Big Drop In
p. 33 · Read in the full issue
Fiji Births
A few days after the Minister for Social Services, Jonate Mavoa, had pointed out the vital link between birth control and eventual free primary educa tion in Fiji, the Registrar-General released very encouraging birth rate figures.
They showed that almost two years ahead of schedule, Fiji had achieved its 1970 target of bringing the birth rate down to 30 per 1,000.
Registration last year of babies born since the 1966 census totalled 15,254. There were 7,526 Indian births, 6,798 Fijians and 930 others. These figures represented a birth rate of almost exactly 30 per 1,000.
A reduction in the birth rate to 25 per 1,000 is the new target set by the Medical Department and the Family Planning Associa tion. It is hoped to achieve it before 1980.