, Colonial Sugar Refining Company (Limited) ; G. S. LITTLEJOHN, Esq,, President of the Sydney Chamber of Commerce; THE HON. J. B. NASH, M.D., M.L.C.; R. T. PATON, Esq., L.E.C.P. et S., Edin. ; E.R.C.S., Edin. ; M.D,, Uniy., Brussels; Government Medical Officer ; and T. EIA8CHI, Esq., M.D., Ch.M., D.S.O. De. R. H. Todd, Associate to the President, was also present. * . Me. J. Gaeiice, Secretary to the Commission, took shorthand notes of the eyidenee and proceedings. 6854. The Secretary reported that, in accordance with instructions received, he had sent the evidence of Mr. McLean, Victorian Government Statist {vide Qs. 6846-6852), to Mr. Trivett, and ha4 received the following report : — • Sir, Registry of Friendly Societies and Trade Unions, Sydney, 16 February, 1904. I have hurriedly perused the replies which have been received from Mr. McLean, G-overnment Statist of Victoria, in answer to certain questions propounded to him by the authority of the Commission on the ■Decline of the Birth-rate, and numbered 6846 to 6852. As the brief tiipe at disposal before the Commission will close ios labours would not admit of an exhaustive discussion of the subject, or of the retraversing of the ground I have already occupied before the Commission, I propose to briefly comment upon the remarks and opinions presented in Mr. McLean's reply in order to enable the members of the Commission to judge of the value attachable thereto, and shall treat his answers in the sequence in which- they appear. Question 6846. Mr. McLean introduces the word " normal " into his reply, and thus quite transforms the question put to him. He was asked whether the figures might not "be regarded as a local standard" ; and this was all that waa required in the question immediately under discussion, viz. , whether there had been a decline or not, no matter from what cause proceeding. I used the figures in all their bareness to show an unmistakable decline. I did not use the fact of the decline in itself to show prevention, etc., but supplied other evidence, aa did many other witnesses, which, in conjunction with the undoubted decline, tended to prove by a series of propositions the fact of prevention. A considerable weight has been attached by Mr. McLean to the fact that a large proportion of the women of the reproductive ages was physically a selected class on account of immigration, and that they caused a high birth-rate in 1871 and 1881, which was speedily lowered when the immigration had ceased. I do not admit that the cessation of immigration woiild have such a marvellous effect in reducing rates as we see has been experienced, and to which I refer at length in my answer, No. 6718 ; but, admitting for the sake of argument that the deterioration had appeared in the first generation of the progeny of such immigrants, and that it is quite natural to expect a falling off in fertility, let us leave out the comparison of the young women of 1 891 and 1901, and restrict ourselves to the study of the immigrants themselves who were survivors in 1891 and 1901, as contrasted with the elder women of earlier times. Thus, from Exhibit 141, the women 15 to 19 years of age in 1881 were, say, 25 to 29 in 1891, and 35-39 in 1901. Comparing them with the collateral women of 1881, taken as a standard of comparison, we find that at 25-29 they had a birth-rate of 35 '37 per cent., as opposed to 40'52 per cent, in the 1881 column, and at 35-39 their rate was 17"25 per cent, as against 27 '36 in the 1881 standard, a fall of 37 per cent, of the standard. Similarly women aged 20 to 24 inl881 were 30-34 in 1891, and 40-44 in 1901. Comparing these in like manner, we find for age 30-34 a rate of 29'22 per cent, in 1891, as against 33 '86 in 1881 for the same age-groups, and for age 40-44 a value of 8'81 in 1901, as opposed to 12'89 in 1881, a fall of ,32 per cent, of the standard. These comparisons are of women of the immigration period, at the various stages of life, with women of a generation still more remote ; so that if the rates quoted for 1871 and 1881 are abnormally high and, as now Mr. McLean asserts, not subject to a widely-reaching system of prevention, what a phenomenal race must have been their predecessors who were aged from 25 upwards in 1881. 1 have shown to a conclusion above, by tracing the same women (the influx of population not being a disturbing factor according to Mr. McLean's opinion after 1886), that the fertility of the immigrants themselves had decreased aa against the standard of 1881; so that, unless something of an extraordinary nature had come into play to affect this " physically selected class " in the interim, the phenomenon is simply inexplicable. This extraordinary force, from the web of evidence whose threads lead conjointly to the same indubitable conclusion, I call "prevention." Question 6847. Mr. McLean, continuing from the standpoint that an abnormally high fertility rate proceeds from a select class of women in 1881, quotes the Government Statistician of New South Wales in suppol-t of this attitude. If he had proceeded two lines further in the text of his quotation he would have found ample scope for a modification of his assumption of an infusion of super-excellent foreign-born women, producing abnormal results. Mr. Coghlan, the author quoted, in the succeeding lines to those cited by Mr. McLean, says : " Nor was the Australian woman of the same period any less fruitful, as will presently appear." I entirely concur in the view taken by Mr. Coghlan as the outcome of his disquisition, and further ask the question — Why should not the Australian- born woman of the present period be as fruitful as her female ancestors if left alone ? The fact that she has not the same characteristics in this direction is, I think, ample proof that she has not been "left alone"; and I can only repeat emphatically my evidence (Q. 6718 ei seg.) in support of my contention, and take unqualified exception to the statement that the " cessation of immigration is even partly responsible for the lesser decline in 1891 and for the larger decline in 1901." I am fortified in taking such uncompromising ground by the fact that even if the women as a whole were approaching the condition of a more settled population — e.g., that of Great Britain — the solid and naked truth remains that New South Wales, without any qualifying condition as to "physically selected classes," has a lower birth-rate than an old country like England, which has a more settled population, with its due proportion of frail and infirm, and which is a fair object of comparison in that its age incidence does, not diflFer materially from that of New South Wales. Question 6848. 56 Question 6848. The shortness and nature of Mr. McLean's reply to this question are most eloquent, in view of the answer previously given by him to Question 5919, wherein he said that the decline was more apparent than real. In answer to Questions 5846, 5847-49, considerable stress was laid by Mr. McLean on tlie necessity of taking age constitution of the population into account in estimating birth-rates, and properly so, as inferred by me in Exhibit 4, and in the questions relating to that exhibit. In order to remove any ground for objection from this aspect, and to clear away all confusing issues, I took the trouble {ride my evidence of 31st December, 190.S, and 21st January, 1904) to give to the Commission the clear-cut issues offered by taking the birth-rates of women in five-year groups ; that is, the facts were most undoubtedly and purely comparable. These comparisons proved the existence of a very large declination {vide Question 6790), and now, when confronted with such glaring and unpalatable truths, the result is met by Mr. McLean with the mere adverb " arithmeti- cally.'' I am content to leave the judgment in the case to the Commissioners. Question G849. In criticism of the answer to this question, I need only quote the remark in Mr. McLean's reply that " the phenomena referred to as corroborative of this view have not yet come under my notice." It is, unfortunately, too true that the corroboration referred to exists in the most ample form in the evidence of divines, medical practitioners, chemists, and in the evidence I have had the honor of presenting to the Commission. Question 6850. I look upon the answer in this case as a clear evasion of the interrogatory. The matter of " rate per 1,000 of population" is entirely beside the question, since I have shown a decline in each age-group above age 20, apart entirely from the general population rate {ride Question O/Oi), and Exhibit 141) ; and, further, the phenomena have shown themselves persistently in force and cliaracter wlietlier the seasons have been plenteous or drought-stricken. Mr. McLean took the position, in his letter of 7th January ultimo, that I had compared the facts of 1901, " the sixth year of an unprecedented drought," with 1891, a year in a prosperous period ; and ncjw that I compare the prosperous period of 1891 with an anterior period {nee Exhi'bil 141), still with unfavourable results, he, in effect, ignores the question. It seems unprofitable to pursue the .subject further with him. Question GS.'j]. This question was manifestly prompted by the answer of Mr. McLean to Question 6746, wherein he laid emphasis on change in age constitution operating within the age-groups — i.e., a disposition of the persons in each (say) quinqennial age- group to cluster at one or other of the single age-groups. As no answer is vouchsafed I need not further notice the remarks made by Mr. McLean, and purporting to be a reply, further than to state that I have dealt with the question of age constitution, increased age at marriage, decrease of infantile mortality, and change of phj-sique in my evidence iisqiie ad navstam. I have now criticised in their due order the replies of Mr. McLean to the questions asked by the Commission, and I take leave to make a few brief comments on his closing remarks anent the great subject upon which the Commission is deliberating. He has stated not only his want of concurrence with the views expressed by myself as to artificial restraint, but also, in striking contrast, an optimism on the subject, in that he thinks there is no cause for alarm at the outlook, betokening either a distinctly different reading of the signs of tlie times to that exhibited by the numerous witnesses examined by the Commission, or else his existence in a much serener and purer plane of humanity than that occupied by such witnesses, or possibly an absence of observation of many facts which are patent to the thoughtful student of statistics. With reference to his reasons set forth in support of his contention that there is no cause for alarm, I have to remark : — Question 6862 (a). His statement that a high birth-rate and high infantile mortality are intimately associated, I absolutely deny (see Exhibit 119 and Questions 6652, 6713). There may be, incidentally, a high death-rate with a high birth-rate, but it seems clear to me that Mr. McLean will persist In putting effect before cause, instead of in its logical sequence. When there is concurrence in the rates the births bring the deaths with them, instead of the heavy mortality being the forerunner of the high birth-rate. Question 6852 (6). Mr. McLean's remarks under this head abundantly sustain my contention in {a). The high birth-rate, according to him, brings a consequential effect in a high death-rate, and neutralises the benefit otherwise attachable to the high birth- rate. Question 6852 (c and d). The conclusions presented by Mr. McLean under these heads have proved somewhat of a shock to my sensibilities as a citizen of Austraba. In brief, the proposition is as follows : — Because, in Sta,tes where there is a high birth-rate (compared with the Kew South Wales rate) there is, for reasons not advanced, a death-rate sufficiently high to render the natural increase of smaller value than the natural increase in New .South Wales, then it is better to rest content with the low present birth-rate of New South Wales with its concomitants (in my opinion) of absolute murder of infant life at the viable stage of pregnancy, and of the crime against the State by avoidance of conception. According to Mr. McLean's own figures, in (6) '23 3 per 1,000 out of 27-4 survive to age 5, which means a saving of 85 per cent, of the births. Now, as our present birth-rate is about 13 per 1,000 less than it was at its maximum stage, we would have a saving of at least 85 per cent, of 13 per 1,000, or, say, 11 per 1,000 saved if our rate had continued as of old ; which, added to the 14 8, mentioned by Mr. JNIcLean in (c) as the normal, would mean a natural increase of more than 25 per 1,000; and this would bear most striking contrast with the rates per 1,000 (luoted in the table in (c). This, I maintain, is the correct view to take ; and, if so, renders the remarks made by Mr. McLean in his concluding sentence as so many empty words. I would now leave the matter to the judgment of the Comiuission with the expression of my opinion, based on manifold facts appearing from a discussion of the subject from all points of view, and confirmed by evidence presented by accepted authorities in the spiritual and medical world, that the birth-rate has declined, from whatever standpoint the question is viewed ; and, after exhausting all possible causes of contraction in the rate, the conclusion is inevitable that artificial restraints and other practices of infinite harm to the community are the factors productive of the decline. I have, &c., JOHN B. TRIVETT, „, „ „,„ .. ,^, ,„ Actuary of Friendly Societies, The Secretary, Royal Commission on the Decline of the Birth-rate. (At 5 p.m. the Commission adjourned until Saturday, the 20th instant, at 11 a.m.) 57 LIST OF STATISTICAL EXHIBITS. No. Subject. Name of Witness. Paragraph of Evidence. 