79) 
472 TRANSACTIONS OF SECTION F. 
(ii.) the number of nuptial children at each age surviving to males of succes- 
sive ages (issue table) ; and 
(iii.) the number of nuptial children at each age rendered orphans by the 
deaths of fathers of successive ages (orphanhood tables). 
In the case of (i.) the working process consisted of :— 
(a) the tabulation and graphic graduation of the data relative to births and 
male population ; 
(6) the computation of the rates for each age; and 
(c) the graphic graduation of the deduced rates. 
In the case of (ii.) and (iii.) the process followed was that of the synthetic 
construction of issue and orphanhood tables. Given the number of births 
arising annually per 1,000 adult males of each age, and given in addition the rate 
of mortality operating amongst adult males of each age and amongst children 
of each age, the computation of the numbers of children surviving are readily 
obtained, and from these the numbers of children rendered orphans by the 
deaths of males of successive ages. 
In the computation of the issue and orphanhood rates allowance had to be 
made for multiple births, statistics concerning which are also available for 
Australia in connection with the ages of the parents. These statistics indicate 
that the average number of children per birth increases with the age of the 
father, the rate of increase diminishing with age. 
Reference was made in the paper to :— 
(i.) the sources of material for the purpose of similar calculations in respect: 
of females ; 
(ii) to the allowances to be made in certain cases in respect of exnuptial 
children ; 
(iii.) to allowances necessary in some cases in respect of still births, 
It may be noted that in the publications dealing with vital statistics which 
are issued by the Commonwealth Statistician, the terms ‘nuptial’ and 
‘exnuptial’ are used in relation to birth as more correctly representing the 
fact than the more usual terms ‘ legitimate’ and ‘illegitimate.’ This course has 
been followed in the present paper. 
3. The Present Position of the Doctrine of Interest. 
By Professor H. O. Mrrepirn, 
The phenomenon of interest raises two distinct questions : first, why does 
interest exist at all? secondly, what determines its magnitude and variations? 
Broadly speaking, writers on the subject may be classed according as they are 
chiefly preoccupied with one or the other of these questions. To this is partly 
attributable that tendency to argument at cross-purposes which characterises 
much of the literature of the subject. 
In regard to the first question there is, however, a fundamental cleavage of 
opinion, though what precisely is at issue between the disputants has never 
been clearly stated. This paper aimed at a clear statement of the issue; it 
offered a brief survey and criticism of the chief doctrines of interest—viz., the 
Productivity, Cost, Exploitation, Agio, and Dynamic theories. In conclusion 
the writer’s own solution was presented in outline. 
4. Kconomics at Oxford. By Sipnny Ban, M.A. 
TIntroduction.—Interest and bearing of the subject. 
I. Comparative neglect of economics at Oxford—signs and illustrations, and 
some reasons. 
II. Actual but inadequate recognition of subject in examinations. 
1. For a degree—(a) The Greats’ School. () The History School. (c) The 
Pass School. 
2. For the Diploma in Economics and Political Science—its scope and 
working. 
