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From the above Table it will be seen that there is a reduction in the
number of single persons, and an increase in the number of married of
both sexes in actual numbers, as well as in the proportions they bear to
the total males and females. The increase in the number of widows
reflects the toll exacted by the late war.
Births.
In order to obtain a more correct estimate of the birth-rate than is
shown by calculating it on the total population, it is necessary to ascertain
the number of women living at child-bearing ages; extracting the figures
from the Returns, I find that the numbers between 15 and 45 years of age
were in:—
-
Unmarried.
Married.
Widows.
1901 39,029 19,274 1,938
1911 35,602 15,999 1,623
1921* 30,216 14,740 1,771*
* And 106 divorced.

It is often alleged that this reduction is due to deliberate restriction
in the size of families, but consideration of the figures leads to the conclusion
that there are other influences which play an important part.
It is known that age has an important bearing upon fecundity in women,
declining gradually from round about the age of 20 when every hundred
marriages may result in about 40 children within a year, until between
40 and 45 when only five children might be expected. The age of the
fathers has also an influence. According to Dr. Farr he estimated that
the fathers and mothers of nearly half the children bom are under 30