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 35 36 37 38 39 40 Statistical return of birth-rates per 1,000 of the population of the States of the Australian Commonwealth, and of various countries of the world , Statistical return of birth-rates per 1,000 of population for various cities throughout the world , Statistical return of births per 1,000 of population for State of New South Wales for each year from 1880 to 1902 Statistical return of proportions of age-groups of female population to the total female population — Censuses 1861 to 1901 Statistical return comparing the birth-rates of Sydney and country for each year from 1880 to 1902 Statistical return showing birth-rate, death-rate, and rate of natural increase of population in the various States of Australasia, and for various countries throughout the world, for the period 1890-1899 Statistical return showing the marriage-rate per 1,000 of the population of New South Wales for each year from 1881-1902 Statistical return of marriage-rates per 1,000 of the population for the various States of Australasia, and for various countries of the world, for each year from 1891-1900 Statistical return showing the ages of the contracting parties to all marriages contracted in New South Wales during the year 1901 Statistical return showing the marriages of minors, male and female, in New South Wales for each year from 1891 to 1902 Legitimate, ante-nuptial conceptions, and illegitimate birth-rates for New South Wales, in age-groups, for the period 1891-1900— Statistical return of Marriages after conception — -Statistical return of Eflfeot of age of mother on chance of marriage after illicit conception — Statistical return showing Illegitimate births and rates for New South Wales for each year from 1893 1902 —Statistical return Illegitimate birth-rates, Sydney and country compared, 1871-1900 — Statistical return ,. . . Ages of mothers who gave birth to illegitimate children in New South Wales, 1893-1900— Statistical return Infantile mortality of legitimate and illegitimate children in New South Wales for each year from 1895 to 1902 — Statistical return Births in maternity homes, showing whether registered or not registered — Statistical return for years 1897-1902 Fecund marriages per 1,000 in New South Wales for the period 1861 to 1897 in decennial periods — Statistical return Geographical distribution of fecundity in New South Wales— based on 1901 census — the number of childless marriages per 1,000, according to the ages attained by mothers — Statistical return of Childless marriages in New South Wales per 1,000 marriages of over five years duration, according to marriage age — Statistical return Nationality of wives in New South Wales who had, in 1901, been married more than five years, and were under 45 when married — Statistical return Childless marriages in New South Wales, according to birth-place (nationality) of husband and wives — Statistical return Childless marriages in New South Wales, according to religion of wife — based on 1901 Census— Statistical return Childless marriages in New South Wales, according to religion of husband and wife — Census 1901 — Statistical return Average interval between births to women in New South Wales— Statistical return Effect of having had previous issue on the probability of further child-bearing by women in New South Wales — Statistical return Births in maternity homes in New South Wales during the period 1897-1902 — Statistical return Extract from the recommendations of a Committee of the House of Commons, England, on Death Certification, 1893 Extract from a book by Dr. Newsholme, regarding Coroners' Inquests and Causes of Death Births to 1,000 women in New South Wales according to previous issue, for the period 1891-1900 — Statistical return Initial fertility of women of New South Wales within one year of marriage, and within two years of marriage — Statistical return Fertility of newly-married women (New South Wales) compared with that of women with previous issue — Statistical return Average issue of New South Wales women for period 1871-1880 compared with that for period 1891-1900 — Statistical return Occupations of married men in New South Wales, their issue, their average family, and their death-rate, for the period 1898-1902 — Statistical return Effect of age at marriage on average issue of New South Wales women, 1871- 1880, compared with 1891-1900- -Statistical return Average issue, according to the 1901 census of New South Wales women married prior to 1881, according to birth-place— Statistical return Average issue according to birth-place ; comparison of marriages — showing great decline — Statistical return Average issue at 1901 census of women who had passed the child-bearing stage, separated according to religion — Statistical return Fertility of women in New South Wales of various religions in relation to fertility of women of all aenominations combined — Statistical return Trivott, J. B. 317 320 323 325 332 338 351 352 3544 366 376 388 390-1 408 419 420 425 439 441 457 464 466 468 473 477 480 481 4S4 485 486 505-6 507 509-10 511-2 520 523 528 532 534 536 39608 235— H 58 No. Subject. 41 42 43 44 45 46 47 48 49 BO 51 52 ;53 99 100 101 102 103 104 105 106 107 112 113 114 115 116 117 118 ]jl9 L:120 121 122 123 in New South for each year from 1898 to Fertility of women in New South Wales with husbands of different birth-place, quoted as a percentage of that of women whose husbands are of the same birth-place— Statistical return ■■■■■■■ ;■••■•,■■■■;"■■ Fertility of women in New South Wales with husbands of diflferent religion, •quoted as a percentage of that of women whose husbands are of the same religion — Statistical return ••■• ;•; ;' Deaths in childbirth in New South Wales (from various stated causes) for eacli year from ISil.S to 1902— Statistical return ; ••■ Deaths of women in New South Wales from pyajmia, septicemia, puerperal fever, diseases of parturition, diseases of organs of generation, m age-groups— Statistical return ; '■ Deaths of women in New Soutli AVales from above causes, shown as a rate per 10,000 of the female population— Statistical return .............. Comparative table of deaths of marritil iiic.thers, in childbirth, Wales for certain specified diseases, showing risk, 1902 — Statistical return • ■• ■■■-,■■ Deaths of maiiicd women in Now South Wales according to the number of the confinements, showing the risk- Statistical return .W,"" V^-l'iI'^u i Comparison of New South Wales rates of deaths in childbirth with those ot England, compiled by Dr. Matthews Duncan— Statistical return ...... Infantile mortality in New South Wales from certain specified diseases— 1893- 19()'2— children under 1 year of age— Statistical return V'';"' Infantile mortality in New South Wales- comparison between Sydney, suburbs, and country, for period IS'.i;! -1902— Statistical return ■■■-■■■ Comparison of infantile death-rate of illegitimate and legitimate children of New South Wales for period 1898-1902, for diarrha^al diseases, syphilis, malnutri- tion, premature birth, enteritis, murder, atrophy, debility, inanition- Statistical return • ;■•,•::■•• -, * c Deaths of illegitimate children, during first three months of life, from «1 o o 1* CO izi 1 iS +3 O a 05 r4 M M 1 ^1 00 Sas1^§5^^S&Sg5^^^^g§^^S^I^^?S^^^^^^^^'^^g a S al >H ; r-i SS : i i 00 : ■ ; C-- ... i> : : ; S : : ; K 1 : : 1 ^1 i i i K 1 '" " i ' i r :- : - — — — ■— — — — - '■ — -- - ■— ■ — : — — : — :— : — — :- - K 1 1 1 i R 1 • i : s 1 ' i -l - •--- i- - ■": — — - - - SI 1 i : 5 1 1 i ; SI i : i ■— - - --r- - SI • : i SI ; : : ss : 1 ; — -" — — — -- __. - - — : s i : ; -- 1 i 1 1 rH SI i : : SI 1 i : rH E; 1 01 S i ; ; rH ^ S i i ■ 3 • : 1 rH : '-' r-l ffl SI 1 ; 1 1 ^ '-' — S : : : iH rH rH lo : : : - -< g i 1 : ^ T-H 1 " OI -H w ^ : • : rH •-* ■-' r^ s i : : *"* : Ol rH rH rH •-' ■' 01 w is 1 1 : CI Cl rH Ol '~' Cl '-' rH rH « ill r-i 03 rH « '-' rH Ol '" lO lo : ; : ■llH ... ^ ^ ^ '-' r^ rH •^ CO -' ■- Ol - 3 rH -H rH rH rH ^ oa -H ^ « rH H CO -' :- -1 11 ;^ =1 " CO rH rH rH rH rH rH -H rH M K rH ;-- rH rH rH n rH <-* CI rH rH r-1 -■ rH T-* rH ■-- CI "* o -H rH HP 5 -H ■ ^ CO rH CI CM cc CO -* :-. -^ Hj< rH -* rH CI 1-i rH S -> rH -H rH rH (M rH 'if CM rH rH rH ^ '-2 c^ :t lO CI CI CI Ol -c ?1 S CI M rH rH (N rH rH rH - CO £> CI 03 != '^ o lO ^. rH CI rH rH rH S5 ■H t-i rH Ol rH rH CO CO ■* rH Tj. ^ 00 ^ -? -^ .- X rH C3 (M d rH el rH rH rH s ^ rH r^ l-H rH -. 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(N M Tfl in O I-- co O CO y? to o r. I iS I s I 13 • 01 t d « CO 0^ (M iti ui m 00 O) O iH o'd OS fM •* GO cq OS in OS bbj:3 »— 1 CO 03 M 03 00 OS OS t* !>. 2 in "3 10 ^0 10 ^ N VO cq" in cq CO cq" cq" in iH cq uj (3 CD Oi 00 ^ J> iH CD CD CO ?5 US ira Cr CN l> ei' r-T c^T (M CO CO tH -* 10 VO CO to j> "2, 1-1 iH r-t i-H iH ^ I-f iH rH rH CO lO XO in rH 00 CD Cj 10 01 0) 15 O! iM I— I •^ CD -L- OD CO Is 00 ep t^ CD IQ X-' in l-O 9 ID CO Ss & ■ to 10 I— ( U3 i -^ w IM in CD cq J-i 5 St. ^ -^ -# CO W3 ^ ^ in --e^ ■* •^ O "3 ■is ira i^ 10 OS C» 03 i> 00 CO OS OS 03 00 m g CO CD c:s 10 zo 00 IN >* x> 0^ ^* CO t- * uf \a CD" co" to" !> l> i> 00" 00" of CO -|j OJ ■^ IC CO ■* 03 CO r-t T—t CO (M V £^ ■* N 1— 1 CD 00 in' T— ( rH ? 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"^ r-H I—: 00 r-1 p-H N N cq a^ cq ^ cq " 4^- J> cq 00 CO CD CO •^ cq CO ^ r^ la I— ( m r~t J> CO CD 00 ^ 3 CO CD Tf( CO CO W cq CO OS CO cq M N ii( N cq *.- c^ cq H (5q s 1> (M 05 ^ r^ 00 10 r-i OS CD s"! J> CO iO CO J> Oi 00 cq 10 o 03 CT) 03 03 a OS 03 OS 1> -|3 3-=i T-T rH oT eg "m ^g J> ^ U» r-( ^ ocT § i-i of CO rf in" zS co" =0^ CQ CO CO ^Jl ^ ^ Tji -^ ^ ^ CO 03 lO CD CO ^ Oi CO cq ^ «1 00 1— ( O. 1-t J:- CO r-\ -<*< I3 C3 P3 53 r-( cq T~{ 1— I p rH •H tH tH IH tH iH 1-4 iH tH rH iH ft (M CO ^ 05 »o CO t- CO CO ai .• K -P CQ cq i> Oi cq CD CO 00 SP-^ CO CD i> CD CD i> i> t> t> OS o Q) 43 -S ^ a co- S ■^M CO 10 CO M rH xh CD x-^ cq 9^ in r2 ^ CO 10 I> 1-0 CD ^ - a\ CO^ T— 1 i> CO OS CO m « co- oT oT of -*" in" 4> 00" 0" ^" a3t> U3 10 , 10 CD CO CO CD CO CO i> CO !> CD 0^ ■0 ■ - S"^ « ° ^ CO ^ in CD J> 00 CS rH cq 05 O) Oi 03 oa a oa 00 00 CO 00 00 CO 00 OS OS OS T~i i-H I-l i-H r-^ iH t-i I-t rH r-i 68 Exhibit No. 15. (Vide par. 419.) Illegitimate Birth-rates — Town and Country. Year. Number of Illegitimate Births. Metropolis. Country Districts. New South Wales. Peroentaffe of Total Births. Metropolis. Country Districts. New South Wales. 1871 1876 1881 1886 1891 1896 1900 1902 267 394 592 905 1,149 1,189 1,222 1,243 515 556 671 782 966 1,256 1,383 1,254 782 950 1,263 1,687 2,115 2,445 2,605 2,497 4-78 6-19 6-64 6-89 8-20 9-66 10-08 9-56 3-54 3-28 3-34 3-38 3-80 5-19 5-53 5-05 3-88 4-08 4-36 4-65 5-36 6-70 7-01 6-60 Following are Illegitimate Eates per 1,000 of Population for Quinquennial Periods. t^Tiinqucnnial Periods. Metropolis. Country Districts. New South Wales. 1871-75 1876-80 per cent. 5-11 6-21 6-60 7-37 8-93 10-26 per cent. 3-72 3-44 3-25 3-67 4-38 5-24 per cent. 4-09 4 -Q-? 1881-85 1886-90 4-36 4-90 1891-95 6-01 1896-1900 6-88 Exhibit No. 16. ( ride par. 420.) Ages of Mothers who gave birth to Illegitimate Children, 1893-1900. Aires of Mothers Number of Mothers. Ages of Mothers. Number of Mothers. Ages of Mothers. Number of Mothers. 12 years 13 ,, 1 10 64 212 592 1,142 1,578 1,917 1,883 1,806 1,590 1,337 1,070 919 786 668 28 years 609 511 494 288 333 302 293 286 238 •209 202 175 111 65 77 • 43 ye. 44 , ars . . . 53 29 „ 19 14 ,, 30 , 45 , 46 , 47 , 48 , 49 , 50 , 51 , 52 , 54 , 55 , Not s 15 15 „ 31 , 32 ,, 12 16 „ 3 17 „ 33 „ 3 18 „ 34 „ 1 19 „ 35 4 20 „ 36 „ 21 37 22 „ 38 , 1 23 „ 39 „ 1 24 „ 40 „ tated 60 25 ,, 41 „ 26 , 42 Tntal 19,940 27 „ The maximum figures are at ages T^-21, and these figures agree with ma.\iraum numbers for marriage age. Inference obvious. Exhibit No. 17. (Tide par. 425.) Legitimate and Illegitimate Infantile Mortality. Legitimate Child ■en. Illegitimate Children. All Children. Year. Births. Deaths undei 1 year. Rate per 1,000 Buths. Births. Deaths under 1 year. Rate per 1,000 Births. Births. Deaths under 1 year. Rate per 1,000 Births 1895 36,250 34,061 34,795 33,711 33,852 34,541 35,163 35,338 3,488 3,717 3,163 3,671 3,584 3,087 3,213 3,436 96-22 109-13 90-90 108-90 105 -S7 89-37 91-37 97-23 2,524 2,445 2,452 2,511 2,609 2,605 2,712 2,497 618 718 638 747 745 749 716 716 244-85 293-66 260-20 297-49 285-55 287-52 264-01 286-74 38,774 36,506 37,247 36,99.9. 36,461 37,146 37,875 37,835 4,106 4,435 3,801 4,418 4,329 3,836 3,929 4,152 105-90 121-49 102-05 121-97 118-73 103-27 103-74 109-74 1896 1897 1898 1899 1900 1901 1902 Eight-year Period 277,711 27,359 98-52 20,. 355 5,647 277-43 298,066 33,006 110-73 69 Exhibit No. 18. (Vide par. 439.) BiBTHS in Maternity Homes. 1897. 1898. 1899. 1900. 1901. 1902. Total, 1897-1902. Home. si . IP Pi 1 0) .2 bo If* M si . o o o i 1 si . IP 1 1 1 From Reports, 1 1 Benevolent Asylum and Branch St. Margaret's Maternity *Wonien's Hospital 282 81 Seeb 91 See b( 71 281 76 slow. 92 slow. 61 228 117 Hi 52 231 110 104 13 227 137 Hi 55 224 127 114 54 218 150 141 61 225 152 138 57 240 214 176 56 242 200 162 62 219 247 186 42 218 233 166 41 1,414 946 1,075 822 337 1,421 898 913 Home of Hope, Newtown •Maternity Home, Annandale.. „ Burwood ... 776 288 Total 558 452 608 487 ... 733 551 ... 761 576 ... 863 677 ... 886 626 4,594 4,296 3,369 Births in Maternity Homes 4,594 ,, registered 4,296 Loss 298 Exclusive of the following :- •Maternity Home, Annandale. . •Women's Hospital 4 6 20 23 14 20 21 34 21 36 86 26 48 150 ... 191 188 169 198 163 234 192 1,075 113 913 Illegitimates (3,369) to total registered (4,296) = 78-4 per cent. Exhibit No. 19. (Vide par. 441.) iNCLUDiif a the ante- nuptial, the fecund Marriages were, per 1 ,000, since 1861- Marriage Age. 1861-70. 1871-80. 1881-90. 1891-97. Decline per cent, on 1861-70. 15 987 970 963 923 845 719 234 987 972 948 897 801 576 275 980 966 941 873 739 504 125 978 918 919 852 706 410 92 •9 20 2-3 25 4-6 30 7-7 16-5 35 40 43-0 45 60-7 Taking the average marriage age (25), the above shows a drop from 963 to 919, or 4'6 per cent. Allowing for ante- nuptial conceptions, the drop was probably from 951 to 889, or 66 per cent. The birth-rate for the same period fell from 41-74 to 27-76 per 1,000, or 33^ per cent. Exhibit No. 20. (r,(/cpar. 457.) GrEOGitAPHiOAL Distribution of Fecundity — From the Census of 1901. The number of Childless Marriages per 1,000 according to Age attained of Mothers. Division. 20 25 30 35 40 and under and under and under and under and under 25. 30. 36. 40. 45. 318 209 146 120 115 256 142 80 79 69 236 125 73 58 60 229 124 74 58 58 234 117 79 70 64 253 112 105 76 75 281 184 152 . 98 227 137 99 City and Suburbs of Sydney Balance of Metropolitan County (Cumberland) Coastal Districts Tableland Western Slope Riverina and Plains east of Darling Counties Robinson (Cobar) and Yancowinna (Broken Hill). Plains west of Darling Many of the younger ages are still unproved. 