A WONDERFUL YEAR.

Auckland Star, Volume LVI, Issue 208, 3 September 1925, Page 13

A WONDERFUL YEAR.

NEW ZEALAND'S HEALTH POSITION. BECOBDS fN LOW DEATH RATES . INVESTIGATION" OF CANCER PROBLEM. n\\ I icsrjr'u — r'-irli-imcutarv Reporter.) WKLLIKGTOX, Wednesday. ••We ait - r i |! ,:, r ,rOHI attaining the ideal of '(.<Tt". ■.: health; bat," says the aDnual report vi rhr Department of Health "it «" : "i ' : "' stated that the Xew •Zcalaii'l'T r.-a.hos „ higher standard of health than th-: inhabitants of any other part uf the world." Taking ■'- general diirvry of vital statistics, tin: report describes 1924 as a wonderful year. The actual death rate was *- ! ' p< , r ,i: ""'- infantile mortality 4°.- P rr ll! "' J births, and the tuberculosis death rate 5.87 per 10,000. These are all rtwnl figures for New Zealand, and compare more than favourably witii other countries. The report uho"i that the maternal mortality rate of ■"» per thousand births is almost as high a.- in I'- 1 --), despite the active campaign for !;- reduction, but the mortality" rule t>: infants under one month chow* a grant ving decline, which indicates rljlir. ir.ten.-i , . .• measures to sat'emiard thi: uf infants and mothers are b« - in- iTu-vni'd with a certain niea.surn of fUCi'i'Ss. Ihe tuberculosis death rate is the lowest so far rccorilvd. Lancer looms ;'= •' iMUbu of death in New Zealand. It fuiis''d ;ln deaths of 1-4.". persons, showing a higher rate than in the previous yi'ar. 'I ho report suggests that the extended use if X-rays and radium should prove of value* but the importance of early recognition and surgical treatment cannot bo over-stre^-od. The infantile paralysis epidemic is the eubject, of a lengthy report, much of which has been published. Although the deaths numbered 166. later reports from all centres showed that the percentage of recoveries was unexpectedly numerous. The Hires arc gratifying, and tlie low paralysis rate that a distinct advance has bec-n made in treatment. .Research Work. The past year has been diotinguished by the impetus given to research work, lor never before in the history of the department, has such activity been shown In" this direction. Several separate investigations are under way. An inquiry- in regard to the iodine content of soils and vegetables from different parts of the Dominion is nearing completioli. This- will have a very direct bearing on the question cf goitre prevention, as it is intended to advocate the use of iodised salt in areas where deficiency of iodine is shown to exist. An investigation has just been com- ■ menced into infantile paralysis, its origin, mode of spread, and the measures which may be taken for its control. These two inquiries are being conducted at the Otago University Medical School under the able supervision, of Professor Hercus, and have been rendered possible by Government grants. Dr. Renfrew White, orthopaedic speci-alist-at Dunedin Hospital, has been authorised to- Conduct an inquiry into rheumatoid arthritis and allied "conditions. Arrangements are in train for the commencement of an investigation into the cancer problem. A sum has been handed over by the Wellington Hospital Board, which, with the Government subsidy thereon, will finance a year's inquiry at Otago Medical School. The Director-General of Health cautiously adds that Xew Zealand can liardly expect to do as much as older and more populous and better equipped countries in regard to research, but it is considered we should be failing in our duty to humanity if we did not at least attempt to carry our share of the burden in relation to medical research. It must be stressed that brilliant "discoveries" arc not to be expected. City Medical Officers. During the year overtures were made to the loi-al governing authorities of the four main centres that they should employ full time medical officers of health, co as to assume a larger responsibility in health matters. These, however, proved fruitless. The present system whereunder the State employs and actively directs all medical officers of health in tlie Dominion has certain obvious advantages, and has undoubtedly enabled attainment of a reasonably high standard of sanitation throughout New Zealand in a relatively short time. The larger centres of population, however, have their own distinct problems and biiv require more supervision than is possible under such a system. It is heppd the four City Councils may see their way in the near future to assume a more active share in public health administration, and for.this purpose will either appoint their own medical officers of health., or by arrangement with the Department, employ full time services oC Departmental officers, who will work under thHr direction and be primarily responsible to them. Hospital Finance. Subsidies paid by the Department to hospital boards totalled £359,662, and hospital buildwigs were approved to cost £370,000. The report suggests that the increasing burden of hospital and charitable relief upon the ratepayers and consolidated fund is a matter for concern, even if such amounts have been wisely and necessarily expended. As a natural consequence the Department has examined various suggested methods for relieving the burden. *o far, however, no method has been devised which possesses features superior to the present method of meeting the deficit by an equal burden on the local rates and consolidated fund.