NEW ZEALAND FOR LONGEVITY.

Hawke's Bay Tribune, Volume III, Issue 187, 24 July 1913, Page 3

NEW ZEALAND FOR LONGEVITY.

; COMFORTING COMPARISONS. WOMAN IN THE VAN, A correspondent who writes to the i Lyttelton ‘Times’' raises a very initeresting point regarding the average duration of life in New Zealand. He also wishes to know what are -b-’ averages in England and Wai's. This subject has been very carefu' ! y investigated, as it forms the basis of all life insurance business, and the results show that New Zealand's clear, sunny atmosphere is literally life-giving to the fortunate New Zealander. I have pursued the comparisons further than the inquiry suggested, as the results are all the more interesting and satisfactory to New Zealand readers. The tabl -s are based upon mortality returns extending over long periods, and it is noticeable that females have a longer life than males. For instance, at the age of 70 a tnan who has survived all the diseases and accidents of life' may anticipate another 9.48 years of existence, but a woman may rely on a statistical guarantee tlrni she is "good” for another 10.23 years. Taking the age of 21 as a good starting point, all the ills of childhood having then been surmounted, the young New Zealander on the average may then regard his probably duration of life another 134 years. A young woman’s anticipation would be 45i years (age at death 66.’ years). Other countries compare as follows :—

■Woman, it is noticeable, always has the advantage, and New’ Zealanders of both seves have a better chance than people in the countries quoted. In compiling this table, I included all the available information, making no selection favourable to the Dominion.

Country. Xew Zealand New South Wales England Male. Female. 43. 77 45.59 41.35 44.59 39.9 42.1 Holland 38.3 39.2 Sweden 38.6 42.1 Belgium 36.4 37.7