39603 235— K Exhibit No. 81. 70 Exhibit No. 21. (ride par. 464.) Childless Marriages per 1,000 Marriages of over 5 years' duration according to Marriage Age. Marriage Age. Sotal Birthplace. Age IS. Age 20. Age 26. Age 30. Age 3S. under 46. per 1,000 21 34 42 33 35 40 per 1,000 32 56 60 39 45 63 per 1,000 58 85 106 74 74 119 per 1,000 114 176 212 127 157 253 per 1,000 255 345 362 359 403 352 per 1,000 48 Other States and New Zealand 76 England and Wales 106 Scotland 80 Ireland 93 other Countries 109 In 1891 the Australasian married women of all ages numbered 96,528, or 58 per cent, of total marriages. „ 1901 , ,, „ ,, 146,039 „ 71 Women of non-British birth are 2^ per cent, of total married women. Exhibit No. 22. {Vide par. 466.) TAKnfG Women o£ all ages living in New Soutli Wales, who in 1901 had been married more than 5 years, and were under 45 when married, the following shows percentage of total Wives of various nationalities : — Birihplaoe. No. of Wives. Percentage of Total Wives. Birthplace. No. of ^ives. Percenltefeof Total Wives. New South Wales 89,398 18,082 26,780 6,291 56-3 11-4 16-9 4-0 14,145 3,922 8 '9 Other Australian States and New Other Countries 2-5 158,618 100-0 Scotland Exhibit No. 23. (Ftcfepar.468.) Childless Marriages per 1,000 according to Birthplace of Husband. Birthplace of Wife. Husband of same Country. Husband of other Country. New South Wales 113 150 147 96 109 132 Other States 166 173 156 157 England and Wales Scotland Ireland Refers to all durations of marriage. Exhibit No. 24. ( nwe par. 473.) Effect of Eeligion on Fecundity— Census 1901. Women married before 45. Marriage at least 5 years' duration. Childless Marriages per 1,000 Marriages. Religion, Age at Marriage. 18 26. Church of England Roman Catholic .... Methodist Presbyterian Hebrew Others 28 27 18 30 i>r> 34 44 41 30 36 62 47 80 65 57 68 113 85 30. 169 145 102 1.30 224 168 36. 321 341 281 313 438 329 All Ages under 46. 71 67 49 68 92 80 The diflference between the highest and lowest is 4-3 per gent. Exhibit No. 25. 71 Exhibit No. 25. (Vide par. 477.) Childless Marriages per 1,000, according to Eeligion of Husband. Eeligion of Wife. Husband of same relig-ion. Husband of other religion. Church of Snglfiiid 129 118 106 115 134 181 163 Methodist. 180 Presbyterian 173 306 Refers to all durations of marriage. Exhibit No. 26. {Vide par. 480.) Average interval from marriage to 1st child 19-2 months. 1st child to 2nd 2nd 3rd 4th 5th 6th 7th 8th 9th 3rd 4th 5th 6th 7th 8th 9th 10th 28-8 26-4 24 20-4 24 23 '4 20 '4 20 '4 20-4 Approximate only. Approximate only. Above obtained by obtaining average age at each birth and resultant by subtraction. Proper method to take each interval separately. Exhibit No. 27. (Vide par. 481.) How does the fact of having previous issue affect probability of child-bearing P For the period 1891-1900 the birth-rates per 1,000 were, for women— With 1 child 285 „ 2 children 239 J? 3 it 231 „ 4 224 „ 5 „ 221 „ 6 „ , 213 With 7 children 208 „ 8 , 204 „ 9 „ 197 „ 10 176 ,, 11 and over 147 Exhibit No. 28. (Vide pa,v. i8i.) BiETHS in Maternity Homes, 1897-1902. Number of Births. Asylum or Home. From Reports of Institutions. Registered. Tieripvolent Asvlum and Branch 1,414 946 1,075 822 337 1,421 898 W^omen's HosDital 913 Home of Hope, Newtown 776 288 Total 4,594 4,296 Illegitipiate (included above) 3,369 Births in Maternity Homes 4,594 ,, registered ,. 4,296 Loss 298 leakage— 6'5 per cent. Of those registered above 78 per cent, are illegitimate. Exhibit No. 29. 72 Exhibit No. 29. (Vide par. 485.) DEATH CERTIFICATION. Eecommendations of Committee of House of Commons on Death-certification (1893). The Committee give the following summary of their recommendations : — (1) That in no case should a death be registered without production of a certificate of the cause of death signed by a registered medical practitioner or by a Coroner after inquest, or in Scotland by a Procurator Fiscal. (2) That in each sanitary district a registered mecTical practitioner should be appointed as public medical certiher of the cause of death in cases in which a certificate from a medical practitioner in attendance is not forthcoming. (3) That a medical practitioner in attendance should be required, before giving a certificate of death to personally inspect the body, but if, on the ground of distance or for other sufficient reason, he is unable to make this inspection himself he should obtain and attach to the certificate of the cause of death a certificate signed by two persons, neighbours of the deceased, verifying the fact of death. ,,,.,, t> • i. ■ 4. .j „* i,„„^;„„ (4) That medical practitioners should be required to send certificates of death to the Registrar, instead of handing them to the representatives of the deceased. ,./, , j- i „„i;4.;™«™ (5) That a form of certificate of death should be prescribed, and that in giving a certificate medical practitioners should be required to use such form. , , , ^ ■ ^- i -j • „-t.v.„,,4. (6) That it should be made a penal offence to bury or otherwise dispose of a body, except m time of epidemic, witnout n order from the Registrar, stating the place and mode of disposal, which order, after it has been acted upon, should be returned to the registrar who issued it. . , 1, j- j * v„„„„j . (7) That it should be made an offence to retain a dead body unburied or otherwise legally disposed ol beyond a period not exceeding eight days, except by permission of a magiHtrate. (8) That the practice of burial in pits or common graves should be discontinued. (9) That still-births wliioU have reached the stage of .lovelopment of seven months should be registered upon the certificate of a registered medical practitioner, and that it should not be permitted to bury or otherwise dispose of the still- birth until an order for burial has been issued by the Registrar. , t, u T) (10) That, subject always to the discretion of the Crown ofHce, tlie result of precognitions taken by the i-rocurators Fiscal in Scotland or the precognitions themselves should be communicated to the representatives of the deceased when application is made for the same. Exhibit No. 39. (;Wf par. 483.) Coroners' Inquests, and Causes of Death. (Dr. Ncwsholme.) Inquests.— When an inquest is held on any dead body it is the duty of the Coroner to send a certificate to the Registrar within five days after the finding of the jury is given, giving full particulars as to this finding. The only person upon whom the duty devolves of deciding whether cases are suspicious in any case, and if so, of referring them to the Coroner, is the Registrar. It seems very desirable that this option should be removed from him and transferred to the Coroner. In a considerable proportion of uncertified deaths that are submitted by the Registrars to the Coroner the latter decides in an informal manner that no inquest was required after an investigation made by his officer, who frequently 13 a parish beadle or police officer. Such a procedure would be justifiable if a private medical investigation were instituted, but as matters now stand there is little reason to doubt that crimes occasionally remain undetected, wliich skilled investigation would have brought to light. Even when a Coroner's inquest is held the result may be little more satisfactory, the inquiry being often perfunctory and its result dubious, owing, among other causes, to the fact that autopsies have not infrequently been omitted. „ The death on account of which an inquest is held is very commonly registered subsequently aa "from natural catises, the Coroner considering his sole function to be the detection of crime, and ignoring entirely the mtdical problems toward the solution of which he might contribute. In other Inquest cases the certification is almost equally defective, the cause of death being returned as " sudden death," " death by the visitation of God," "found dead," &c. Such returns are useless for classification. No Coroner's inquest is satisfactory whieh does not include a post-mortem examination by a competent medical practitioner. Exhibit No. 31. V'ide par. 506.) NcMBEB of Children born per annum to 1,000 Women under 45, according to previous issue. Year. With Child previous isBue. With 1 Child. With 2 Children. With 3 Children. With 4 Children. With 5 Children. With 6 Children. With Children. With 8 Children. With 9 Children With 10 Children. With 11 or more Children 1891 427 423 423 386 362 332 312 312 302 291 68% 345 326 318 304 298 268 268 249 250 256 74% 269 264 263 248 248 230 231 210 217 214 79% 268 269 265 245 235 218 217 210 199 197 73% 256 •2r,8 254 236 232 211 214 196 195 191 74% 260 252 246 232 234 213 210 196 185 192 74% 231 244 234 227 218 206 206 195 188 185 80% ■22s 238 219 227 220 197 195 187 188 191 84% 232 228 225 219 208 195 201 185 174 178 77% 227 224 221 212 193 174 187 187 172 176 77% 193 200 188 191 176 165 176 157 154 155 80% 174 1892 162 1893 166 1894 156 1895 141 1896 124 1897 134 1898 138 1899 133 1900 137 Last period % of 1st") period j 79% 73 Exhibit No. 32. (Vide par. 507.) Initial Fertility within first two years of Marriage. Probability at a Birth— Age at Marriage. Probability of a Birth— Age at Marriage. Within a year of Marriage. Within 2 years of Marriage. Within a year of Marriage. Within 2 years of Marriage. 17 , per 1,000 wives. 397 398 397 397 396 394 386 376 362 342 320 286 265 256 250 per 1,000 wives. 724 730 733 731 694 615 571 556 548 541 525 488 454 419 396 32 per 1,000 wives. 242 220 187 J 44 125 HI 99 82 58 32 per 1,000 wives. 383 18 33 366 19 34 331 20 35 36 287 21 261 22 37 236 23 38 209 24 39 161 25 40 114 26 41 74 27 42 12 ' 45 28 43 31 29 44 19 30 45 14 31 Exhibit No. 33. (r«e par. 509.) Peobabilitt of a Birth within a year- Age. N'ewly-marricd Women. Women with Previous Issue. Aii'O. Kcwiy-marricd Women. Women with Previous Issue. 21 per 1,000. 396 394 386 376 362 342 320 286 265 256 250 242 220 per 1,000. 281 281 270 272 290 299 298 292 286 274 263 253 244 34 per 1,000. 187 144 125 111 99 82 58 32 12 per 1,000. 238 22 23 35 36 234 228 24 37 217 25 38 39 207 26 189 27 40 155 28 41 134 29 42 115 30 43 94 31 44 66 32 45 35 33 Exhibit No. 34. ( T'ide par. 511.) Atebage Issue. Age at Marriage. Children to a Marriage contracted during — Reduction. 1871-80. 1891-1800. 20 and under 25 6-409 4-802 3-286 1-810 -588 4-444 3-105 1-966 1013 •275 per cent. 30-7 25 ,, 30 35-3 30 ,, 35 40-2 35 „ 40 44-0 40 „ 45 53-2 5-384 3-636 32-5 Note. — See Birth-rate, 1880-1902, which shows reduction of 30 per cent., compared with 32-5 per cent, above. Exhibit No. 35. 14^ Exhibit No. 35. (Vide^nx. 520.) Deaths— Occupations of Married Males, Issue, and Average Pamilj— Comparative Table. Total, 6 years, 1898-1902. Occupations. Deaths. Issue. Average Issue. Class I. Professional 1,056 4,843 4 '59 Class II. Domestic 805 3,480 4-32 Class III. Commercial — 263 185 524 453 299 458 1,333 1,233 867 2,528 2,285 1,275 2,132 6,188 4 69 4-69 4-82 5-04 Clerks, Bookkeepers, Travellers, Storemen, &c 4-26 4-66 4-64 3,515 16,508 4'70 Class IV. Industrial— 461 334 613 4,683 2,382 1,783 3,. 384 24,543 5-17 Food 5-34 5-52 5-24 6,091 32,092 5-27 Class V, Agricultural, &c. — ■ 2,998 915 1,562 80 20,346 5,773 8,426 368 6-79 6-31 5 39 4-60 Total Acrricultural 5,555 34,913 6-28 470 2,559 5-44 Total, New South Wales 17,492 94,395 5-40 Exhibit No. 36. (FWepar. 523.) Efpect of Age at Marriage on average issue. Average number of Children , , ,, . to Marriages during— Aire at Marriage ^^ o Females. 1891-1900. ISTI-ISSO. ^- — All Women — n. 20 5-QO 7-05 25 3-62 5-44 30 2-40 3-88 35 1-37 2-39 40 T-i -98 45 -06 -^3 Exhibit No. 37. (nVepar. 5-2S.) AvBEA&B issue, at 1901 Census, of Women married prior to 1881. Age at Marriage. Birthplace. New South Wales. Other States. England and Wales. Scotland. Ireland. other Countries. 20 and under 25 25 „ 30 30 ,, 35 35 „ 40 40 „ 45 8-23 6-10 4-09 2-04 •60 7-45 5-30 319 1'72 •66 7^27 5-32 3 43 175 •52 7-78 5-64 3-84 1-62 •50 7-66 5-70 3-66 1^70 •61 7-58 5-66 3-27 1-88 •42 75 Exhibit No, 38. (yide par. 532.) Aterage issue according to Birthplace. Average issue of Women born n— Age at Marriage. New South Wales. England. Scotland. Ireland. Marriages prior to 1881. Present Marriages. Difler- enoe. Marriages prior to 1881. Present Marriages. Differ- ence. Marriages prior to 1881. Present Marriages. Differ- ence. Marriages prior to 1881. Present Marriages. Differ- ence. 20 and under 25 25 „ 30 30 „ 35 35 „ 40 40 „ 45 8-23 6-10 4 09 2 04 •60 4-82 3-27 2-06 1-07 ■29 3-41 2-83 2 03 •97 •31 7-27 5-32 3 43 1^75 •52 3 03 r92 •98 •27 2-71 2^29 1-51 •77 •25 7^78 5^64 3^84 1^62 •50 5^10 3 51 2-21 107 •25 2 •OS 213 r63 •55 •25 7 •66 5^70 3^66 r70 •61 6 40 412 224 •92 •17 1^26 r58 1-42 •78 •44 Derived from Birth-rates. Exhibit No. 39. {Pide par. 534.) Ateeage issue, at 1901 Census, of "Women of various religions who have passed through child-bearing stage. Age at Marriage. Church of England. Roman Catholic. Methodist. Presbyterian. Jews. other Religions. Under 20 years 20 and under 25 9-54 7^69 5 56 3^60 1-84 •57 966 8^11 5 99 3-77 1-91 •62 9^62 7-83 5^83 410 196 •49 9^43 7-80 5^79 3-86 173 •49 8^38 7-50 4^71 3^53 109 •50 9^18 7^19 25 ,, 30 5-46 30 ,, 35 3 53 35 „ 40 1^61 40 „ 45 ■51 Exhibit No. 40. (Fide par. 536.) If average Birth-rate to a certain number of Mothers of child-bearing age of all Denominations combined be 100, then — Eoman Catholic 113 Church of England 101 Methodist 100 Presbyterian 95 Baptist 87 Congregational 86 Jewish 71 Superiority of Eoman Catholic most likely due to fact of many Irish amongst them. Very likely comparative results due to social condition rather than to religion. Exhibit No. 41. {Vide par. 541.) Feetilitt of "Women with Husbands of different Birth-place quoted as percentage of that of Women whose Husbands are of same Birthplace. Birthplace of Woman — New South Wales 89 Other States 93 England 99 Scotland 92 Ireland 92 Germany 96 Exhibit No. 43. {ride par. 542.) Peetilitx of Women with Husbands of different Eeligions quoted as percentage of that of Women whose Husbands are of same Eeligion. Keligion of Woman — Church of England 87 Eoman Catholic; 89 Presbvterian 87 Methodist 91 Baptist 95 Congregational 91 Jewish 63 Exhibit No 43. 76 Exhibit No. 43. {Vide par. 548.) Dbaths in Childbirth. Causes of Death. 1893. 1894. 1895. 1896. 