PUBLIC HEALTH.

Lyttelton Times, Volume CXVII, Issue 17206, 28 June 1916, Page 8

PUBLIC HEALTH.

DEPARTMENT’S ANNUAL REPORT.

[From Oor Correspondent-! WELLINGTON. Juno 27.

The old complaint regarding the oit'th race- arises m rue annual iepoit ot tho Pudlic neauh Department, which states .that tiro number_oi births ieg.stered uu.nig 11110 wus 21,8bU lGing. The nuuioer is 4dß less than lor one vear J. 914. Ine rate is leas than lor mo “year HJi4 by U.oo per thousand. Fins reduction in the birth rate, small as it may be, is regarded as serious, especially in these momentous times, lho number of male children born during 1-915 was 14,4i0, and female children 13,435. . Despite an unusual number ot epidemics the general health of the Dominion had oeen good. _ The deaui rate was U.Ob per 1000 in 1915, as against 9.31 in 1914. The intantne mortality was 50.05 deaths per 1600 births, the lowest hitherto recorded. Legislation was urgently needed, to liiViit the spread of venereal diseases in these islands. “ Though the prevalence of these diseases in this country is. much exaggerated,” states the report, “there is no doubt that the tune is rftost opportune for putting into force many, if not all, of the recommendations of the Royal Commission, whic-n lias just issued a most valuable reCommenting on the establishment of the Rotorua Sanatorium camp for soldiers, the report declares that the men are benefiting by tho rest and general medical regime. There is no shadow or doubt indeed, that many of Dr Herbert’s results border on the miraculous. The expenditure may be regarded as a bagatelle to the results achieved. In happier and more peaceful times these new structures at Rotorua and Hanmer will be used for topping off many patients who might Otherwise remain a very long time in their beds in tlie district general hospitals. '