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20
1903]

Here it is seen that at the two earlier age periods there was a decrease
in 1901 in the proportion of married women, for whereas in 1891 there were
8.14 in every 1,000 married women at the 15.20 period, there were only 6.36
per 1,000 in 1901, a decrease of 1.78; and again, in 1891 there were 133.05 in
every 1,000 married women at the 20.25 period, there were only 124.69 in
1901, a decrease of 8.36. When, however, we come to the next age period,
25.35,* there were 468.94 per 1,000 married women in 1891, whereas in 1901
there were 481.99 per 1,000, or the very substantial increase of 13.05. This
increase is very remarkable, particularly as it occurs at a period of life when
the procreative powers are still very active. In the fourth period, 35-45, there
were in 1891 389.87 married women in every 1,000, whereas in 1901 there
were only 389.96, or a decrease of 2.91. Thus in the first, second and fourth
periods taken together there was a decrease of 13.05, and in the third period
a corresponding increase. Taking these figures into consideration one might
not unreasonably have expected considerable decrease in the birth-rate.
* It was not possible to sub-divide this period into two periods, 25-30 and 30-35, because the
1891 census does not give figures by which the calculation could be made. It is, therefore, possible
that there was a decrease in the number of married women at the 25-30 age period.