HIGHER BIRTH RATE

Press, Volume XCVIII, Issue 28821, 16 February 1959, Page 7

HIGHER BIRTH RATE

Vital Statistics In 1958 INew Zealana Pres. Association) WELLINGTON, February 15. A record natural increase of population in New Zealand was recorded last year, according to a review of preliminary figures tor 1958 released by the Department of Statistics. There were 40335 more births than deaths, compared with the 37,629 in 1957. Figures for 1958 were notaule, according to the Government Statistician, for the high birth 1 rate of 26.53 per 1000, the highest since 1948, a low death rate of 8.88 per 1000, which is the .lowest recorded since 1936, and a low rate for European infant mortality—--19.40 per 1000 live births, which is tjie second lowest on record. The total number of live births registered last year was 60,636, made up of 53,776 European and 6861 Maori, the report stated. This represented an increase of 2153 or 3.68 per cent, over the figures established in 1957. The still-birth rate maintained the decreasing trend last year, and the combined rate of 15.14 per 1000 live births and still births recorded in 1958 was the lowest rate since the registration of stillbirths was made compulsory in 1913, the report stated. The number of adoptions registered was 1918. another record. Of this number, 1672 were European and 246 were of Maori descent. The number of boys adopted, 971. was slightly more than the number of girls, 947. Last year, 20,302 persons died in New Zealand. Of these 19,015 were European, and 1287 Maori. The total deaths was 560 fewer than the number recorded in 1957 and was the lowest recorded since 1935. For every 100 deaths of females, there were 118 deaths of males. . . . The report also showed that a total of 18306 marriages were recorded in 1958, 691 more than for the previous year. The total number of children under one year of age who died was 1416, or 23.35 per 1000 ■ live births. Of these 1043 were Europeans and 373 Maori. The European infant mortality rate has shown little fluctuation in recent years, while the rate for the Maori population has shown a substantial improvement