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7
two of these will either die early, or have no children,
while the remaining two are left to continue the race in
place of the parents. If our diminishing national birthrate
continued unchecked (a sure sign of degeneration),
it would only be a simple question of time before the
British race would become extinct. The loss is to some
extent counterbalanced by the fact that with a declining
birth-rate there has been simultaneously a decline in the
death-rate; but this cannot go on indefinitely and produces
a large proportion of old people. There is,
however, good reason for hoping that the present
unsatisfactory condition of things is only temporary.
When the people begin to realize the grave importance
of the diminishing birth-rate there will, we trust and
hope, come about a great national re-action. They will
see clearly the great advantages and national good of
the old home and family life, and that the greater number
of women best fulfil their duties to their families and to
the State by becoming the centre of the home, which
is the unit of the nation.
A very unsatisfactory feature of this problem is that
the greatest decline is amongst the thrifty artisans and
middle and upper classes, from whom the reproduction
of the best national types come. The poorer, irresponsible
and feeble-minded classes are fertile. The State
should make provision for the prevention of marriages
amongst the unfit, the diseased, feeble-minded, alcoholic,
and tuberculous, the offsprings of which marriages go to
make up a very large proportion of the inmates of our
prisons, hospitals, asylums, and workhouses. They are
a very bad bargain to the State.
State emigration ought to be encouraged and
developed instead of trying all sorts of means to maintain
crowds at home. Why not make provision for the
future welfare of the Empire by planting our surplus
population where they are most needed; where they can
secure for certain a good livelihood, and at the same
time develope, maintain and hold our over-sea
dominions ?
DEATHS.
The number of deaths, inclusive of those of residents
dying outside the district, was 89, as compared with 116
in 1909, yielding a death-rate (gross) of 7.o8 per 1ooo
living and a death-rate (nett) of 6 per 1ooo. This is the
lowest rate I have had the pleasure of recording in any
previous Annual Report, and, considering the general
character of the district, is, I think, very encouraging to