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13
Three Answers.
The first of these questions presents considerable difficulty.
An examination of Table la. of Appendix A, which
gives the birth-rates in each ward, shows that these are
least in Brondesbury Park and Cricklewood Wards, and
highest in Stonebridge and South Kilburn. That is to say.
the birth-rates are lowest in the best residential areas of
Willesden and highest in the poorest, and generally it may
be said that the lack of fertility is greatest in the most
valuable stocks. The fall in the birth-rate, especially
amongst the middle and upper classes, is difficult to explain.
It is not wholly explained on physical, social, or economic
grounds, because in a number of instances not one of these
causes operates, and vet families are restricted or do not
exist. On the other hand in many cases economic circumstances
prevent the rearing of families or of large families,
and the time has come when the national interests demand
that attention should be given to the problem.
Within recent years the idea of large families has not
been popular amongst married people. But the position in
which the empire finds itself to-day shows that large families
are a national asset of the highest possible importance, and
the nation must do what it can to encourage and support
them. It is not easv to sav how this can best be done. But
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it has been suggested that it may be desirable to subsidise
maternity or to give a bonus for every child after the second,
so as to encourage and enable parents to bring up larger
families. Other solutions will no doubt be suggested of this
most difficult problem, which requires the concentrated
thought and attention of every member of the Council and
community.
The second question, "How can the high death-rates
under five years of age be diminished?" can be more easily
answered. All the agencies of medical science must be