The effects of the depression on births and deaths are not very clearly marked. The number of births declined less in the five years 1929-34 than in the five years 1924-29. This was scarcely to be expected. Deaths show a steady decline during the depression until 1934, the lowest recorded rate we have ever had being in 1933. There was an increase in deaths during 1934, but it was not very great and, considering the possibility of error in estimates, is nothing to be alarmed about. Marriages show the effects of the depression about as might be expected up to 1932, when the number contracted was almost 250,000 fewer than in 1929. This loss appears to have been made up by 1934, however, when estimated marriages were in excess of those in 1929. Cityward migration ceased for the first three years of the depression, the net movement being to farms. In 1933 and 1934 the movement was again toward the city, although the country has retained not only its own natural increase but also some of the migrants into it du...