1897. 1893. 1899. 1900. 1901. 1902. Total, 1893-1902. 5 19 67 3 22 36 3 12 21 110 4 28 30 1 11 26 111 1 23 4U 2 11 27 81 5 27 36 1 26 32 113 3 32 39 4 16 20 92 1 31 37 20 32 82 3 35 44 2 18 33 75 2 28 39 1 11 33 97 "28 27 1 10 20 108 1 38 27 140- 263 9.36 23 Puerperal Convulsions 292 355 Phlegmasia Dolens 15 •Other Casualties of Childbirth , 66 61 64 61 72 59 60 72 64 59 •628 Total 221 267 278 249 321 256 278 268 251 263 2,652 * Other Casualties embrace :— Vomiting of Pregnancy. Childbirth, with Pneumonia. Tlupture of Uterus. „ „ Tuberculosis. Difflcult Labor. ,, „ Anramia. Child-birth, undefined. „ ,, Diarrhtea. with Heart Disease » .. Apoplexy. „ „ Failure of Hear t. „ Epilepsy. ,, Embolism &c., &c. ■i ,, Pelvic Cellulitis Exhibit No. 44. {Vide^ar.thl.) .Deaths ia Age Grroups from certain Causes — Females, N.S.W. 1884-1888 (inclusive). 1898-1902 (inclusiveX Causes of Death. 15 20 20 25 25 30 30 35 36 40 40 45 45 50 Total. 16 20 20 25 25 30 30 35 35 40 40 45 45 50 ToUl. Pyaemia, Septiosemia Puerperal Fever 3 15 6 42 8 44 14 101 14 59 18 135 226 6 34 18 133 7 24 24 113 4 7 19 63 1 3 21 10 43 186 120 597 6 31 6 52 10 106 19 136 9 107 47 192 13 91 51 188 19 75 39 197 10 38 29 80 6 6 28 11 73 454 Organs of Generation Diseases of Parturition 219 856 Total 66 167 191 168 93 35 946 95 •271 355 343 330 157 51 1,602 Exhibit No. 46. (7'»rf«par. 552.) Deaths in Age Groups from eertaia Causes — Females, N.S.W. Eate per 10,000 of Female Population. Causes of Death. 1884-1888 (inclusive .) 1898-1902 (inclusive.) 16-20 20-25 25-30 80-36 33-40 40-46 46-50 Total. 16-20 20-26 25-30 30-35 35-40 40-45 45-60 Total. Pyaemia, Scptictemia .. •12 •65 •26 r82 ■37 2 05 •65 4^70 •79 3-31 101 7^57 •43 2 '41 1-27 9-42 •62 211 2^11 9 96 •43 •74 2^02 6-69 •13 •40 2-81 134 •41 1-77 115 5^70 •17 •88 •17 VA1 •32 3-35 •60 4^30 •33 3^89 1-71 6 99 •55 3-89 2-18 803 •90 3-57 1^85 9^37 •59 2^22 1^69 4^67 •49 •49 2^30 •91 •44 2^70 1-30 5-09 Organs of Generation.. Diseases of Parturition Total 2-85 7 '77 12-68 1353 14^80 9-88 4-68 9 03 2-69 8-57 12-92 14^65 15^69 9^17 4^19 9-53 Largest increase in puerperal fever (puerperal septicaemia) ; increase in rate = 52J %. Generation gives 13 % increase. Parturition, actual drop — suspicion of ascribing to other causes to hide abortion. Have taken 5 years prior to large drop in birth-rate, and 5 latest years. Note.— Puerperal Septicsemia— Numbers only obtained after diligent search respecting death cards with indefinite cause of death endorsed. Exhibit No. 46. 77 Exhibit No. 46. {ridej^ar. 562.) Mothers who died in Childbirtt — Causes of Death — Comparative Table. Causes of Death. MARRIED MOTHERS. 1898. 1901. 1902. Total 6 years. Stillbirths- Total 5 years (included in foregoing). Abortion Miscarriage Puerperal Fever Puerperal Mania Puerperal Convulsions Placenta Prasvia, Flooding ... Phlegmasia Dolens Other Casualties of Childbirth Total 11 20 87 1 23 34 "si" 13 31 74 3 32 41 2 57 13 27 67 2 27 38 1 67 10 28 87 1 47 20 97 1 34 25 "52" 227 253 242 223 238 56 126 412 7 141 163 4 274 1,183 56 124 121 1 70 95 2 140 609 Causes of Death. SINGLE MOTHERS. 1899. 1900. 1901. Total 5 years. Stillbirths- Total 5 years (included in foregoing). Abortion Miscarriage Puerperal Fever Puerperal Mania Puerperal Convulsions Placenta Prsevia, Flooding .... Phlegmasia Dolens Other Casualties of Childbirth Total 1 5 10 ".3 2 1 ii" 19 12 42 "19" 11 "30" 17 12 19 5 "17" 29 25 26 28 25 133 77 Causes of Death. TOTAL MOTHERS. 1901. Total 6 years. Stillbirths - Total 5 years (included in foregoing). Abortion Miscarriage Puerperal Fever Puerperal Mania Puerperal Convulsions Placenta Prse via, Flooding Phlegmasia Dolens Other Casualties of Childbirth Total... 16 20 92 1 31 37 "59 20 32 82 3 35 44 2 60 18 33 75 2 28 39 1 72 11 33 97 "28" 27 1 54 10 20 108 1 38 27 "59" 75 138 454 7 160 174 4 304 73 136 140 1 77 100 2 157 256 278 268 251 263 1,316 686 See Exhibit No. 43 for details of " Others." Exhibit No. i7. (Vide par. 54.) Deaths of Married "Women in Childbirth according to number of Confinement. * Second value in each case represents adjusted probability. Lowest for 2n(J ; all from 2nd to 8th less risk than 1st ; then continuously increasing. No. of CJonfluement. Births. Deaths in Child- birth. Probability of Death during Oonfineinent, unadjusted. No. of Confinement. Births. Deaths in Child- birth. Probability of Death during Confinement, unadjusted. 1 56,247 45,928 38,783 32,208 26,783 21,720 17,422 13,486 9,699 6,739 495 215 212 169 184 137 130 126 101 53 * -00880 •00880 •00468 ) ■00468 \ ■00547 ■00512 ( ■00525 \ ■00552/ ■00687 i ■00606 \ •00631 1 •00672 / •00746 \ •00736 / ■00934 ) •00816 ( •01041 •00900 i •00786 •01000 i 11 4,381 2,541 1,365 689 349 142 74 23 14 4 38 30 25 4 4 1 1 2 ...... •00867 ) •01128 \ .011811 •01.326/ •01832 •01740 2 . . . .... 12 3 13 14 4 15 5 16 17 6 18 19 7 20 21 c 22 i 3 23 9 Total 10 278,601 1,927 39608 235-Ij Exhibit No. 4q. 78 Exhibit No. 48. (raepar. 569.) CoMPAEisoN of New South "Wales Death-rates ia Childbirth and those by Dr. Matthews Duncan. Age. Primiparae. Multiparas, New South Wales. Dr. Duncan's. New South Wales. Dr. Duncan's. 15—19 ■00764 •00707 ■00944 ■01466 ■01417 ■02833 ■01208 ■01291 ■01291 ■02260 ■00746 ■00352 ■00333 •00464 •00681 •00908 •01093 20—24 •00711 25—29 30-34 35—39 ■00521 ■01115 ■00879 40—44 •00991 45 •02174 For lat and Multiparae.— More favourably to age 34 ; after that the paucity of facts discounts value of Dr. Duncan's. Should be noted Dr. Duncan's figures apply to far-distant period, viz., 1835, and relate to only 16,593 facts, or 4f of total of New South Wales ; hence his rates for higher ages are of small weight. Exhibit No. 49. (Vide par. 586.) Deaths, 1902— Infantile Mortality from certain specified Diseases — Comparative Table. DEATHS UNDER 1 YEAR. Causes of Death. 1893. 1894. 1896. 1896. 1897. 1898. 1899. 1900. 1901. 1902. Total, 10- years. Measles 183 22 19 100 16 7 539 49 15 37 29 94 4 66 510 131 88 504 288 163 55 496 65 788 372 49 8 57 145 15 1 498 51 13 30 62 75 2 63 467 142 79 445 274 143 25 498 45 710 351 1 '"5 47 168 16 1 547 35 13 21 65 83 7 64 496 140 65 410 275 156 33 465 56 628 310 2 3 19 62 10 6 638 36 15 16 66 108 4 54 453 149 76 459 196 160 36 682 98 726 361 3 7 23 9 8 1 438 34 10 14 34 78 8 51 507 128 81 349 189 153 20 611 70 651 324 110 5 28 111 10 1 475 29 21 18 32 100 7 57 503 140 72 347 297 217 26 735 58 691 328 60 1 42 304 4 2 346 34 17 24 32 88 8 58 559 131 58 346 249 250 17 67S 66 589 3G6 4 1 27 67 4 2 347 32 11 17 34 73 20 34 528 131 69 308 166 170 34 753 83 633 •:ss 11 3 33 149 5 1 296 64 16 15 42 91 11 39 532 132 48 256 184 204 54 753 S2 563 345 18 6 27 158 4 1 386 40 10 9 62 55 10 46 605 148 54 221 216 251 76 880 74 452 343 440 61 Influenza 322 1,273 92 Typhoid, Enteric Fever 23 4,510 404 141 201 Malnutrition ; 458 845 Phthisis 81 Other Tubercular Diseases 532 5,160 Other Developmental Diseases . . . Meningitis -. 1,372 690 3,645 2,334 1,867 376 Dentition Knteritis 6,551 697 Accident , Debility 6,431 3,388 Others Total 4,640 4,248 4,106 4,435 3,801 4,418 4,329 3,836 3,929 4,152 41,894 PROPORTION OF DEATHS UNDER 1 YEAR TO 1,000 BIRTHS. Causes oJ Death. 1893. 1894. 1896. 1897. 1900. 1901. 1902. Mean for 10 years. Measles Scarlet Fever Influenza Whooping-cough Diphtheria Typhoid, Enteric Fever Diarrhoeal Diseases Syphilis Septic Diseases Parasitic Diseases Malnutrition Tabes Mesenterica Phthisis Other Tubercular Diseases Prematurity Other Developmental Diseases Meningitis Convulsions Bronchitis Pneumonia Dentition Enteritis Accident Debility Others Total 115^02 1 1-26 •21 1-46 3^72 •38 •03 'J -79 1-31 ,33 77 9 193 •05 1^62 11^99 3-65 203 11-42 7-03 3 '67 •64 12^79 M5 18-23 9-01 10906 •13 1-21 4 33 •41 •03 14^11 •no ■u •54 1-68 2^14 •18 1-65 12-79 3-61 1-68 10-57 709 4-02 -85 11-99 1-44 16-20 8-00 •06 •08 -5-2 1-70 ■27 ■16 17^48 •99 •41 •44 1^81 2-96 ■11 1-48 12-41 4-08 2-08 1-2-57 6-37 4-38 •99 18^68 2-68 1989 9-89 105-89 121-49 •08 •19 •02 ■24 •21 •03 11-76 -91 •27 •38 -91 2-(»9 -21 1-37 13-61 3-44 2-18 9-37 5-07 4-11 -54 16-40 1-88 17-48 8-70 102-05 3-04 ■14 •77 3^06 •28 •03 13-11 •80 •58 •88 2^76 -19 1-67 13-89 3-87 1-99 9-58 8-20 5-99 -72 20-29 1-60 19-08 9-05 121-97 118-73 •11 •03 •73 180 •11 •05 9-34 •86 -29 -46 •92 196 •54 •92 14-21 3 53 r86 8^29 4^47 4^58 •92 20^27 2^23 17 -04 7-75 103-27 •29 •08 •87 393 •13 •03 7-82 1-69 -42 •40 111 2^40 •29 ro3 1405 3 48 r27 6-76 4^86 5^39 1-43 19^88 2^16 14-86 9-11 103-74 109-74 1-17 ■16 ■85 3-37 -24 -06 11-95 1-07 -37 -53 1-21 2-24 ■21 1-41 13^67 3 64 1-83 9 -66 6-19 4-95 1-00 17-36 1^85 17-04 8 98 1110. 79 Exhibit No. 60. (Vide par. 695.) iNPAHtriLE Mortality, State of New South Wales, during the last ten years. DEATHS UNDER 1 YEAR. Divisions of State. 1893. 1894. 1895. 1896. 1897. 1898. 1899. 1900. 1901. 1902. Total 10 years. City of Sydney 567 1,481 2,591 498 1,267 2,482 403 1,266 2,436 434 1,276 2,725 377 1,174 2,250 451 1,375 2,592 373 1,100 2,855 316 1,006 2,513 376 1,141 2,412 322 1,135 2,694 4,117 12,221 Country 25,550 State 4,639 4,247 4,105 4,435 3,801 4,418 4,.328 3,835 3,929 4,151 41,888 PROPORTION OF DEATHS UNDER 1 YEAR TO 1,000 BIRTHS. Divisions of State. 1893. 1894. 1896. 1896. 1897. 1898. 1899. 1900. 1901. 1902. Mean for 10 years. City of Sydney 1701 139-4 98-2 154-0 127-2 96-4 133-0 130-1 93-6 146-9 136-5 112-6 132-2 128-2 89-2 161-9 150-7 106-6 128-7 117-8 117-9 111-1 108-4 100-5 133-5 116-6 95-4 117-3 110-7 108-5 139 6 126-5 101-7 State 115-0 109-0 105-9 121-5 102-1 122-0 118-7 103-2 103-7 109-7 111-0 Exhibit No. 51. {Vide par 596.) Ceetain Specified Causes of Death — Children under 1 year (Illegitimate), compared with Legitimate. Causes of Death. Illegitimate Births, 1898-1902. Illegitimate Deaths under 1 year, 1898-1902. Illegitimate Infantile Mortality Rate. Legitimate Births, 1898-1902. Legitimate Deaths under 1 year, 1898-1902. Legitimate Infantile Mortality Rate. Diarrhceal Diseases 416 124 54 346 764 45 801 1,123 32-16 9-59 4-17 26-75 5907 3-48 61-93 86-8? 1,434 75 148 2,381 3,035 4 2,127 7,787 8-31 Syphilis .,...,. , ■44 Malnutrition -86 Premature Birth 13-79 Enteritis 17-58 Murder -02 Atrophy, Debility, Inanition 12-32 Others 4511 Total 12,934 3,673 283-98 172,605 16,991 98-43 Exhibit No. 52. (Vide par. 599). Deaths — Children under 15 (Illegitimate). All Deaths under 16. Agea of Illegitimate C3hildren. % Year. i 1 i S -1 1 1 < Under 1 year. U CO 1^ is ■§2 U3 S 11 it- to 1^ §00 1i CO S5 ■. 3 » iS h Si 3 oi 1898 1899 7,069 6,417 5,494 5,797 6,193 3,797 3,371 2,974 3,051 3,323 3,272 3,046 2,520 2,746 2,870 898 837 838 825 841 6,171 5,580 4,656 4,972 5,352 375 406 417 402 363 203 196 181 164 194 169 143 151 150 159 84 47 47 66 68 28 11 9 20 20 9 12 7 6 8 9 7 5 3 4 3 3 2 4 6 1 2 3 3 4 4 3 5 5 2 2 1 1 2 1 2 2 '2 3 10 3 1900 1901 8 4 1902 5 Total, 1898-1902 30,970 16,516 14,454 4,239 26,731 1,963 938 772 ,312 88 42 28 18 13 17 8 10 30 3,673 80 Exhibit No. 53. (Vide par. 601.) MAEBiAOE-EATE (Persons Married) per 1,000 of Population since 18G4. In the following table the highest and lowest marriage rates in the chief European countries are given. The •variations of the marriage rate in each country may be studied in further detail by consulting Tables 41-61, pp. 115-122, in the Registrar-General's Annual Report, 1896. Highest. Lowest. Hungary 20-8 in 1879 16-3 in 1889 (since 1876) Austria 20-7 in 1869 15-1 in 1877 and 1890 Prussia 207 in 1872 14-8 in 1870 (year of war) France 195 in 1872 12-1 in 1870 (j-ear of war) Switzerland lS-0 in 1875 13-7 in 1880-82 (since 1871) Denmark 178 in 1865 13-6 in 1891 England and Wales 17-6 in 1873 14'2inl886 The Netherlands 17-1 in 1873 13-8 in 1888 Italy 16-S in 1875 11-3 in 1866 (since 1866) Norway 15-7 in 1875 12-2 in 1888 (since 1S71) Belgium 15-7 in IWiR 13-4 in 1878 and 1886 Scotland 15-5 in 1873 126 in 1886 Sweden 146 in 1873 109 in 1868 Ireland 10 9 in 1865 7 s in 1880 Dr. J. Bertillon has calculated for many European countries the number of persons married annually per 1,000 marriageable persons, i.e., persons over 15 years of age wlio are celibates, divorced persons, or widowed. The highest on the list is Hungary (72 6), next come in order. Saxony ((iO'S), Prussia (51-0), England and Wales (50-2}, Denmark (47-9), Italy (47-5), France (45-4), Belgium (40-0), Scotland (396), Sweden (36-9), and Ireland (23-1) per 1,000 marriageable persons over 1") years of age). The above rates aru calculated on the returns for each country for the years 1S7.S-82. NoTH. — The above figures are for "Persons Married," and should be divided by two to find the number of marriages. Exhibit No. 99. (Vide par. 5854.) APPENDIX A. BiBTH, Marriage, and Death Eates in Victoria, 1837 to 1902. Year. Per 1,000 of Population. Births. Marriages. Deaths, Year. Per 1,000 of Population. Births. Marriages. Deaths. 18.37. 1838, 1839. 1840. 1841 1842 1843, 1844. 1845 1846 1847 1848, 1849 1850 1851 1852 1853 1854 1855 1856 1857 1858, 1859 1860 1861 1862 1863 1864 1865 1866 1867 1868 1869 9-54 11-73 30-43 44-44 40-25 46-37 54-99 52-56 52-43 45-85 41 -.38 37-93 32 53 37-55 35-12 28-26 1 6 12 21 26 23 15 12 10 8 8 7 10 13 11 14 1-36 8-38 14-36 24-58 20-78 18-69 13-07 9-44 11-27 9-42 9-00 8-59 10 08 10-96 13-42 15-St Information unreliable. 23-42 19-52 15 04 17-31 1863 18 31 22-36 19-45 18-39 16-91 15-08 16-97 19-37 18-06 15-00 15-25 28-21 14-08 .35-30 11-37 37-85 10-71 40-49 10-51 41-19 9-41 42-71 9-22 42.39 9-07 43-37 8-20 44-50 8-26 42-58 7-53 43-59 7-73 42-04 7-29 39-44 6-71 39-41 6-91 40-59 6-99 37-36 6-79 1870 1871 1872 1873 1874 1875 1876 1877 1S7S 1879 1880 1S81 1882 1883 bS.S4 1885 1886 1887 18S8 1889 1890 1891 IS! 12 1893 1894 1895 1896 1897 1898 1899 1900 1901 1902 38- 37- 36 36 34- 33 33- 32- 32- 32- 30 31 30 30- 30 31 31- 32- 32' 33- 33 .33 32 31 29 28 27 26 25 26 25 25 25 6-63 6-37 6-36 6-50 6-33 6-33 6-21 6-31 620 5-98 6-22 6-79 7 09 7-44 7-74 7-73 7-86 7-64 8-48 8-43 8-21 7-66 6-64 5-97 5-95 6-06 6-44 6-41 6-44 6-86 6-96 6-99 7-02 14-61 13-46 14-38 15-02 15-71 19-42 17-02 15-80 15-46 14-53 13-70 14-16 15-32 14-29 14-48 15-01 15-18 15-74 15-44 17-79 16-10 16-24 13-62 14-08 13 09 13-20 13-29 12-80 15-80 13-97 12-74 13-22 13-40 81 Exhibit No. 100. (.Vide-pav. 5593-4.) APPENDIX B. Inteetal elapsing between^date of marriage of parents and the date of birth of all first-born legitimate children whose births were registered during 1900 and 1901, showing age of mothers (Victoria). Inten'al between marriage and birth. Months. Under 1 1 to 2 2 „ 3 3 „ 4 4 „ 5 5 „ 6 6 „ 7 7 „ 8 8 „ 9 9 „ 10 10 „ 11 n „ 12 12 „ 13 13 „ 14 14 „ 15 15 „ 16 16 „ 17 17 „ 18 18 „ 24 24 „ 30 30 „ 36 Years. 