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15
What will happen as time goes on, provided the birth-rate
continues to decrease, will be that the death-rate will increase,
as it is clear that a continuous lowering of the birth-rate will
give an older population to be dealt with, i.e., one which naturally
must have, on the whole, a higher death-rate, cceleris paribus,
than a younger population.
Many factors are bringing about, to a greater or lesser degree,
this lowered birth-rate, viz., the higher average age at marriage,
the prevention of child bearing, a reduction in the marriage-rate,
a (suspected) diminishing fecundity of man, moral restraint, vice,
increased struggle for existence, &c.; and there can be but little
doubt that the condition of affairs to-day is serious and a menace
to national prosperity. The rate of natural increase of population
(which is based on the balance between births and deaths)
is gradually declining.
THE MARRIAGE RATE.
The number of Marriages registered in the Borough of
Lambeth during the year 1903 was 2452 as compared with 2548
during 1902, and a yearly average of 2338 in the old Parish
of Lambeth for the 10 years 1891-1900.
The marriage-rate for Lambeth Borough is, therefore, 15.9 per
1,000 inhabitants, as compared with 17.4 for London.
Tables B & C show the number of marriages and the
marriage-rates for the last ten years in the old Parish of
Lambeth, and it will again be noticed that the marriage-rate has
been gradually, but persistently, falling during that period (as
also during the previous decennium). Marriage statistics are of
little value.
THE DEATH-RATE.
The total number of deaths registered in the Borough of
Lambeth, during the year 1903, was 4853 as compared with
5553 during 1902, and a yearly average of 5716.7 in the old