EXPECTATION OF LIFE

Press, Volume LXX, Issue 21197, 22 June 1934, Page 11

EXPECTATION OF LIFE

New Zealand Holds World's Record LOW INFANT MORTALITY (.THE PRESS Special Service.] WELLINGTON, June 21. Interesting figures about infant mortality, the death rate of children, and expectation of life in New Zealand, were presented by Dr. Ada Paterson, director of the Division of School Hygiene of the Department of Health, at the annual meeting of the Royal New Zealand Society for the Health of Women and Children, Wellington branch, j "It is to be seen," said Dr. Paterson, "that the infant mortality rate for the year 1933 is 31.60 per 1000 live births. This is a trifle higher than for 1932, which was 31.22; but it is still an ) incredibly low figure as judged by the experience of only a few years ago. It is interesting to note that in a report to the Medical Research Council of Britain, Dr. William Brend gave it as his opinion that the irreducible figure for infant mortality was 25 per 1000 live births. Though New Zealand has not yet reached it, the low figure for infant mortality in New Zealand in recent years indicates that our irreducible minimum is certainly below 25. We must, of course, recognise that an irreducible minimum does exist, and that the most enlightened efforts in ensuring good conditions of nurture for infants cannot entirely eradicate inherited Weaknesses and imperfections. "It is interesting, too, to find that New Zealand's vital statistics other than those referring to infant mortality warrant some optimism. The death rate per 1000 children between one and five years declined from 6.17 in 1901 to 2.74 in 1932. The death rate per 1000 between the ages of five years and 15 years declined from 1.77 in 1901 to 1.04 in 1932,. "Our tuberculosis death rate per 10,000 of the mean population, which, incidentally, is the lowest in the world for 1933, equals 4.16, as against 4.22 for 1932. Our general death rate per 1000 of mean population in 1933 was 7.98, as against 8.02 in 1932. "The expectation of life, for which New Zealand holds the world's record, was, according to the last figures of the Government statistician, 62.76 years for men and 65.43 years for women. The birth rate figures per 1000 of the mean population for 1932 are 17.09, and for 1933 16.59.' Taking, therefore, a comprehensive view of the available evidence, we have with regard to our national well-being some justification for a feeling of pride, mingled with gratitude."