BIRTH-RATE RISES

Dominion, Volume 31, Issue 251, 20 July 1938, Page 10

BIRTH-RATE RISES

Vital Statistics Of New Zealand

FIGURES FOR 1937-38

Total Of 1777 Deaths

From Cancer

A further increase in the birth-rate was one of the features of the vital statistics of New Zealand during the year ended March 31 last. 11ns s shown in the annual report of the Di-rector-General of Health, Dr. M. H. Watt, tabled in the House of Representatives yesterday by the Minister or Health, Hon. P. Fraser. The report states that the total births were 26,014, whicli was equivalent to a rate of 1(.-J per 1000 mean population, or the highest recorded since 1931. Other noteworthy features of the year were a rise in the general death-rate, a drop in the death-rate from tuberculosis, a continued low level of infant mortality, and a substantial reduction in deaths fom puerperal causes other than deaths from septic abortions. Tbe death-rate was 9.08 per 1000 mean population, compared with 8.75 in the previous year, and was the highest since 1920, when it was 10.15. lu view of the Increasing number of people of advanced yean? the increase in the deathrate was not unexpected. The infant mortality rate was 31.21 per 1000 live births, this figure being slightly higher than the record low figure of 30.96 in 1936. The still-birth rate was 29.38, representing a slight Improvement on the 1936 figure of 29.5. The maternal mortality rate, including deaths from septic abortions, was 3.57 per 1000 live births, compared with 3.70 in 1936. The number of septic abortions was 23, against 14 in 1936. The report states that deaths attributed to cancer numbered 1777, an increase of 15 on the number for the previous year. It was found that there was am increase of 46 deaths of males and a decrease of 31 deaths in females.