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15
The returns issued by the Registrar-General reveal several features
of unusual interest inasmuch as they have special significance in war
time. They show that the marriage-rate in England and Wales during
the quarter ended 30th September, 1915, reached 21.8 persons married
per 1,000 of the population. This is the highest rate yet recorded in
any quarter since the establishment of civil registration. The next
highest rate is 21.4 in the fourth quarter of 1865, in which quarter
until recent years the marriage-rate as a rule considerably exceeded
that in the third quarter. The nearest approach in any third quarter
to the rate recorded last quarter is 18.2 in 1912, and 18.1 in 1907 and
1913. It is further noteworthy that the rate for the second quarter of
the past year, viz., 20.9, is the highest in any second quarter since
the establishment of civil registration. The analysis of the marriagerate
statistics for the quarter ended September 30th, followed on the
lines of those which characterised the report of the previous quarter,
which in its turn gave the highest June quarter figures yet recorded.
It was then found that the remarkable increase in the marriage-rate
occurred chiefly in the industrial and more densely populated counties
of England. In London, the marriages in the second quarter of 1915
were 15,065, compared with 11,218 in the corresponding period of 1914.
In Middlesex, there was an increase from 2,322 to 3,054 ; and in Essex,
the figures from 2,565 rose to 3,657. In Lancashire, the marriages in
the June quarter of 1914 were 11,451, and in 1915 they were 13,136.
The figures also rose appreciably in the West Riding of Yorkshire,
in Surrey, Sussex and Hampshire. The returns bear out a general
impression that the high marriage-rate is attributable partly to war
weddings and partly to the prosperity of the workers in areas where
war work is done.
Deaths.
1915 Average for past
10 years.
Number of deaths 1,962 1,656
Average death-rate for previous
5 years 14.6 14.5
Rate per 1,000 Deptford 17.8
„ „ England and Wales 15.1
„ „ 96 Large Towns 15.6
„ „ 148 Smaller Towns 14.0
„ „ County of London 16.1
The number of deaths registered within the Metropolitan Borough
of Deptford from all causes during 1915 was 1,406, equal to a deathrate
of 12.7 as compared with 1,145 deaths, and a death-rate of 10.5
during the previous year. Of this number 697 were males and 709