This is the period of the most rapid and persistent decline in the New Zealand birth-rate; and, coincident with this period, the marriage-rate went down from 8.8 per thousand in 1874, to 5.8 in 1886, and then gradually rose to 7.83 in 1901.

The number of weekly rations (Parkes's standard), purchasable by the average weekly wages of an artisan in Wellington province, has gone up from 11 to 16.5 between the years 1877 and 1897.

In other words, the price of food and the rate of wages in 1897 would enable an artisan to fill 51/2 more mouths than he could have done at the rates prevailing in 1877.
Notwithstanding the development of civilising, Christianising, and educational institutions, crime, insanity, and pauperism are increasing with startling rapidity.

The true cause is to be found deep down in biological truth.

Society is breeding from defective stock.