HEALTHY NEW ZEALAND.

Hawera Star, Volume XLV, 3 September 1925, Page 5

HEALTHY NEW ZEALAND.

LOW DEATH RATE. FRO.U OUR PARLIAMENTARY REPORTER. 1 WELLINGTON, Sep. 15. Wo are .stiff flair from attaining the ideal of perfect, health, but, says the annual report of the Department oi Hearth, it can be stated that the New Zealander reaches a higher .standard of health than the i nliiaihitamts of any other pant of the would. Tailing a general survey of the vital statistics, the report describes 1924 as a wonderful year. The actu'ail death rate was 8.29 per thousand, the infantile mortality was 40.2 per 1000 births and the tuberculosis death rate was 5.67 per 10,000. These are all record figures for New Zealand and Compare more than favourably with other countries. The report shows that the maternal mortality rate, five per 1000 births, is almost a,s high as in 1923, despite an active campaign for its reduction, but the .woiDality rate of infants under one month .shows a gratifying decline, which indicates that the intensive measures to safeguard the lives of infants and mothers tare being crowned with at certain -measure of success. The tuberculosis death, rate is the lowest so fair recorded, but cancer looms Large as a cause of death in New Zealand. If caused the deaths of 1245 j.-e.woms, shewing a higher rate than in the previous yeans,. The suggests that the extended use of X-rays and radium should prove of value, but •i'ie importance oif early recognition -and s urgical t reatment can not be over stressed. The infantile ,paralysis epidemic is the subject of (a lengthy report, much of which bias been published. Although the deaths numbered 166, later reports from a,ll centres .showed that the percentage of recoveries was 3 unexpectedly numerous. The number of cures are gratifying, and the loiw paralysis rate .suggeists that a distinct advance Inara been made in the cures in a country well .supplied with hospitals.