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14
It is to be noted that the high number of 34
illegitimate births for 1932 remains the same for 1933—
nearly 6 per cent, of total live births born out of wedlock.
The infant death rate (29 per 1,000) of these illegitimate
births, however, is halved for 1933 compared with 1932
when the rate was 58,8 per 1,000.

It is hardly possible within the limited scope of an annual
report to go deeply into the causes of the general decline
in the birth rate. Many factors would have to be
considered, as, lessening of fertility in the race,
indiscriminate use of contraceptives, late marriages,
increased celibacy and divorce. Nevertheless the
remarkable decline in the birth rate of the country cannot
fail to engage attention when one compares the average
birth rate per 1,000 living of 35.4 between 1871-1880 and
14.4 for 1933. Such a diminution in the rate without
corresponding diminution in proportion in the death rate
has had the effect of raising the average age of population,
and it would, therefore, seem only a matter of time when
increase of population must cease. Further it can be
argued that child-bearing ages will lessen as the average
age increases and consequently lower the birth rate even
more. A low birth rate is generally associated with
essentially residential areas such as Bromley, and