Show Decrease of Babies as Result Result of War Causes Discussion LONDON Feb 5 Strikingly contradictory opinions were were expressed expressed expressed ex ex- ex- ex pressed at a recent meeting of ot the royal loyal sanitary institute concerning concerning concerning concern concern- ing whether the threatened decrease decrease decrease de- de crease of ot babies as as' as a a. result of ot the war should be regarded a. a as a a a. calamity or a blessing The subject subject discussed was labeled labeled The National and Social Aspects of ot the Lowered Birth Rate Some of ot the speakers de demanded demanded tie tie- that the government should take the matter mater in hand and do everything possible tb tl encourage encourage encourage en en- courage and popularize maternity Others though Others though it should be stated they were In a minority minority held held held that the fewer babies born bor for tor sometime some time to come at least east the better beter It would be for tor the country Two speakers may be cited as representative representative of ot these divergent views Sir John Cockburn urged the need of ot greater Inducements to raise the birth rate Maternity he said now involved ed too heavy p. p f a tax on the poorer classes clashes He would have the government provide provide provide pro pro- vide bonuses on a liberal scale for or maternity and make malte a substantial reduction in the income tax for each child born bor We Ve need he declared to revise e the mediaeval eval view which regarded sterility as a curse Dr Dunlop boldly took the view He lie looked forward forward for for- orward or- or ward he lie declared with cheerfulness cheerful cheerful- ness to a further reduction of the birth rate The encouragement of parental prudence among the poor was urgently needed at the present moment He foretold a serious rise in the death rate and great geat poverty in the next year or two and if i the thoughtful scientific scientific tic people were so blind that they did lid not speak out it I would be far tar better beter for many children that they had never neVEr been born Tho only hope hopE of avoiding avoiding great reat hardship Inthe in inthe inthe the first few years after the war was bv hy a very sharp harp fall fal in the tho birth rate now 1 |