Smyrna times., 1934-05-31
BIRTH GAIN is
ENCOURAGED
Three Nations, France, Ger
many and Italy, Are Offering
Subsidies to Newly Weds
NECK AND NECK RACE

London.-Iust 100 years ago they
laid old Thomas Nautilus in his
grave. He would stir there uneas-
lily if he knew what was happening
in the world today.
Nautilus was the man who linked
population with the Four Horsemen
of the Apocalypse-war, famine,
pestilence, and death-and made
suggestions for curbing the birth
rate. Today the three greatest ma
tions on the European continent are
neck and neck in a race to In
crease it.
France, Germany and Italy are the
runners in the population stakes.
With mass marriage ceremonies,
state subsidies for newlyweds, cash
bonuses for babies, and stiff taxes
on bachelorhood, they are trying to
make up for the empty years" of
the war-before another war comes
along and finds them short handed
MussoIini Enthusiastic.
In his role as official Cupid 70
young Italy, Benito Mussolini has
labored long and tirelessly, but to
! little avail. Now he has a for
midable rival in DR.. Joseph Goeb.
bells, who has been shooting arrows
with 1900 mark notes tied to then
at lovesick German SWANS.
Despite the sterling example i
Duce has set for the nation with
his own large family, Italy has re
sponded disappointingly to his
more babies" campaign. Every
week Mussolini reviews the worf
of his deputy cupids and consider:
new plans TO encourage more mar
riages and bigger families. Yet ths
birth rate steadily declines. Since
1912 Italy's population has in
creased from 3S, T55, 900 to 42,554 ,0Ot
But whereas the birth rate was 3.
per thousand in 1887, it fell to 3d.
in 1910: to 26.9 in 1929: to "a!
in 1881, and to 23.S last year.
Next year, therefore, Mussolin
has decreed that the government
shall give jobs to no more bach
elors. Present bachelor incumbent
are busily casting about for eligibl,
wives.
The new FESTIVAL of marriage,
held in Rome recently starte'
its $500 simultaneously married
couples off In life with Fascis
checks for $50 apiece. On each en-
velope was written: Gentlemen. /
we decrease the numbers we shal
not be able to build up the empire
but run the risk of becoming
colony"
Further stimuli are reductions o
rent and taxes. The proud fathe
of ten offspring need pay no take
at all. Bachelors from twenty-fiv
to sixty are heavily taxed.
Subsidies for NewlyWeds.
Across the Alps In Germany 100
600 couples have taken advantag
of the offer of Cupids Hitler an
Goebbels to subsidize new Na2
menages. Goebbels is conductin
the more babies" propaganda on
gigantic scale. There are 100000
fewer German children up to tn
age of twelve than there were 1
1914.
The Nazi government will len
young couples up to $3.50. II tn
promised bride is willing to Civ
up her job and refrain from work
ing SO long as her new husban
earns a certain wage. The loan
paid not in cash but in vouchers 70
furniture, linen, or household neces
stiles. 1t may be repaid in sma
installments.
The scheme has created some so
600 jobs so far for young men, VIII
now are able In turn to MARI.
Many of the new brides have turne
their Jobs over to their husband
who were previously unemploye'
For each new baby 500 comes o
the taxes and furniture installment
are suspended for the year.
France has long encouraged bi
families, but is redoubling her e
forts now that Germany and Ital
are competing. There, too, the fal
ing birth rate causes anxiety.
Peany Show Near Dover