N.Z. VITAL STATISTICS

Press, Volume XCVIII, Issue 29051, 13 November 1959, Page 23

N.Z. VITAL STATISTICS

Increases In All Sections

There were more births, deaths and marriages in the first nine months of 1959. than in the same period last year, according to a report from the Department of Statistics.

But although the number of deaths has increased, the equivalent annual rate of 100 of mean population is lower than those for the two previous years. Live births registered in the September quarter were 15,646 (European 13,849, Maori 1797) giving an equivalent annual rate of 26.78 a thousand of the mean population. Rates for the third quarter of 1958 and 1957 were 26.26 and 26.38. Live births registered in the nine months ended September 30, 1959, were 46,064, an increase of 1711, or 3.86 per cent, on the figure recorded for the corresponding period of 1958 (44,353). There were 242 still-births (European 210, Maori 32) registered in the September quarter, giving the low rate of 15.23 a 1000 live and still births. In the corresporfding quarters of 1958 and 1957, the figures were 238 (rate 15.59) and 263 (rate 17.52).

Deaths registered in the September quarter were 6032 (European 5680, Maori 352) the equivalent annual rate being 10.32 a 1000 of the mean population. Rates for the corresponding quarters of 1958 and 1957 were 10.44 and 11.50. Deaths registered for the nine months ended September 30 this year 16,017 were 614 more than for the same period in 1958 (15,403).

Infant deaths (under one year) for the September quarter were 412 (European 304, Maori 108), the rate being 26.33 a 1000 live births. In the same period in 1958 there were 400 infant deaths. ■ Marriages registered in the September quarter (3769) were 86 fewer than for the third quarter of 1958 (3855). Marriages registered in the nine months of 1959 were 13,261, an increase of 148 when compared with the same period of 1958 (13,113). Maoris are included in all these figures. The following are their rates for the September quarter 1959, with 1958 'figures shown in parentheses:—Births 46.24 (48.89); still-births 17.50 (17.80); deaths 9.09 (10.18); infant deaths 60.10 (62.60). Separate figures for marriages of Maoris are not available.