3 to 4 4 „ 5 5 „ 6 6 „ 7 7 „ 8 8 „ 9 9 „ 10 10 „ 11 11 „ 12 12 „ 13 13 „ 14 14 „ 15 15 „ 16 16 „ 17 17 „ 18 18 „ 19 21 Unspecified .. Total Total births. 158 191 277 384 467 479 604 614 524 1,261 1,401 978 721 549 439 378 311 266 1,052 615 347 262 266 149 81 38 36 29 22 25 12 8 11 10 6 4 5 1 4 12,985 Ages of mothers at birth of children. 27 10 5 17 10 15 11 10 16 129 12 14 24 34 32 37 28 24 16 25 5 4 5 1 15 327 23 16 30 31 34 53 67 46 30 39 40 25 16 21 14 11 8 11 31 557 20 21 to 25 25 to 30 30 to 35 35 to 40 40 to 45 46 to 60 10 19 24 44 50 48 61 63 36 68 64 46 30 23 24 19 15 12 35 19 726 53 80 108 163 205 199 271 246 233 486 501 333 265 197 178 129 101 87 277 147 81 33 19 15 1 4,464 28 40 46 61 94 103 121 158 137 449 521 391 256 192 145 131 114 102 411 250 li6 96 120 62 33 12 10., 12 10 14 4,245 11 8 13 28 28 20 28 42 40 147 182 138 106 68 49 58 54 41 188 134 92 C9 69 47 20 20 13 10 7 7 6 4 4 3 4 1,778 5 4 10 6 7 5 8 14 18 33 51 28 35 18 17 23 10 11 75 44 26 28 28 18 8 5 11 6 2 3 5 3 6 7 2 2 4 1 1 588 1 2 1 3 1 13 10 8 8 11 113 19 Exhibit No. 101. (^Ve par. 5917). APPENDIX C. Deaths of infants under one year, 1882 to 1891, and 1892 to 1901 (Victoria). Diseases (principal). Deaths. Deaths per 10,000 births. 1882 to 1891. 1892 to 1901. 1882 to 1891. 1892 to 1901. Diseases (principal). Dea:hs. 1882 to 1891. 1392 to 1901. Deaths per 10,000 births. 1882 to 1891. 1892 to 1901. Enteritis Debility, atrophy, &c.. Premature birth Diarrhoeal diseases Pneumonia Convulsions Bronchitis Tubercular meningitis. Whooping-cough Want of breast milk . . . Dentition 2,113 6,792 65-23 206-57 8,702 5,713 268-64 173-75 4,066 4,488 125-52 136-50 6,820 2,945 210-54 89-57 1,389 1,923 42-88 58-49 2,653 1,667 ■ 81-90 50-70 2,421 1,436 74-74 43-67 729 897 22-52 27-28 818 819 25-25 24-91 954 744 29-45 22-63 781 605 24-11 18-40 Diseases of stomach Atelectasis Brain disease (undefined) Cyanosis Other congenital defects Syphilis Congestion of lungs Measles Diseases of liver . . . Influenza Tabes mesenterica 2,116 559 531 65-32 319 473 9-85 245 435 7-56 352 417 10-87 241 358 7-44 638 334 19-70 117 308 3-61 251 298 7-75 216 296 6-67 744 232 22-97 17-00 16-16 14-39 13-23 12-68 10-88 10-16 9-37 9-06 9-00 7 06 82 Exhibit No. 102. {Vide par. 5918). APPENDIX D. Infahtile Death-rate (Victoria). ear. Births. Deaths of Infants under 1 year. Infantile Death-rate per cent. Year. Births. Deaths of Infants under 1 year. Infantile Deaths per cent. of Births. 1863 . ... 23,906 25,680 25,915 25,010 25,608 27,243 26,040 27,151 27,382 27,361 28,100 20,800 26,720 26,769 26,010 26,581 26,839 26,148 27,145 26,747 2,844 2,778 3,5.38 3,838 3,534 3,054 3,284 3,203 3,114 3,334 3,181 3,341 3,811 2,980 3,299 3,262 3,219 3,105 3,119 3,722 11-90 10-82 13-65 15-35 13-80 11-21 12-61 11-80 11-37 12-]!l 11-32 1 1 -.•(5 14-2(i 11 13 12-68 12-27 12-00 11-88 11-49 13-92 1883 27,541 28,850 29,975 30,824 33,043 31,503 36,359 37,678 38,505 37,831 36,552 34,258 33,706 32,178 31,310 30,172 31,008 30,779 31,008 30,461 3,150 3,281 3,771 .3,924 4,296 4,401 5,549 4,412 4,861 4,041 4,302 3,567 3,450 3,540 3,235 4,047 3,541 2,936 3,192 3,308 11-44 1864 1865 1884 1885 11 -.37 12-58 1866 .. 1886 12-73 1867 1887 13-00 1868 1888 12-76 1869 ... . 1889 15-26 1870 1890 11-74 1871 ... 1891 12-62 1872 IKH'i 10-68 1873 .. 1,S93 11-77 1874 ISOJ 10-41 1875 1895 10-23 1876 1896 11-00 1877 1897 10-33 1878 1898 13-41 1879 1899 11-42 1880 1900 9-54 1881 1901 10-29 1882 1902 10-86 Exhibit No. 103. {Vide par. 6259.) The following figures sho-w the proportion of births to each marriage in South Australia for seventeen years, in each instance the births compared being for the year given, and the marriages for the year before. 1886 1887 1888 1889 1890 1891 1892 1893 1894 1895 4-46 5-34 5-17 4-83 4-90 4 66 4-42 4-90 4-81 4-87 1896 1897 1898 1S99 1900 1901 1902 4-72 4-72 4-42 408 3-87 3-78 3-71 Mean 457 1881 1882 1883 1884 1885 1886 1887 1888 1889 1890 Exhibit No. 104. (Fide par. 6203.) South ArsTEALiAif Eates of Illegitimacy. 2-25 18:.l 2-93 1901 2-25 1892 2-93 1902 1-75 1893 2-84 2-10 1894 3-05 242 1895 3-13 2-38 1896 3-4G 2-49 1897 3-53 2-67 1898 3-62 2-47 1899 3-95 2-50 1900 4-24 Mean of twenty-two years 297 3-98 4-36 Exhibit No. 105. ( Firfe par. 8265.) Infantile Mortality — South Australia. The deaths of infants under 1 year of age numbered 837* (465 males and 372 females), against 909 in 1601, and were in the proportion of 9-38 to 100 births registered. From 1885 to 1902 the proportions were as follows :— 1885 11-34 1886 12-61 1887 11-12 1888 9-59 1889 9-42 1890 1891 9-65 909 1892 9-69 1893 11-65 1894 9-39 1895 9.49 1896 10-14 1897 10-91 1898 13-99 1899 n-16 1900 996 1901 10-01 1902 9-38 • In 1902. Exhibit No. 106. 83 Exhibit No. 106. (Vide par. 6265.) Infantile Mortality. The following table shows the rates of infantile mortality in Adelaide and suburbs in the years specified — that is, the proportion of deaths of children under 1 year of age to 100 births registered ; — 1886 15-75 1887 13-68 1888 11-58 1889 11-58 1890 11-95 1891 11-88 1892 11-79 1893 1259 1894 10-60 1895 12-16 1896 12-19 1897 13-35 1898 16-81 1899 11-79 1900 11-85 1901 11-73 1902 11-26 Exhibit No 107. (Vide^a.T. 6236.) Diseases and Accidents of Pregnancy and Child-birth. The Deaths ascribed in 1902 to these causes, including puerperal fever, were 35, against 43 in the previous year. proportion which deaths from these causes bore to 1,000 registered births was 391, against 474 in 1901. table shows the proportions in South Australia, Victoria, and England, in the years specified ; — The The following Tear. South Australian Bate. Victorian Bate. English. Ypar Eats. ^®^'^- South Australian Bate. Victorian Bate. English Bate. 1882 6-46 4-39 4-14 4-40 3-22 4-99 4-09 2-81 3-67 5-68 4-36 6-58 5-74 704 5-61 6-23 5-27 5-42 4-48 5-30 4-99 4-63 509 5-06 4-79 4-98 4-29 4-69 4-73 4-05 4-89 5-24 5-78 1893 5-24 4-01 4-56 7-79 4-09 6-71 4-26 4-92 4-74 3-91 4-90 5-31 5-67 5-87 6-45 5-63 6-19 5-30 6 48 651 1883 1894 5-36 1884 1895 4-57 1885 1896 4-98 1886 1897 4-61 1887 1898 .■ 4-41 1888 1899 4-66 1889 i 1900 1901 4,-81 1890 1891 1902 4-69 5-65 492 Exhibit No. 112. (Vide par. 6620.) 1901 CENSUS. Females 15-4.5 — Proportions — Age Groups to Total Group. Age Groups. New South Wales. Victoria. Queensland. South Australia. ■Western Australia. Tasmania. New Zealand. 15-20 22-55 20-70 17-89 14-91 13-28 10-67 % 20-22 19-Sl 17-89 16-31 14-70 11-37 % 22-21 20-64 17-82 15-55 13-35 10-43 % 23-69 20-60 16-74 14-53 1317 11-27 % 15-47 19-25 22-94 19-30 14-07 8-97 % 23-22 20-88 16-81 14-28 13-37 11-44 % 23-10 20-25 22-88 25-30 18-12 30-35 14-87 35-40 11-57 40-45 9-46 15-45 100-00 100-00 100-00 10000 100-00 100-00 100-00 (Worked out from Census Report.) 1901 CENSUS. Women — Ages 15-45. state. Total Female Population. ■Women 15-45. Percentage Women 15-45 to Total -Women. Ne-w South 'Wales .. Victoria Queensland South Australia ■Western Australia . . Tasmania New Zealand Australasia 644,841 597,350 220,366 178,182 71,249 82,851 366,727 2,161,566 313,323 295,239 102,635 85,132 37,816 39,033 183,387 1,056,565 48-59 49-42 46-57 47-78 53-08 4711 50-01 48-88 (Obtained from Census Reports. ] Jixhibit No, 113 84 Exhibit No. 113. (Vide par. 66-22.) 1901 CENSUS. Australian States and Ne-w Zealand. Married Women 15-d5 — Proportions — Age Groups to Total Group. New South Wales. Victoria. South Australia, Queensland. Western Australia. Tasmania. New Zealand. Age Groups Married "Women Pro- portion to Total Group. Married "Womin. Pro- portion to Total Group. Married Women. Pro- portion to Total Group. Married Women. Pro- portion to Total Group. BTarried Women. Pro- portion to Total Group. Married Women. Pro- portion to Total Group. MflTried Women. Pro- portion to Total Group. 15-20 20-25 25-30 30-35 35-40 40-45 2,564 19,662 32,618 34,603 33,108 26,900 1-71 13-16 '21-82 23-l(; 22 1.-. 18-00 1,045 12,648 25,350 31,91(1 31,S7I 25,'1,-Hl 127,S5IS ■81 9-89 IP'S,-! 21-96 24-93 19-68 3G8 4,0:)1 7,474 H,79l 8,722 7,619 ■90 11-03 20-15 23-70 23-51 20 02 873 7,125 11,708 13,006 ll,7;!7 9, 1 0« 53,617 1-63 13-29 21-83 24 26 21 SO 17-10 344 3,080 5,920 5,9.36 1,434 2,803 1-53 13-68 26-29 26-36 19-69 12-45 332 2,427 3,773 3,977 4,114 3,588 1-82 13 33 20-72 21-84 22-59 19 70 777 10,053 17,923 19,617 16,854 14,182 •98 12-66 22-57 24-70 21-23 17-86 15-45 149,460 100-00 100-00 37,09.1 100-00 100 00 22,517 100 -00 18,211 100-00 79,406 10000 Exhibit No 114. (fide par. 6625.) 1901 CKNSL'S. Australian States and New Zealand, Comparison of Birth-rates, Actual and Hypothetical (based on Standard Eates). ■3 111 ■Victoria. South Australia. Queensland. Western Australia. Tasmania. New Zealand. Age Groups. Married Women. Legitim'te Bii-ths, using Standard. Married Women. Legitim'te Births, using Standard. Married Women. Legitim'te Births, using Standard. Married Women. Legitim'te Births, using Standard. Married Women. Legitim'te Births, using Standard. Married Women. Legitim'te Births, using Standard. 15-20 % 56-27 39-70 29-87 22-68 17-25 8-81 23-56 1,045 12,648 25,350 31,910 31,871 25,034 588 5,021 7,572 7,237 5,498 2,205 368 4,091 7,474 8,791 8,722 7,649 207 1,624 2,232 1,994 1,505 674 873 7,125 11,708 13,006 11,737 9,168 491 2,829 3,497 2,9ii0 2,025 808 344 3,080 5,920 5,936 4,434 2,S03 194 1,2-23 1,768 1,346 765 247 332 2,427 3,773 3,977 4,114 3,588 187 964 1,127 902 710 316 777 10,053 17,923 19,617 16,854 14,182 437 20-25 3,991 25-30 -... 30-35 35-40 40-45 5,354 4,449 2,907 1,249 15-45 127,^58 28,121 37,095 8,236 53,617 12,600 2-2,517 5,543 18,211 4,206 79,406 18,387 Total Birth-rate (using Standard) Actual Birth-rate 23-56 23-56 21-99 1 22-90 )er cent. 22-20 J 23-59 er cent. 23-50 per cent. 25-09 24-62 J 24-41 er cent. 23-10 p 26-01 1 ercent, -23 16 1 24-62 er cent. Exhibit No. 115. (r»7e par. 6630.) The following table shows the Rates as to Births and as to Trade for the years ISlio to the present time. Year. Birth-rate per 1,000. Trade-rate £ per head. Year. Birth-rate per 1,000. Trade-rate £ per head. Year. Birth-rate per 1,000. Trade-rate £ per head. I860 41-55 41-56 42-59 42-12 43-93 43-21 40-46 41-94 40-72 40-74 40-09 39-64 .38-46 39-38 39-30 41-07 37-40 50-08 44-51 54-12 50-50 46-15 36-85 .39-63 39-07 33-29 41-71 38-09 44-59 42-72 1875 38-,''i:? .38-56 37 -92 38-50 39-00 38-65 37-90 37 -20 37-32 38-44 37-79 37-43 37-06 37-20 34-97 47-09 It-IG 45-01 42-93 40 01 40-98 41-31 49-02 40 -85 47-26 43-66 38-20 37-51 4070 43-28 1890 35-36 .34-55 34 02 33-53 31-75 3100 28-73 28-87 27-60 27-34 27-43 27-60 27-15 40 -53 1861 1876 1877 1891 44-94 1862 1S92 36-32 1863 1878 1893 1894 ,34-10 1864 1879 29 -65 1865 1880 1895 30 -32 1866 1881 1896 . 34-29 1867 18S2 1897 35-26 1868 1883 1884 1898 39-70 40-52 1869 1899 1870 1885 1900 1901 . 41 15 1871 1886 39 -56 1872 1887 ,. 1902 35-66 1873 1888 1874 1889 Apparently there i? no marked connection between the rise and fall in the trade per head in the several years and the birth-rate, Exhibit No, UQ. 85 Exhibit No. 116. ( r»de par. 6631. ) NuMBEE of Married Women between 15 and i5 years of age, together with legitimate births state or Country. Legitimate Births. Married Women 15 to 45 years. Legitimate Births per 1,000 married women. New South Wales . Victoria Queensland . . . . South Australia . . . . Western Australia . Tasmania New Zealand England and Wales Scotland Ireland 1901. .35,163 149,245 2,35-61 29,279 127,858 229-00 13,455 53,617 250-95 8,750 37,095 235-88 5,496 22,517 244-08 4,737 18,211 260-12 19,554 79,406 246-25 1900. 890,248 122,867 98,757 3,772,925 454,534 344,443 1901 figures from Census. 1900 deduced from Census figures. 2,35-96 270-31 286-72 Exhibit No. 117. (Hf/epars. 6633-4.) Deaths in Childbirth— 1S9G-1900. Bates per 10,000 Births. Disease. New South Wales. England and Wales. 1806. 1807. 18:8. isro. It 00. Total. 1895. 1806. 1897. 1899. 1000. Total. 4 66 22-18 10-68 35-61 5-37 30-34 15-57 40-27 5-52 25-40 9-91 35-34 4-39 •22-49 14-26 39-49 7-27 2019 13-19 38 23 5-45 24-13 12-69 37-80 1-57 -20-05 1-95 23-75 1-23 22-43 2-35 25-05 1-51 19-92 207 24-12 47 62 1-65 20-54 1-93 2t-ll 48-23 2-18 20-94 2-35 24-77 50-24 1-63 Puerperal Fever 20-77 2-13 Others 24-86 All deaths in childbirth 73-13 91 -oo 76-20 80-63 78 -SS 80-07 47-32 51-06 18-89 Exhibit No. 118. (Fu/epar. 6650.) Infantile Mortality per 1,000 Births. Tear. New South Wales. Victoria. South Australia. Queensland. Western Australia. Tasmania. New Zealand. 1892 106-02 114-99 109-03 105-90 121 -49 102-05 121-97 118-73 103-27 103-74 106-8 117-7 104-1 102-4 110-0 103-3 134-1 114-2 95-3 102-9 96-9 116-5 93-9 94-9 1014 109-1 139-9 111-6 99-6 100-1 106-7 117-5 97-9 91-2 104-6 94 6 110-5 109-4 98-4 1019 140-7 118-4 126-2 143-3 184-4 183-5 166-1 1,39-9 126-1 128-9 99-1 104-7 90-3 81-6 89-1 87-8 115-9 116-2 80-0 89-0 89-2 1893 880 1894 81-3 1895 85-4 1896 77-3 1897 72-3 1898 79 7 1899 95-9 1900 75-2 1901 71-4 Mean for ten years ... 110-62 109-0 106-0 103-2 146-1 95-3 81-4 Exhibit No. 119. ( Vide par. 6652.) BiETH-EATES and Infantile Mortality. New South Wales. Victoria. Queensland. South Australia. Western Australia. Tasmania. New Zealand. Year. Birth- rate. Infantile Mortality. Birth- rate. Infantile Mortality. Birth- rate. Infantile Mortality. Birth- rate. Infantile Mortality. Birth- rate. Infantile Mortality. Birth- rate. Infantile Mortality. Birth- rate. Infantile Mortality 1871-5 39 05 38-53 37-65 36-36 32-93 27-98 104 115 124 115 111 113 35-69 31-43 30-76 32-72 30-93 26-22 1-25 120 122 131 112 111 40 81 .36-72 36-37 .38-81 .35-15 30-40 123 135 137 119 103 103 37-24 38-28 38-52 34-48 31-54 26-59 158 141 134 105 99 112 31-30 32-97 34 57 36-88 30-77 28-73 "io9 130 156 29-72 31-54 35-02 34-59 32-84 28-28 102 107 109 103 94 98 40-02 41-32 36-50 31-22 27-66 25-74 107 1876-1880 96 1881 5 91 1886-90 84 1891-5 88 1896 1900 80 39608 235— M 86 Exhibit No. 120. (Vide par. 6653.) al Function. 1893. 1894. 1895. 1896. 1897. 1898, 1899. 1900. 1902. Births per 1,000 population . Infantile mortality Infantile mortality Meteopolis. 33-32 30-72 29-00 27-41 26-24 25-49 25-67 24-95 25-65 25-86 146-7 133-8 130-8 139-0 129-2 153-0 120-4 109-0 120-4 CorNTET. 112-1 pulation ... 33-64 32-30 32-09 29-45 30-31 28-77 28-27 28-81 28-69 27-88 98-2 96-4 93-6 112-6 89-2 106-6 117-9 100-5 95-4 108-5 Births per 1,000 population .. 