The Atlanta constitution. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1885-19??, 1903-08-10
CONDITIONS BAD IN
AUSTRALIA,
In New South Wales, Between 1885
and 1901, the Number Of Mar
ried Women Increased 49,
219-No Increase in
Births.

! London. August 1.-The Globe prints the
following from Its Sydney correspondent:
THE Australian commonwealth finds
itself confronted by new problem Under
the dictaton of the labor party, the fed
eral government has adopted policy In
tended to discourage immigration of ev-
cry description, white as well as col
ored into the federated states; and at
| the same time it has to deal with a rap
idly declining birth rate, which if not
speedily remeded, will result In a largely
decreased population. Recently published
| statistics show that tn, lowest Austria
liam birth rate Is only per LOCO above
| that of France.
"A few years ago 1t was considerably
higher. but the real decline is shown by
| the total number of births In WedlocR
compared with the number of women OF
child bearing age. Without going into sta
| tistical details, it may be mentioned that
| In New South wales, between 1886 ana
1901 the number of married women IN
creased by 632l9 while the number OF
children bern in 1901 was almost the same
as in 1887
Taking the whole of the common
nually 10000 fewer births than there
would have been had the birth rates OF
ten years ago been maintained.
This shows a decline of 100000 In the
natural increase of Australian popula ton
during the decade.
Age of Marriage Advancing.
1T has also been ascertained that the
average marriage age of Australian wom-
! en- is steadily advancing. In 1881 1t Is
% IL years; in 1901 it is "a years. This Is
regarded as an indication of tendency
to accept with reluctance the responsible
tiles of the marriage state; that the Aus
tralian declining birth rate is due less to
| physical inca city than to individual I'M
Willingness.
THE New South Wales government
statistician, in connection with these
| facts, says: There have been very strik-
| ing changes in the (birth) rates for the
! periods mentioned and a persistent ana
astonishing decline among women OF eV-
cry class. 1t would seem that an increas-
| ingly large number of women make up
their minds not to have children. or to
delay collaborating as long as possible
After each successive confinement an
| Increasing proportion of women, still OF
child bearing age cease to give birth to
| any more children, and the extraordinary
condition of things has now come to pass
! that the fertility of women who have mad
| two children is less than that of women
who in 1891 had nine children.
There is no necessity for going into de-
tails the broad facts are sufficient; but
there is one point which has become
overlooked by all concerned in the In
qury, and that is that the decline IN the
| AuStralasian birth rate practically COM
! rnenced with the diScOura cement of over
sea immigration, which was means of
Systematically infusing fresh blood into
Australasia.
Many Holidays One Cause.
"The increasing reluctance of Austria
lasan women to accept the responsibilities
Of maternity is traceable to several
causes, ore Of the principal being the M
creasing love of pleasure.
THE numerous holidays and lessened
hours of labor have strengthened tho
popular taste for outdoor amusement, and
weakened the feeling In favor of house
hold enjoyment Then the warm sunny
climate has a somewhat enerva ting effect
on the younger population, which seems
to pass the greater part OF it's existence
In the open air. All this assists in loosen
ing the ties Of domestic life. There is too
much holiday making and too little in
dustrial occupation Yet professional
agitators like Tom Mann talk of the
| slavish condition of the Australasian le-
| boring classes compared with that Oh
their English brethren
Another difficulty consists in the early
age at which Australasian children be"
| come emancipated from home control
! The moment a boy and girl can earn a
few shillings per week start on their
own account is made, followed by an
| early marriage but no children. AT holt
day time nothing is more common than
! to find yonng married couples, unencum-
bered with families, taking part In excur-
| sions, picnicS, and other forms or al fres-
co enjoyment. Where there are families
most of the parents appear of middle age.
Labor Party Is Blamed.
How will IT all end? Here IS a country
capable of supporting the whole surplus
population of the British isles and Of
continental Europe. yet possessing fewer
residents than the British metropolis, and
| ever seeking to become encircled by a
wall to exclude the myriads ready TO as
sst in tlling the hungry acres and de-
velOD the teeming mines.
"The great want of the commonwealth
Is population. without which there can
| be no material advancement; yet, in the
face of rapidly declining birth rate, the
federal government. in it's fear Of the
hostility Of the labor party, dare not
open the door to willing immigrants, even
| from the motner country Inc WolSl VI II
| Is that the states are pOwerless In the
| matter
'1f Queensland wants a few hundred
agricultural laborers she cannot have
them without the consent of the federal
| government. The states, in blindly accept
| Ing federation without proper safeguards,
have virtually parted with their birth
rights for a mess of pottage. Yet, how
different was everything a few years ago.
"rhen the burthen OF the song was in
| CrpaSing nOpUlattOn. expanding industrial
resources. and rapidly growing resources;
| but then the labor party, with its love
of extravagant public expenditure and
| restrictive industrial legislation, had not
possession OF the reins of power"