Mrs Pember Reeves to Miss Strachey

Has asked Bernard Shaw to speak on Women's Suffrage but, as she expected, has no time or energy to spare. On question of birth rate in New Zealand, decline began in 1880. 23 years before Woman's Suffrage was granted. In 1905 rapid decline ceased and is now back to same level as in 1904, almost exactly the same as in England and Wales where there is also a steady decline. Death rate has been lower since 1903, very low - about 9 per 1000 - through efforts of Public Health Department 'which has certainly been none the worse for women's taking part in politics'.