33-53 31-75 31-00 ^TATB. 28-73 28-87 27-60 27-34 27-43 27-60 27-15 Infantile mortality 115-0 109-0 105-9 121-5 102-1 122-0 118-7 103-2 103-7 109-7 Exhibit No. 131. (J'ide pa.r. wr,i:.) (N.S.W.) Year. Infantile Mortality. Year. Infantile Mortality. Year. Infantile Mortality. Year. Infantile Mortality. 1864 98-28 93-21 114-40 1-23-87 96 .SO 96-55 95-02 89-95 104-49 92-57 1874 109-48 119-63 112-84 116-77 123-42 107-15 113-63 115-23 131-20 114-77 1884 126 2.'? 1894 109-06 1865 1875 1885 131 127 105 111 1-25 104 118 106 115 15 74 95 49 27 .■j2 89 02 02 1895 105-89 1866 1876 1886 1887 1896 121-49 1867 1877 1-:!I7 1898 102-05 1868 .... . 1878 1879 ISSS 121 97 1869 1889 1899 118-73 1870 1880 1881 1882 isro 1900 1901 103-27 1871. 1891 103 74 1S72 1892 190-^ 109-74 1873 . 1883 1893 Exhibit No. 123. (Vide par. 6664.) (N.S.W. Excess of Births. Deaths under 1. Infantile Mortality per 1 ,000 Births. Natural Increase per cent. 1864 1869 1874 1879 1884 1889 1894 1899 1902 16,881 19,243 22,178 26,933 33,946 37,295 38,951 36,461 37,835 6,445 6,691 8,652 10,200 14,220 14,796 15,170 15,901 16,646 10,436 12,552 13,526 16,733 19,726 22,499 23,781 20,560 21,189 1,659 1,S5S 2,128 2,886 4,2S.-i 4,329 4,'248 4,329 4,152 9S 96 109 107 126 116 109 118 109 55 47 16 23 07 06 74 2-61 2-35 2-36 2-18 2-08 1-92 1-53 1-51 Exhi bit No. 123. ( Viil, par. 6665.) Bute per 1,000 N.S.W) - - Births. j Years. Lc;iit.imaU'. Illegitimate. Total. TTm.Iui- 2 lllOlltllK. Under :i months. Under 12 months. rndur '1 months. Under 3 months. Under 12 months. Under 2 months. Under 3 months. Under 12 months. 1893 * * 49 24 50-62 45-81 51-32 54-59 45-13 47-55 49-44 96-22 109-13 90-90 108-90 105-87 89-37 91 -.37 97-23 * * * * * * 125-59 141-51 140-70 149-34 155-62 160-08 148-23 145-37 244-85 293-66 260-20 297 -49 285-55 287-52 264-01 286-74 45-66 46-31 44-80 45-75 43-44 46-68 49-72 44-39 44-73 44-98 55-53 56-74 54-21 56-70 52-06 58-11 61-82 53-20 54-76 55-77 115-02 109-06 105-90 121-49 102-05 121-97 118-73 103-27 103-74 109-74 1894 1895 1896 1897 1898 1899 1900 1901 1902 1895-1902 49-18 98-52 145-96 277-43 45-54 55-79 110-73 * Not available. Exhibit No. 124. 87 Exhibit No. 124. (Ficie par. 6666.) (N.S.W.) Percentage of First Birtlis -within nine months after marriage to total Pirst Legitimate Births. Birth Period after Marriage. Per cent, of Total First Birtlia. Agffregat( up to each Period. 1860. 1870. 1880. 1892. 1902. 1860. 1870. 1880, lfi92. 1902. Under 1 month 1 and under 2 months 2 „ 3 „ .... •760 ■TOO -920 1-359 1-160 1-359 1-599 1-999 6-318 1 1-094 1-539 2-086 2-018 2-052 1-676 2-257 3-078 7-387 1-285 1-778 2-292 1-950 2-121 2-849 3-064 3 -.363 7-605 1-207 1-429 2-470 2-844 2-955 3-316 3-690 4-384 4-287 -691 1-406 2-766 3-293 3-949 4-851 5-636 5-613 4-230 ■760 1-520 2-440 3-799 4-959 6-318 7-917 9-916 16-234 1 2 4 6 8 10 12 15 094 633 719 737 789 465 722 SOO 1-285 3 063 5-355 7-305 9-426 12-275 15 339 18-702 26-307 1-207 2636 5-106 7-950 10-S05 14-221 17-911 22-295 26-582 -691 2-097 4-863 3 ,, 4 ,, 8-156 4 ,, 5 ,, 12-105 5 ,, 6 ,, 10 -956 6 ,, 7 , 22-592 7 „ 8 ,, 28-205 8 „ 9 „ 23 187 32-435 Total 1 16-234 23-187 26-307 ' 26-582 32-435 Exhibit No. 125. {Vide par. 6673.) First Born Children (counting illegitimate as first births). (N.S.W.) Number. Per cent . of all First Birtha. 1860. 1870. 1880. 1892. 1902. 1860. 1870. 1880. 1892. 1902. Truly legitimate Quasi legitimate . . Illegitimate 2,095 406 464 2,246 678 755 3,440 1,228 1,226 5,292 1,916 2,289 5,766 2,768 2,497 70-66 13-69 15-65 61-05 18-43 20-52 58-36 20-84 20-80 55-72 20^18 24-10 52-27 25^09 22-64 2,965 3,679 5,894 9,497 11,031 100-00 100-00 100-00 100-00 100-00 Comparing also as above but leaving out Illegitimate -we have the folio-wing : Number. Per ceni . of all First Births. 1860. 1870. 1880. 1892. 1902. I860. 1870. 1880. 1892. 1902. 2,095 406 2,246 678 3,440 1,228 5,292 1,916 5,766 2,768 83-77 16-23 76-81 23-19 73-69 26-31 73-42 26-58 67-57 Quasi legitimate 32-43 Total first births 2,501 2,924 4,668 7,208 8,534 100-00 100-00 100-00 100-00 100-00 Exhibit No. 126. {Vide par. 6681.) The foUo-vring table sho-wa the results obtained by tracing for a period of five years the mortality of children (legitimate and illegitimate) born during the years 1895-8 inclusive (N.S.W.) : — 1895-1898. Legitimate. Illegitiniate. Total. Living. Dead. Rate per cent. Living. Dead. Rate per cent. Living. Dead. Kate per cent. 138,817 124,778 121,546 120,559 119,931 14,039 3,232 987 628 418 10-11 2-59 •81 -52 •35 9,932 7,211 6,9,58 6,899 6,865 2,721 253 59 34 19 27^40 3 •SI •85 •49 •28 148,749 131,989 128,504 127,458 126,796 16,760 3,485 1,046 662 438 11-27 1 2^64 2 •81 3 •52 4 ■35 The results sho-w that — During the first year of life the illegitimate death rate is 2| times the legitimate. During the second year of life the illegitimate death rate is IJ times the legitimate. During the third, fourth, and fifth years of life the illegitimate death rate is on a par with the legitimate. Exhibit No 127. 88 Exhibit No. 127. ( rae par. 6685. ) (N.S.W.) Causes of Death. Infantile Mortality Period 1895-1902. Multiple Illepfitiraate rate of Legitimate. Leg;itimate. Illegitimate. Miasmatic Diseases 5-21 26-10 ■88 2-05 1-47 13-21 3-52 10-11 10-75 13-21 12-01 7-03 87-60 6-04 5-16 3-39 25-30 5-99 20-24 17-10 62-05 37-53 1-35 Diarrhoeal Diseases and Knteritis 3-36 Malnutrition 6-86 2-52 Other Tubercular Diseases 2 31 1-92 Otlier Developmental Diseases 1-70 2-00 Bronciiitis and Pneumonia 1-59 Debility 4-70 Others 3-12 98-52 277-43 2-82 Exhibit 128. ( Vld,- par. 6688.) NEW SOUTH WALES. (I) Peopobtions, — Age-groups to total population — Censuses, 1861 to 1901. Females. Age-groups. 1861. 1871. 1881. 1891. 1901. Under 15 Per cent. 43-49 47 -.32 8-22 ■97 Per cent. 45-40 43-79 9-31 1-50 Per cent. 43-42 45-08 9-48 2-02 Per cent. 41-33 46-42 9 99 2-26 Per cent. 37-31 15 and under 45 48-64 45 ,, ,, 65 11-01 65 „ over 3-04 Total 100 00 100-00 100-00 100-00 100-00 (2) Pbopoktions — Age groups to total — Censuses 1861 to 1901 — Males and Females — Population. Age-groups. 1881. 1871. 1881. 1891. 1901. Under 15 Per cent. 38-70 48-82 11-09 1-39 Per cent. 41-79 44 82 11-26 2-13 Per cent. 39-86 46-38 11-31 2-45 Per cent. 38-34 47-52 11-61 253 Per cent. 35-99 48-25 12-31 3-45 15 and under 45 45 ., „ 65 Total loo-oo 10000 100-00 100-00 100-00 Age-groups. Exhibit No. 129. ( VUh par. 6698.) Married Women. Legitimate Births. Birth-i-ato Per Cent. 1901. Under 20 20 and under 25 25 „ „ 30 30 „ „ 35 35 „ „ 40, 40 „ „ 45, 2,875 20,043 32,041 29,505 22,584 18,018 1,381 8,344 ] 1 ,333 8,622 5,336 2,134 4804 41-63 35-37 29-22 2363 11-84 Muri-ied Women. Legitimate Births. Birth rate Per Cent. 2,566 1,444 56-27 19,662 7,805 39-70 32,618 9,742 29-87 34,608 7,848 22-68 33,108 5,711 17-25 26,900 2,369 8-81 {See Diagram 25.) From this comparison the following observations are at once deduced t— A(/e-group. Under 20 advance of JVI p^^ cent, in the birth-rate. 20 and under 25 dechne of 4,(3 25 „ 30 „ .■.■.".■,■.',■,■.■,"■' 30 „ 35 35 „ 40 40 45 15-5 22-4 27-0 25-6 Exhibit No. 139. 89 Exhibit No. 139. (f'de par. 67V7.) Annual Death-rate of Children under one year of age in the Infants' Homes, Benevolent Asylum, and hoarded out hy State Children's Department. Deaths per cent, per annum. Year. Total Cases. Survivors. Died. Total exposed for one year. No. Duration in days. Average duration. No. Duration. Average duration. Total exposed for one year. No. Duration. Average duration. Death- rate. *1898 *1899 *1800 *1901 *1902 1898-1902 1898 1899 1900 1901 1898-1901 1898 1899 1900 1901 1898-1901 1898 1899 1900 1901 1898-1901 1898 1899 1900 1901 1898-1901 1892 1893 1894 1895 1896 1897 1898 1899 1900 1901 1892-1901 +1898 tl899 +1900 tl901 +1902 1898-1902 AsHPiELD Home — A rerage age, 6i months. 38 3,065 96 31 3,426 101 9-39 4 239 60 13-39 65 ,5,650 87 55 4,898 89 13-42 10 752 75 23-42 73 6,509 89 58 5,637 97 15-44 15 872 58 30-44 04 7,043 110 60 6,836 114 18-73 4 207 52 22-73 50 4,089 82 40 3,842 96 10-53 10 247 25 20.53 216 26,956 125 173 24,639 142 67-51 43 2,317 54 110-51 74 4,801 65 20 109 10,072 92 55 232 15,057 65 85 224 16,968 76 103 529 46,898 89 153 69 3-78 54 3,420 63 57-78 114 21-72 54 2,144 40 75-72 86 19-94 147 7,779 53 166-94 106 29-91 121 6,052 50 150-91 180 75-35 376 19,395 52 451-35 Waitaea Home — Average age not known ; probably from 4 to 6 months. 1,381 7,928 7,278 10,916 27,503 Bbnevolbnt Astium — (Born in Institution) — Average age on leaving Asylum, 5 weeks. 37 37 40 32 39 Benevolent Astlum — (Admitted to Institution) — Average age, 4i months. 228 8,526 250 9,203 245 9,806 258 8,189 913 35,721 198 7,165 36 19-63 30 1,361 45 49-63 207 7,789 38 21-34 43 ],414 33 64-34 223 9,096 41 24-92 22 710 32 4692 231 7,595 33 20-81 27 594 22 47-81 791 31,645 40 86-70 122 4,079 33 208-70 99 3,117 31 63 2,080 33 5-70 36 1,037 29 41-70 156 5,148 33 112 4,065 36 11-14 44 1,083 25 55-14 133 4,927 37 101 3,871 38 10-61 31 1,056 34 41-61 157 5,469 35 126 4,(J03 37 12-62 33 864 26 45-62 508 18,661 37 324 14,621 40 4006 144 4,040 28 184-06 Benetolekt Asylum — (All Children). 327 11,643 36 261 9,245 35 25-33 66 2,398 36 91-33 406 14,351 35 319 11,854 38 32-48 87 2,497 29 119-48 377 14,733 89 324 12,967 40 35-52 63 1,766 33 88-52 415 13,658 33 355 12,200 34 33-42 60 1,458 24 93-42 1,421 54,385 38 1,155 46,266 40 126-75 266 8,119 31 392-75 Childbbn's Peotection Act — Average age, ' 71 months. 167 18,376 110 144 16,623 115 45-54 23 1,753 76 68-54 497 49,130 99 382 40,088 105 109-69 115 9,092 79 224-69 587 58,921 100 474 52,635 111 144-20 113 6,286 56 257-20 662 62,420 94 540 54,671 101 149-78 123 7,749 63 271-78 606 55,.575 92 484 49,075 101 131-45 122 6,500 53 256-45 675 60,820 90 554 53,702 97 147-13 121 7,118 59 268-13 735 66,603 91 597 58,086 97 159-14 138 8,517 62 297-14 764 74,958 98 661 68,247 103 186-98 103 6,711 65 289-98 682 66,198 97 558 59.504 107 163-02 121 6,694 54 287-02 636 63,175 99 542 57,272 106 156-91 94 5,903 63 250-91 4,522 576,176 127 3,447 509,853 148 1,396-84 1,075 66,823 62 2,471-84 State Childben's Reliee Act — Average age, 9i months. 15 1,330 89 11 1,215 110 3-33 4 115 29 7-33 35 3,770 108 29 3,506 121 9-61 6 264 44 15-61 30 2,821 94 26 2,654 102 7-27 4 170 43 11-27 39 2,885 74 34 2,713 80 7-43 5 172 34 12-43 45 5,487 122 41 5,321 130 14-58 4 166 42 18-58 126 16,296 129 103 15,409 150 42-22 23 887 39 65-22 29-87 42-70 49-28 17-60 48-71 38-91 93-46 71-32 88-06 80-18 83-31 60-45 66-83 46-89 56-47 58-46 86-33 79-80 74-60 7234 78-23 72-27 72-82 59-87 64-23 67-73 33-56 5118 43-93 44-89 47-57 4513 46-44 35-52 43-20 37-46 43-49 54-57 38-44 35-49 40-23 21-53 35-27 * Year ends 12th August. Government Statistician's Office, Sydney, 2nd December, 1902. t Year ends 30th September, T. A. COUHLAN, Statistician. Note. — The sum of the figures for the individual years does not in certain cases agree with the total number for the entire period of time under review, inasmuch as a large proportion of the lives are under observation for portions of more than one calendar year, and consequently appear as risks twice in setting forth the events of the several years. The sum of the durations must, of course, equal the total duration, but the average durations can obviously widely differ from the duration when the whole term of years is treated. Further Note. — The rates shown in these tables have been calculated actuarially, and represent the probability of a death if all the children under care remained in the institution for a full period of twelve months (unless death occurred). Thus, in the first line of the table it is shown that 38 children were received into the Ashfield Home in 1898 —of these, 4 died and 34 survived ; the death-rate is not lOJ per cent, (the proportion which 4 is of 38) — that is, the rate per cent, for the time the children were under care, which was considerably less than a year. To establish the true rate it is necessary to divide the children into two groups — the survivors, and those who died. The length of time the survivors remained under care must be considered, and the equivalent number ascertained on the supposition that they had remained under care for a full year. Thus, in the example given, 34 children were under care an average of about 101 days each ; this is the same as one child for 3,426 days, or 9 "39 children for a full year. The total of what is technically called "exposures" is, therefore, 9-3 9 (survivors) plus 4 (deaths) — that is to say, 13-39 — and the death-rate per cent, is, therefore, 4 mitltiplied by 100, divided by 13-39, equal to 29'87, the figure set down in the table. Exhibit No. 141, 90 Exhibit No. 141. (Fide par, 6790. Legitimate Birth-rates, 1871-1901, New South Wales. 1R71. 1881. 1891. 1901. Age of Mother. Legiti- mate Births. Married Women. Birth- rate |>*'r eeiit. Legiti- mate Births. 1,099 (i,K5;{ 7,5.1.-1 5,9 )(i 4,410 1,045 200 33 27,739 Married Women. 8 2,1. -id 14,907 ]8,0.'i8 17,563 16,117 12,760 25,482 169 107,834 Birth- rate per cent. 51-60 45-79 40 -.52 33 80 27 -36 12-89 ■78 25-72 Legiti- mate Births. 4 1,377 8,:!44 11,. 333 8,(i22 5,330 2,134 225 6 37,381 Married Women. Birth- rate per cent. Legiti- mate Births. Married Women. Birth- rate per cent. Under 15 "■741 4,-2(iO .'•.,918 4,340 ;i,(ll9 l,(r27 1-23 7 19,435 1 1,470 9,(149 14,524 1-2, S91 11, Km 7,656 17,4-24 93 74,882 50-10 44-15 40-75 33 -67 27 -04 13-41 -71 25-95 1 1 1,443 7,805 9,742 7,848 5,711 2,369 244 2 2,564 19,662 3-2,618 34,608 33,108 26,900 56,857 15 to 19 20to24 25 to 29 30 to 34 ;« to39 40to44 2,874 20,043 32,041 29,505 22,584 18,018 40,582 165,648 47-91 41-63 35-37 29-22 23-63 11-84 •55 56-28 39-70 29-87 22-68 17-25 8-81 45 and over •43 Not stated Total 22-57 .35,163 206,319 17-04 15 to 44 19,, 305 57,364 33-65 27,506 82, 75 33-47 37,146 125,065 29-70 34,918 149,460 23-36 Exhibit No. 142. (Vide par. 6791.) Decline of Birth-rate (assuming 1871-81 rate as standard), New South Wales. Standard Birth-rate per cent. Birth-rate. Decline per cent of Standard. Age Groups. 1891. 1901. 1891. i 1901. 20-24 45-15 40-62 33-78 27-23 13-09 41-63 35-37 29-22 23-63 11-84 39-70 29-87 22-68 17-25 8-81 7-80 12-92 13-50 13 ^22 9-55 12-07 25-29 26-46 30-.34 32-86 .35-39 36-65 40-44 32-70 Exhibit No. 143. (Vide par. 6792.) Maeeied Women (15-45), 1871-1001, New South Wales. 1871. 1881. 1891. 1901. Age Group Maxried Women. Percentage of Total Group. Married Women. Percentage of Total Group. Married Women. Percentage of Total Group. Married Women. Percentage of Total Group. 