177 VITAL STATISTICS. BIRTHS THE total number of births in each state, and the rate per thousand of the population during the year 1903 are shown in the following table: Leaving out Western Australia, it will be observed that the birthrates of the various states are fairly even amongst themselves. The comparatively high rate in the western state is due to the larger proportion of married women in its population. Taking the general average for the last three years (26-28), the birth-rate of Australasia will be found lower than that of most European countries, and very much below the former experience of these states, as shown by the following statement, which gives the number of births in each state and in the whole of Australasia, in quinquennial periods from 1861 to 1900, and for the years 1901–3. Tasmania ........ South Australia.. 30,472 35,067 36,398 46,310 56,618 53,200 53,093 Western Australia 3,352 3,724 4,033 4,611 5,446 7,696 10,242 15,454 14,679 15,313 17,165 21,425 23,710 24,794 Commonwealth 264,350 299,787 327,929 365,540 431,691 515,363 539,410 502,964 304,164 New Zealand 26,811 46,770 59,891 88,205 96,482 94,071 91,410 94,685 62,975 Australasia 290,961 346,557 387,820 453,745 528,173 609,434 630,820 597,649 367,139 The average birth-rates per thousand of population for each state during the same periods are given hereunder, and, together with the rates appearing elsewhere in this chapter, have been amended to agree with the latest estimates of population. State. 1861-65. 1866-70. 1871-75. 1876-80. 1881-85. 1886-90. 1891-95. 1896- 1901-3. New South Wales Victoria Queensland South Australia Commonwealth 42.71 40.70 39.05 38.53 37.65 36.36 32.93 27.98 26.66 25.11 42.43 39.48 36.90 35.36 34.93 35:09 32.31 27.62 26-28 31.19 27.66 25.75 26.28 Australasia 42.01 39.83 37.35 36.38 35.19 34.42 31.54 27.31 26-28 It is a matter of common knowledge that for some years past the birth-rate in Australasia has been declining, and so important is the subject not only as regards the growth of the population, but also as affecting general progress-that in 1899, and again in 1902, the author made a special investigation into the question of childbirth in Australia, but more particularly with reference to New South Wales. The conclusions arrived at with respect to that state, however, may be held to obtain for all the others, seeing that the conditions of living do not differ materially in any of them. During the course of these investigations it was found that for all women the proportion of fecund marriages was decreasing; that amongst fecund women the birth-rate was much reduced as compared with what it was twenty years ago, and that the decline had been persistent and regular since 1885. Public interest was strongly aroused by the author's treatise on the subject, published in 1903, and a Royal Commission was appointed to investigate the causes which contributed to the decline in the birth-rate, and to inquire into the question of the mortality of infants. After numerous sittings and exhaustive inquiries, the Commission presented its report in March, 1904. The report is of too voluminous a character to admit of any other than the most general reference in this work, but its tenor was in thorough accord with the conclusions mentioned above. It was found that there had been a serious diminution of fecundity since 1889, due chiefly to the deliberate prevention of conception and the destruction of foetal life, and to pathological causes consequent upon the means used and the practices involved. In addition to enumerating the causes which have led to the decline in the birth-rate, the Commission tendered certain valuable suggestions as to the best means of counteracting the evil influences at work. It would have been interesting to have compared the number of births to married women of specified ages at regular intervals from the date when the birth-rate first showed marked decline. Unfortunately, the information is not available for the different states, but the following figures, relating to New South Wales, possess strong interest. These show the number of legitimate births and the birth-rate per cent. among married women of various ages at each of the four decennial periods 1871, 1881, 1891, and 1901. The rates in 1871 and 1881 were practically the same, but at all ages there was a large decline between 1881 and 1891, and again between 1891 and 1901. The apparent increase from 1891 to 1901 among women aged 15 and under 20 is due to the increased number of ante-nuptial conceptions in 1901 compared with 1891. Taking the women of child-bearing age (15 to 44) at each period, the birth-rate per 100 married women was 34.25 in 1871, 33-47 in 1881, 29.70 in 1891, and 23-36 in 1901, so that the rates for 1901 showed a decrease of nearly 32 per cent. on those for 1871. Although like information cannot be given for the other states, the births compared with the total married women of child-bearing ages have been ascertained for some of the states for the periods 1881, 1891, and 1901, and were as follows: Particulars relating to illegitimate births will be found in the chapter headed "Social Condition." DEATHS. The following table shows the total number of deaths and the rate per thousand of the population during the year 1903 : The death-rate of Australia is much below that of any of the European states, and is steadily declining. Every year sees an advance in the sanitary condition of the people in the large centres of population, and to this cause may be ascribed the greater part of the improvement in the death-rate shown in the following tables, but there are other causes. The decline in the birth-rate elsewhere alluded to has an immediate effect on the death-rates. In ordinary years about 30 per cent. of the deaths are of children under one year, and the decline in the birth-rate from 35 to 25 per thousand, which has happened during the last thirteen years, means a reduction of over 1 per thousand in the death-rate. The number of deaths in each state and in the whole of Australasia, in quinquennial periods from 1861 to 1900, and during the years 1901-3, is shown in the following table. Of the Commonwealth States, South Australia showed the lowest death-rate during 1903, followed by Tasmania, but the lowest rate for Australasia was exhibited by New Zealand. State. Queensland 1861-65. 1866-70. 1871-75. 1876-80. 1881-85, 1886-90. 1891-95. 1896- 1901-3. New South Wales.. 31,561 36,466 40,909 53,256 66,103 71,457 76,802 | 77,783 49,164 Victoria 49,452 55,136 59,759 62,811 66,811 84,648 82,056 81,328 47,676 5,751 9,312 12,869 17,284 25,731 28,040 26,581 29,202 18,557 10,840 12,963 15,475 18,026 21,616 19,361 20,535 21,174 12,330 1,399 1,711 2,068 2,003 2,709 3,332 5,430 11,943 8,130 6,953 6,962 8,060 8,994 9,790 10,389 10,123 10,313 5,844 South Australia Commonwealth 105,956 122,550 139,140 162,374 192,760 217,227 221,527 231,743 141,701 New Zealand 10,001 13,328 19,354 25,254 29,074 29,746 33,525 35,151 24,537 .... Australasia 115,957 135,878 158,494 187,628 221,834 246,973 255,C52 266,894 166,238 The average death-rates per thousand of the population of each state for the periods shown in the above table are given below, but the statement does not afford a just comparison between them as no account is taken of the ages of the people : 1896 State. 1861-65. 1866-70. 1871-75. 1876-80. 1881-85. 1886-90. 1891-95. 1901-3. 1900. New South Wales Victoria 16.86 16.05 14.99 16.09 15.66 13.80 12.80 11-85 11'74 17.36 16.52 15.64 14.92 14.65 16:07 14.04 13.64 13.15 21.06 18.07 17.94 16.90 19.10 15.52 12.82 12.51 12.08 15.70 15.01 15.83 14.90 14.71 12.55 12.17 11-91 11.37 15.73 15.40 16.03 14.32 17.19 15.97 16.32 15.34 13.29 15-20 14.06 15.64 16.52 16.00 15.16 13.39 12:43 11.09 |