15 to 19 20 ,, 24 1,479 9,649 14,524 12,891 11,165 7,656 2-58 16-82 25-32 22-47 19-46 13-35 2,1.30 14,967 18,638 17,563 16,117 12,760 2-59 18-22 22-68 21-37 19-61 15-53 2,874 20,043 .32,041 29,505 22,584 18,018 2-30 16-02 25-62 23-59 18-06 14-41 2,564 19,662 32,618 34,608 33,108 26,900 1-72 1.315 25 „ 29 21-82 30 ,,34 23-16 35 „ 39 40 ,, 44 22-15 18-00 15 „ 44 57,364 100-00 82,175 100-00 125,065 100-00 149,460 100-00 91 Exhibit No. 149. {Vide ya,r. 6832.) Sating- of Infant Life. If '25 per cent, of the infantile mortality be preventable, the following table shows the salvage which might be effected in the infant life of the State with ordinary care : — Deaths under 1. I^^!^,, 1895 4,106 1,027 1896 4,435 1,109 1897 3,801 950 1893 4,418 1,105 1899 4,329 1,082 1900 3,836 959 1901 3,929 982 1902 4,152 1,038 189.5-1902 33,006 8,252 Thi represents a loss, based on last eight years' exerience, of 1,031 per annum. Exhibit No. 150. (Vide par. 6833.) Natural Increase, based on New Zealand experience. If the infantile death-rate in New South Wales could be reduced to the New Zealand figures, how much would this reduce the general death-rate and so improve on our natural increase ? Infantile death-rate. New South Wales, 1901 = 10 -.374 per cent, of births. „ New Zealand, 1901 = 8-35 „ Difference in rate 2-024 per cent. The births in 1901 were 37,875, and 2-024 % of this represents the salvage = 767. This showing would make the total deaths 15,254 instead of 16,021, giving a total death-rate of 11-11 per 1,000 instead of 11-68, or a difference of -57 per 1,000. The natural increase would therefore be 16-49 per 1,000 instead of 15'92 per 1,000. Exhibit No. 151. (Videps.r. 6834). Appeoximate Loss by drop in the Birth-rate since 1864. 3 February, 1904. Assuming that the same phenomena have characterised the birth-rates of all Australasia, as in the case of New South_ Wales, we may state that the loss by drop in the birth-rate since 1864, and by higher infantile mortality of illegitimates as compared with that of legitimates, has been about 940,000 for Australasia. This must be taken as a loose approximation only. .JOHN B. TRIVETT. Exhibit No. 152. (FJiepar. 6835). Incidence of Population, New South Wales. Year. Metropolitan (per cent.) Country (per cent.) state. Country rate, multiple of Metropolitan rate. 1861 26-70 26-73 30-34 34-47 35-90 73-30 73-27 69-66 65-53 64-10 100-00 100-00 100-00 100-00 100 00 2-75 1871 2-74 1881 2 30 1891 1-90 1901 1-78 92 Exhibit No. 163. (Hie par. 6836.) Infantile Mortality in the various Institutions which receive Infants in the MetropoHtan District, gif No. 6, Bligh-street, Sydney, 25 January, 1904, ' I have the honor to report thtit, in accordance with your instructions, letters asking for returns of infantile mortality were sent to each of the following institutions ; — The Benevolent Society. The Home Training School and Lying-in Hospital, Newtown (Home of HopeJ The Ashfield Infants' Home. The Salvation Army Maternity Home. The Waitara Foundling Home. The period for which returns were asked was lOilO, 1901, 1902, and the first ten months of 1903. Summaries were also asked for, showing, for each year, the number of infants admitted and the number who died. When the returns were received, certain apparent inaccuracies were noticed, and, by your instructions, the Begistrar- General was asked (1) to have the returns carefully checked, and to report on any inaccuracies which might be found ; (2) to prepare comparative summaries showing the number of deaths in each institution from the various diseases,_and of the total deaths in each institution ; and (3) to give the date of the medical certificate furnished at the time of registration of each death shown on the rotuiiis. A reply has now been received from the Registrar, together with schedules showing the discrepancies between each of the returns and the official registers, but no report upon them. The other statements asked for have also been received. Inai'i.'URACies in thk Retui;-ns. An examination of the schedules furnished by the Registrar-General of the discrepancies between the information furnished by the institutions and that contained in the official registers shows that they are numerous ; but though they raise the question how far the information supplied to the Registrar-General at the time of registration was accurate, are, in a majoritj' of cases, not otherwise of importance, as they consist for the most part, of (1) names incorrectly stated or wrongly spelled, (2) date of death wrongly stated, (3) age of infant wrongly stated, (-1) date of registration wrongly stated, and (5) cause of death wrongly stated. The last-named source of error is the only one of those to which I think the Commission will attach any importance. Besides many minor diS'erences between the causes of death as stated to the Registrar and to the Commission, there are a number ia which entirely different causes of death are given, as shown hereunder : — Number of Cases. Cause of Death as ^'iven on Medical Certificate. Ciuse of Death as given to Commission. Salvation Armi/ Maternity Ho.ne. Premature birth ] Heart failure. Waitara Foundling Borne. Gastro-intestinal catarrh .. Marasmus and exhaustion Marasmus and asthenia Congenital heart disease Ileo-colitis and exhaustion Intussusception and exhaustion Congenital syphilis and asthenia Congenital syphilis and exhaustion , Syphilis 1 marasmus. 4 gastro-intestinal catarrh, 1 ileo-colitis, 1 pneumonia. 1 gastro-intestinal catarrh. 1 do do 3 marasmus, 1 gastro-intestinal catarrh. 1 gastro-intestinal catarrh. 1 do do 1 do do 1 congenital asthenia, 2 marasmus. Deaths omitted frgji thk Returns. In view of the Commission's desire to ascertain the rate of mortality- in each of the institutions, the most serious error which has been made is the omission froiii the returns furnished by those in charge of the institutions of the deaths which have occurred therein. The following is a statement uf such omissions ; — Name of Institution. Benevolent Asylum Home of Hope Salvation Army Maternity Home .... Ashfield Infants' Home Waitara Foundling Home Total Number of Deaths omitted from iicturn furnished to Commission. 1 1 3 75 80 COMPAEISON 93 COMPABISON OF DaTE OF MEDICAL CERTIFICATE WITH DATE OF DEATH. An examination was maie of each of the returns, in order to compare the date of the medical oertifieate with the date of death, and a note was made of all cases where the medical certiiioate was not given on the day of death, or the day after, with the following result : — Institution. Year. Number of cases. Certificate not given tili— Benevolent Asvlum 1.} 2 days after death. 1 Total 14 oases out of a total Ii92 cases. Home of Hodg 4 2 days after death. Total 4 cases out of a total 67 oases. Salvation Army Maternity Home... Nil out of total of 31 cases. Ashfield Infants' Home Nil out of total of 42 cases. Wai tara Foundling Home 1900 7 2 days after death. 1 o ,1 i» }I 1 9 5 »i II IPOl 8 2 2 3 1 7 1 11 1 12 1 13 2 14 2 18 1 21 1 22 1 28 1 30 1 31 2 32 2 33 1 35 1 36 29 1902 15 2 3 3 ,, )» )> 1 19 ^ )) if 1903 7 ^ >» >» )) 1 3 n j» 8 65 cases out of total of 434. The more serious of the delays at one Waitara Home scheduled above were those shown as occurring in 1901, and th following information sets them out in another way : — Initials of Child. A.K G.E.G. ... KC.R. ... J.B.McG. M.T.R. ... M.V.M.... M.E.D. ... A.L G.A.W.... M.LMcS. C.L.M. ... R.M M.B P.M.R. ... V.S C.P J.T.L. ... I.M.S. ... T.H.G. ... Date of Death. 9 August, 1901 . 1901 1901 1901 1901 1901 1901 1901 1901 1901 1901 ... . 1901 September, 1901 1901 1901 1901 1901 1901 1901 Date of Medical Certificate. S August, 1901 (last certifi- cate given prior to delay). 16 August, 1901 16 September, 1901 16 16 16 le 19 19 19 19 19 19 19 19 19 19 19 19 19 1901 1901 1901 1901 1901 1901 1901 1901 1901 1901 1901 1901 1901 1901 1901 1901 1901 (No more deaths occurred till after 19th September.) It will be seen from this that the certificates for the deaths which occurred between the 9th, of August and the 19th September (19 in 41 days) were giv^i} in two large batches op the 16th and the 19th September, 39608 235— If ' MgETAunc. 94( MOETAIITY. From the five institutions referred to, information was obtained as to the number of children who remained in the institutions on the 31 st December, 1899, and the number admitted each year since, and m the following statement, m view of the inaccuracies in the returns furnished by the institutions, I have taken the number of deaths as given by the Registrar-General : — Institution Year. Number of Infants under 1 year of Age admitted to or bom in Institution. Benevolent Anylum and Hospital for Women Total Ashfield Infants' Home. Total Salvation Army Maternity Home Total . Home of Hop& 31(12|99 1900 1901 1902 1903 ,(10 months). 31(12|99 1900 1901 1902 1903 (10 months). 31(12|99 1900 1901 1902 1903 (10 months). Total Waitara Foundling Home Total . 31(12|99 1900 1901 1902 1903 (10 months). 31|12|99 1900 1901 1902 1903 (10 months). 44 337 384 322 399 1,486 19 51 45 49 50 214 7 62 41 33 45 188 17 156 179 186 160 698 145 132 133 145 5S0 Number of Infants under 1 year of Age who died in Institution. 59 66 42 25 102 17 4 17 4 42 13 31 14 22 23 8 12S 105 118 S3 434 These results, summarised, appear as follow : — Institution. Benevolent Asylum Ashfield Infants' Home Salvation Army Maternity Home Home of Hope Waitara Foundling Home Number of Cliildren Admitted or Born during 3 years and 10 months. 1,486 214 188 698 580 Number of Deaths during 3 years and 10 months. 192 42 31 67 434 As no information has been obtained of tlie length of time each child admitted to tliese institutions was kept in them it has not been possible for me to worlc out a mortality rate on these figures. The last rates worked out were those of Mr. Coghlan, which were put in evidence at the last meeting, from which the following are extracted : — Institution. Period. Number Admitted or Born in Institution. Number who Died in Institution. Death-rate. Benevolent Asylum (all children) 1898-1901 1898-1902 1898-1901 1,421 216 529 266 43 376 67-73 38 91 Waitara FoundlinET Home 83'31 here does not seem, from a comparison of nese figures with those previously given, to have been any decrease of the excessive infantile mortality at certain of these institutions, Thb 95 The Cattses of the Excessive Death-rate in these Institutions. The Registrar-General has furnished a table showing the number of deaths in these institutions from each specified cause of death. The list is rather a long one and renders comparison difficult. In order to make comparison easier I have prepared a statement from the Registrar-General's return, omitting all the diseases which have caused the death of less than ten infants in the five institutions for the full period of three years and ten months for which the returns are furnished. The deaths from ' ' premature birth " are also omitted because all the institutions do not receive lying-in women. Certain causes of death have been grouped together for obvious reasons. The result shows that, of the total of 766 deaths in these institutions, 630 were caused by the fifteen diseases selected ; and of these 630 there were 16 in the Salvation Army Maternity Home, 30 in the Ashfield Infants' Home, 35 in the Home of Hope, 139 at the Benevolent Asylum, and 410 at the VVaitara Foundling Home. The statement is as follows : — Disease or cause of Death. Benevolent Asylum. Home of Hope. Burwood Maternity Home. Ashfield Infants' Home. VVaitara Foundling Home. Total. Asthenia, mal-nutrition, and marasmus Atrophy Diarrhcea, gastro-enteritis, and gastro^intestinal catarrh. Convulsions Dentition Meningitis Syphilis Bronchitis and pneumonia Tuberculosis Totals 78 27 5 1 4 16 139 16 35 14 1 1 21 16 30 126 16 188 7 5 5 47 9 8 410 255 15 227 21 6 10 64 20 12 630 i have; &c., The Hon. The President, Eoyal Commissiwi on the Decline of the Birth-rate. J. GAELICK, Secretary. Exhibit No. ISi. 96 CO o 1— ( I o o 05 P? ce CO ^ d g S a> -^ tH N \ \ \ \ \ 25-29 35-39 D endas N \ EXPLANATION OP DIAGRAM. There is so striking a resemblance in the birth-rates in the several quinquennial age-groups for the individual years 1871 and 1881 that the rates derived by combining the figures of those two years may safely be adopted as constituting standards for the groups as to fertility in such ages. The horizontal Lines denote for each stated age the standard birth-rate of that age. The firm black slanting lines denote the declension of the rates from 1891 to 1901, and being produced by ftroien lines to meet the standard lines show (on the assumption of a progressive decrease in the rate in arithmetical pro- gression), the approximate year in which the decline commenced to operate. These points of crossing the standard lines are connected by means of dotted lines A. B C. D. E., and a study of the system of dotted lines points unmistakably to a decided law in the progression of the underlying cause which has produced the decline. This progression proceeds in point of time from the youngest to the oldest ages 40-44 \ •s N 1 30-34 I 35-39 (middf^/eaj) 24920 Vertical Scale, J, in. = 01 per cent, of Rate. Horizontal Lines = 1871-81 Standard for the several Age-groups. 40-44 00"0 Z Datum 1871 1876 1881 1886 Photo-lithographed by 1. GuUick. Goufniment Printer, Sijdney, M.S.W. 1891 1896 1901 Exhibit BTo. 16L (Vide pur 8844.) Diagram showing Birth and Lunacy rates in Comparative form for New South Wales and New Zealand. NOTK8. 16 Febniiu-y, 1904. It will be apparent that the birth-rate of New South Wales has fallen oontinuoiuly since 1884 3 m averv pronooaced manner from 1889. *"vn, -^u lu «, very The lunacy rate for the same State may be regarded as having been practically constant, up to the year 1893 and from that year has risen, until at the present time the rate is the highest on record. Hence we may remark that the lunacy advance comes about four years after the birth decline, u u i" ^^^ Zealand the birth-rate has faUen with very Slight exception continuously since 1878, and the lunacv rate nad an upward character for all the years of which we have record, i.e., extending back to 1874. o 4.U ii?*i w™ *' birth-rate and the rise in the lunacy rate have been of greater intensity in New Zealand than in New houth Wales, having proceeded from higher and lower values to lower and higher values in the respective functions than has been the case m New South Wales. =- jt- »" * ^i'*ru°*°u'^ "° ^*"^''' *''** **""* " * movement in the lunacy rate which is responsive to the decline in the birth- rate, and it has been much more accentuated (m both phenomena necessarily the one being an apparent function of the other) m New Zealand than in New South Wales. e Fi~ .uubwuu J.B.T. JV.B. ^Lack. Unes represent Tf.SW. ratits JleaL d/o do Jif.%. do 24920 Photo-lithographed fty ^ A. Cullieh, Gootmment PrirUrr, Sgdntg.SS.W. a ■$ & .13 •iH •a ^ ^ mm S 05 N .Hi •^ ■^ 00 -«0 K «0 S ■^ «0 -2J „^ cYj «,• «i c«5 CO" «5 cNj N csj oi c N >t W) 0) "*s 870, OOQ n -V o 2J o ^ 840,00a ^ **j <0 li: !^ Vg 8io,ooa >. O "^ «< o k 78Q00Q ^ y ."^C Uj tic s o flt: CENSUS 1881 433.391 Increase 85. oa^o 420.000-r 390,00a 360.00Q 330.00Q 300,000 270.00Q CENSUS 1871 234.162 Increase 46.6S% 240.00a 210,000l ? ^ CENSUS 190J 422.028 Increase 8.7i> CENSUS 1891 388,231 increase 23.3> CENSUS I88I 314. 850 Increase 17.74.% CENSUS 1871 267.417 Increase 41. 2S^ •s ki s » ">: s 55 . ^ ^ iso.ooa Co 5: 25 % ^«, 150.00a 0. 3 Oi i5 I20.00Q N ■>>. QO 00 k. 90.00Q § Co ^ •*J ^ 60.00Q Q "»s. K '^ >»i 30.000_ P \ / "^ \ / \ \ / "* 1 -V-" \ \ \ / \ \ / \ / \ 25 t — \ / / \ \ / / \ \ * \ 1 t t ■--- \ \ t t 1 \ \ • % / 'n / \ / f / N .^ ^ ' t \ \ X 1 — / \ / / '-■*-. 'v < • \ [ \ / ^v • \ / 20 \ f ^ A ' \ V \ \ / - —■ /- 1 1 l\ IS \ / / \ \ y 1 1 \ ^ ^ \ ^^^ - As. / — "^ \ 1 1 \ \ / / i s -^ 1 ' / ^- \ N \ \ / \ 10 \ ^ _^ ^ « i -^ ^ --^ ^ _ - — •^^ .^^ _ . , ■" ■ _^ -._ — •, .^ ""^ ■ — -■ "^ ~'^ — •* . 6 i i i 1 1 I860 i 23466789 1870 I 23456789 1880 I 2 3 4 6 6 7 24920 Comparison of TOTAL TRADE with Births, Deaths, Natural Increase, & Marriages • N.S.W. ■ BIRTHS TOTAL TRADE NATURAL INCREASE DEATHS ^. MARRIAGES 7 8 9 1870 I 23456789 1880 I 2 3466789 1890 12345 6 789 1900 I 2 Diagram N?2. (ExhibiLN^I.) Births- Rates per 1000 of Population-Countries of the World. • Reduction per cent In 10 years in RaLe.^ Country Rates 1891 1900 Reduction % South Australia Victoria New South Wales Queensland Western Australia NewZealand Tasmania Italy England Hungary Portugal Scotland Sweden German Empire Belgium France Austria Ireland 33-9 336 34-6 36-4 35-6 290 31-9 37 2 31-4 42-6 31-7 31-2 28-3 370 300 22-6 38- 1 23-1 25-8 26-8 274 30-2 30-7 26-6 28-2 330 28-7 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 ^B P ,...,.i., 1 1 1 p 1 1 1 1 39-6 300 1 29-6 27- 1 36-6 28-9 21-9 37-4 22-7 1 1 1 1 1 1111 1 1 1 1 10 15 20 24020 Diagram N52. (ExhibiLN?!.) Births-Rates per 1000 of Population-Countries of the World. • Reduction per cent in 10 years in Rate. • Country Rates 1891 1900 Reduction % South Australia Victoria New South Wales Queensland Western Australia NewZealand Tasmania Italy England Hungary Portugal Scotland Sweden German Empire Belgium France Austria Ireland 33-9 336 346 36-4 35-6 290 31-9 37 2 31-4 42-6 31-7 31-2 28-3 370 300 22-6 38- 1 23! 25-8 26-8 27 4 30-2 30-7 26-6 28-2 330 28 7 39-6 300 29-6 27- 1 36-6 28-9 21-9 37-4 22-7 -1 1 1 r 1 1 1 r -1 1 1 r n 1 I n "I 1 1 r J 1 I I I I I I I 10 J i I L 15 J I \ i_ 20 -I 1 I L 25% 24820 Diagram N? 3. (Exhibit N?4.) A PER CENT. 20 Proportions -Age Groups to Total Population Censuses 1861 to 1901 — Females —N.S.W— CENSU 4 S-9 lO-K 15-19 20-24 25-29 30-34 3539 40-44 45:49 5054 55-69 60-64 65-69 70-74 75-79 AGE GROUPS. S4B20 PholOTlitJiogniphed by W. A. GuUick, Gauemmeiit Printer, Sydney, N.S.W. Diagram N94. (To accompany Exhibit Ng^.l PER CENT. 20, Proportions -AGE Groups to Total Population — Censuses 1861 to 1901 — Males — - — N.S.W— 1 ^ 1 1 1 • 187116 1861- \ \ \ 1891- 1881- V V \ \ ■■. \ » 1901— ,''''\ 10 v^ / \ \ <^ \ \ \ \ \ \ \ V \ ■/ ' 'X \ A X ^ V — v^ -. '"'-^. \\. \ - \^\ 6 \ \ % \\ V\ V "^^^^ \v ^ .19 i [18 iill8 ii8 -^^""■v --^ =-T^-r^ =^^^^- -.-■ .18 0- 1 5-9 10-14 15-19 -20-24 25-29 3034 36-39 40-44 4549 50-54 55-59 60-64 6569 70-74 75-79 AGE GROUPS. BO&over S49S W.A Pkoto-lithag CuUick, Gou Sydney. ropJrf >t emnunl Prt S.S.W. Flier, CE^ Diagram N-6. (Toaccompany ExhibiLr4g4.) \ Proportions- AgeGroupsto Total Females of Conceptive Ages Censuses 1861 to 1901. N.S.W. PER CENT. 25 -*f^ CENSUS. 5 15-19 20-24 25-29 30-34 AGE GROUPS. 35-39 40-44 24920 Photo-lithographed by B". A. Gulliek, Government Printer, Sydney. !t.S. W. Diagram N?6. ( To accompany Exhibit NQ4.) A Proportions- Age Groups to Total Croup (I5to55) — Censuses 1861 to 1901 — Males PER CENT, 20 N.S.W.- CENSU 5 16-19 20-24 25-29 30-34 35-39 AGE GROUPS. 40-44 45-49 50-54 24920 i^iititS'Uthifffaphid by (V. A. eulUlk. Govtmmmt Printer, Si/ilniii, S.S.W. U3 CO u ^ ^ cc CO X • f- 7 cr m N *- Or m £ \ < cc Diagram N?8. (Exhibit N56.) Natural Increase per 1000 of Population-Countries of the V For Period 1890-1899.- ^ Country/ Queensland South Australia New South Wales Tasmania NewZealand Victoria Western Australia Scotland England and Wales Ireland Prussia The Netherlands Norway German Empire Denmark Italy Sweden Hungary Austria Belgium Switzerland France Birth Death Rate Rate -T 1 r Natural Increase per 1000. J I i L. 1 1 1 T J I L. I - I 1_ J I I L. 10 20 24920 Photo-lithographed by W. A. Gullick, Government Printer. Sydney. N.S. W. \L Increase per 1000 or Population-Countries of the World.- • For Period 1890-1899.- ^ Country/ Birth Death Rate Rate Natural Increase per 1000. sland Australia OUTH Wales nia EALAND ^lA :rn Australia AND .ND AND Wales SD lA ETHERLANDS \y \N Empire \RK 33-56 32-37 31-11 30-99 2702 29 33 2928 30-67 30-09 23-01 36-82 32-66 30-36 36-16 3045 35-69 27-22 40-50 37-24 28-84 27-70 22-18 12-93 12-23 12-49 13-29 9-86 14-20 15-96 18-80 18-36 18-13 2208 18-62 16-45 22-47 17-77 24-65 16-38 3028 27-06 19-19 18-98 2 1-59 1 1 1 1 T r — -I r -■( 1 1 r 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 T— 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1,1 1. . :n \ry ?IA JM ERLAND :e 1 1 I.I 1 ■ 1,1 ,1 .-I.. 1 1 1 1 10 20 26 Photo-lithographed by W. A. Gullick, Government Prmter, Sydney. f/.S.W. ■MS It 'HbupHs (72. ^ 0. ez fD.e .2 5 CO cc z I (/) u • 7 < CE CC < _J < U o< ztr Ld< q:_) UJ< Q.I- o UJ < 1 'J * ' 1 r 1 1 1 I "1 T" 1 1 1 1- -\N / / / 03 — 0) / *J0 1 iS> / . / / \ \ / / 1 1 1 1 / 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 CD o n O 10 o — / CO UJ h- < I DC , o I- ^ < T 03 ^^i o ■Q UJ O _j i_ _i CD CL n l_ z i^ < UJ o UJ g Diagram N?ll. (Exhibit N?K.) Illegitimate Birth Rates. — For Period 1893-1902.^ — — N.S.W — RATE PER CENT OF SINGLE WOMEN 300 •50 200 ■50 •00 •50 000 \ \ \ " \ \ \ \ s ■ \ N \ \ > 22 ■ — n[ - r \ \ \ \ \ \ \ -"^ >5f \ 1 - "-> N> / / \ \ \ \ \ 1 ■s > \ s s .__, ^.^--•-^'^ "^••^ ~ "*^* • ***•• ••-^..^^ ^^**^^ -••''**'^ ■^--... - 1893 8 1900 24920 Illegitimate Birth Rates. For Period 1893-1902.^ — — N.S.W — F SINGLE WOMEN AGES OF MOTHERS Diagram N9|2. (Exhibit N9|-t,) RATE PER CENT. OF SINGLE WOMEN 300 Illegitimate Birth Rates. -for Age Croups- Period 1893-1902- ' N.S.W. — - 30u>34 MOTHERS Diagram N5|2. (Exhibit N9|'^.) : PER CENT. MOLE WOMEN 300 Illegitimate Birth Rates. -for Age Groups- Period 1893-1902- ^ — N.S.W. — - 000 I6u)l9 20U.24 25to29 AGES OF 30to34 MOTHERS 36ui39 40to46 < 2 O UJ z u X D -i X u u I- < 2 o < O LlI 06 o UJ < h- O U _1 Z < Li- z t $ to 01 - X h- CC CO O O O a: u a I- < \ \ \ \ \ \ \ \ \ / / / / / / / 1 1 1 / 1 / 1 1 / / 1 1 / ' / 1 1 • / / / / / -t^ \ \ \ \ \ \ \ \ \ \ \ \ \ \ \ > — / / / / / / / r / / / / / / / -^— \ \ \ \ \ \ \ \ \ \ \ \ > s _1 I o O O o o o Diagram N^K. (Exhibit N? 19.) Fecund Marriages per 1000. — Ante-Nuptial Included. — — Comparalive Table. — • — ^N.S.W— Rate per 1000 1000 800 Years. 600 400 200 15 20 26 30 35 MARRIAGE AGE. 40 Rate per 1000 1000 800 600 400 200 ^ ^ 61-70 Marriage Age. ...15 ...20 ...26 ..30 .36 .40 .45 71-80 81-90 YEARS. 91-97 24920 Pkoto-Uthographed hy W. A. Gulliek, Gourmment Printer, Sfdniy. H.S.W. Diagram N^IS. (Exhibit Ne2C.) Geographical Distribution of Fecundity-Census 1901. Number of Childless Marriages per 1000 according to Age attained of Mothers. N.S.W.' ' RATE PER 1000. SO 300 200 ""■•• — •■—..^ r.iTv «, 5^tmiiRnRnr SvnNFY 200 • City & Suburbs OF Sydney. Plains WEST OF Darling. i (Counties Robinson (Cobar) I&Yancowinna (Broken Hill). R1VERINA& Plains Ieast of Darling. Balance of Metropolitan ICouNTY (Cumberland). Western Slope. ; Coastal Districts. ■Tableland. 20& under 26 26&under30 30&under35 ACE ATTAINED OF MOTHERS. 35 Sunder 40 ■40&under45 FlutO'Utkoffrapited hg W. A. emlliek, Gvmumtnt Printtr, SfdMtt. X.S.W. Diagram N?I7. (Exhibit N?3I.) Number of Children born per Annum to 1000 Women under 46 according to previous issue. — N.S.W. — 1891 23456789 1900 1891 23466789 1900 1891 2 34 56 78 9 1900 PREVr Issue 4on N \ ^-. s \ ■-^ -= 300 E 200 100 400 300 PrevHssue 4 200 100 Prev: Issue 8 400 3 on E 200 — 100 400 300 Prev- Issue I 200 100 Prev- Issue 5 400 300 E 200 ^^ ^\ ■ 100 Prev: Issue 9 400 300 ■ E 200 ^^ ^^ 100 400 300 PREV: Issue 2 200 100 400 300 PREV:ISSUE 6 iOO Prev: Issue 10 400 300 E 200 L^ 100 Prev: Issue 3 400 300 e '"^s 200 ■ 100 400 300 PREV:|SSUE 7 200 100 Prev: Issue II & over 400 300 E 200 ^ 100 ■ PkotO'lithographed fiy W. A. Cullick, Government Printer, Number of Children born per Annum to 1000 Women under 46 according to previous issue. — ^N.S.W. — 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 1900 1891 23466789 1900 1891 23466789 1900 ■■ ■- ■ ■■ -■ - - ■ - r — — I \ I I I I I 400 300 Prev: Issue 4 200 -\ ■^"■""^ 100 400 300 Prev: Issue 8 200 . ->>. "^ ---- 100 400 300 Prev: Issue 5 200 "^ ■ ■ 100 400 300 Prev: Issue 9 -^ 200 "^ ^ 100 400 300 PREV:ISSUE 6 200 ■■~~~ — - 100 400 300 Prev: Issue 10 200 -^ 100 400 300 Prev: Issue 7 200 ^ *^-^ 100 400 300 Prev: Issue II & over 200 1 . 100 Photo-lithographed hy W. A. GuHick, Government Printer, Diagram N9 18. lExhlbit N?3I.) Number of Children born per Annum to 1000 Women under 45 according to previous issue. — N.S.VV.' — Previous Issue Previous issue 01 23456789 10 II & over 1891 400 300 . >v "^ k 200 "^ 100 1892 1893 1894 1895 1 23456789 10 II & over 1896 400 \ \ 300 \ \, \ — - ^.^ 200 — ^ N 100 1897 400 \ \ 300 \ S. N 200 N, ^ ^\ 100 1898 400 \ 300 \ \ 1 1 . --^ 200 \ 100 1899 400 ^^ 1 300 \ \ "~^ 200 "^ N, 100 1900 400 \, 300 \ \ \ 200 "^ . s 100 \ 400 300 V \ \, 200 S , , ^~" ^^ \ 100 s 400 300 s. \ \ ^ 200 \ 100 ^ 400 300 \ 200 \ ^ ■^ ■^ 100 "^ 400 300 \ .. 200 \ ^ ~^ -^ ■ " ■~^ — ^^ 100 "^ Diagram N^ia (Exhibit N?37.) Average Issue of Women married prior to 1881. -:- Census 1901.^ — AVERAGE ISSUE. 10 New South wales 8 Scotland Ireland- Other Countries Other States- England & Wales- birthplace. 20&under26 26&uncler30 30&under36 ACE AT MARRIAGE. 36&under40 Other States IRELAND ^■^I'-lNEw South Wales ^-..Engl AN D& Wales i.SCOTLAND OtherCountries 40&under45 24920 ) I / UJ \ ^ u -J v_ < ^ 1 _I X Q. WSOUT GLAND OTLAND :land 5 X cc m u Z o S:'^ Zujy^E fc •D /'•/' C A oB O '! ■ Ld /'' O 1.' < /'• _l i'l Q. /■'■' O X '1! 1 j 1— q: 1 1! T3 / ) 1 f c DO CO //// fO O LJ ffi ^- o 'J 1 O z < /// O DC f 1 < J cc ' 1 ^ ^ *^ Q < 1 1 « < 1 o ^ '/J i oiS 1— S 1 ''V / 1l o z //// ■5 r. < UJ t/5 o < Ld LJ /// Z) CC • // CO Q- / / // LO ' / S- >* ' / / (_ UJ O < / / / ■D C f\J 1 • • / / / QC • / '/ / i : Ld / / / > / . / / /■ / < • • / / /// LJ / / / (\J « C D CO ^ ^ ^ A y • / / / / Ld rs (X ^.. ^ ro CN - o^ a. LJ D Z < LAND WALES LAND 20 ^ UJ b r o < tt R f z s 1 r Diagram N^2l. (Exhibit N9^5.) Deaths in Childbirth FROM I - PY/EMIA, SEPTIC/tMIA. 2. Puerperal Fever. 3- Organs of Generation. 4_DiS EASES OF Partu rition. Period 1884-1888 (inclusive) shewn thus Do 1898-1902 N.S.W. 15-20 20-26 26-30 30-35 35-40 AGE GROUPS. 40-45 45-60 Photo-lithographed bg W. A. Gulliek. Govemmmt Printer. Sydney. N.S.W. Diagram N?22. (ExhibiLN'?47) DEATH RATE 01800 Deaths of Married Women in Childbirth ACCORDING TO NUMBER OF CONFINEMENT. Adjusted Figures. ■ — N.S.W.— \ ■01600 / / •01400 / / r ■01200 / y / •01000 / / 00800 \ y / \ y / 00600 \ y / \ ^^ 00400 1 -^ *V. 11 h 1-^ i-h I'lr CONFINEMENT. 24920 Photo-lithographti by W. A. Gullick. Goixmment Printer, Stiniy. II.S.W. Diagram N?23. (Exhibit Ng4 8.> Comparison of New South Wales Death Rates in Childbirth AND THOSE BY Df? MATTHEWS DUNCAN. DEATH RATE. 02800 N.S.Wales Rates shewn thus or Duncan's do •02600 ■02400 •02200 02000 •01800 •01600 _ •01400 01200 -L ■01000 ■00800 ■00600 ■00400 15-19 40-44 45 24920 PhotoMthographed ity ^¥ A GuUicIt, Gouernment Printer, Sidnei. n.S.V. Diagram N?24. (Exhibit, N549.) Infantile Mortality FROM I . MIASMATIC Diseases. 6 . Prematurity 2-dlarrhceal diseases & enteritis. /.other developmental diseases. 3. Malnutrition. 8. Meningitis & Convulsions. 4. Tabes Mesenterica. 9. Bronchitis & Pneumonia. 6. Other Tubercular Diseases. 10. Debility I L Others. Death s under i year to lOOO births. LeglLlmate shewn thus IlleglUmate...... — N.S.W — 120 -•, II 60 40 x''^--- U5 X. ,-'-' ,,,^'-'^ X h- a. CD R30 O q: CL (/5 X20 ^•.-^ < a 'wmi — — — ^^ _^\^ 10 &:^ '~~"^*. '^ .->'- =r=5=^;:,'' 1895 8 9 YEARS. 1900 50 40 CO X I- CO o g30 QL UJ Q- tO ^20 < Q 8 9 YEARS. 10 1896 / , '' X 4 / / / / / / \ / ,-"' ■^--. s / / \ \ -'^"-^ \ ^^-— "' — --— '" **■■* __-_^ .___,_, '^'C^— — ^^ — — ■" 8 9 YEARS. 1900 Photo-titkographed by W. A. GuUick, Government Printer, Sidney. N.S.W. Diagram N926. PER CENT 60 Legitimate Births to Married Women IN AGEGROUPS.^ —N.S.W. — under20 20-24 26-29 30-34 AGE GROUPS. YEARS. 35-39 40-44 24920 Phclo-Uihognphed by W. A. Gullich. (hvernment Printer. Sydn*!/. rt.S.W. Di£ igram N ?26. J Fl -WITHIN 9 M TO To Propor \ RST Births ONTHS AFTER MARRIAGE TAL First Births. — -N.S.W— PER CENT. TIONS 1 N EACH Month. /EARS. 5 J 1880 1870 I860 1891-00 18^2 1902 / -. /y ^-^^^ ,——'-''- ^^V^ ^-^r^^ r:^:^^ 7/ ^-^ = : ^=^ ===== -— / - -1 1- 2 2 Prof -3 3-4 4-5 5-6 6 MONTHS AFTER MARRIAGE. -7 7-8 8 DNTH. 9 PORTIONS TO END OF EACH M( 30 26 20 15 10 5 91-00 y 1891-00 1880 1870 I860 / / / / j / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / 1 / y| / / 1 / 1 . / / 1 / / '^ y 1 /- /I 1 /A -^ 1 -/^ ^ y ^ ^ y ^ ^ yy^" ^^ y^ ^..^ ^y ^' . 1 -^^ 7^ ^ €^ ^^ J 1 1- 2 2-3 3-4 4-5 5-6 6-7 /-« » MONTHS AFTER MARRIAGE. ■9 r 24920 PholO'lilko W. A. Giiliick. Co Sydney, graphed by jernmcnt Printer, N.S.W. Diagram N?27 PER CENT. 8 First Births WITHIN 9 MONTHS AFTER MARRIAGE TO TOTAL First Births. — N.S.W.— Proportions IN each Month. YEARS. 1-2 2-3 3-4 4-5 5-6 6-7 MONTHS AFTER MARRIAGE. 7-8 8-9 Pkolo-lithographed by W,A. Gullick. GoverHntent Printer, ' • / / / f / , i ftf