THE PUBLIC HEALTH.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XLVI, Issue 14208, 3 November 1909, Page 7

THE PUBLIC HEALTH.

NEW ZEALAND IN FRONT PLACE.

INCREASING BIRTH-RATE. [BY telegraph.—special correspondent.] 1 Wellington, Tuesday. Dr. Mason's repoft upon the working of the Health Department for last year was presented to Parliament to-day. The general health of the Dominion is reported to have been good. New Zealand is stated to have kept a front place in, the war against consumption. ' • ' The number of births registered during the year 1908 was 25,940, 'or 27.45 to every 1000 | persons living. The number of male children born was 13,369, and of female children 12,571. Indications of a gradual increase in the birth-rate are said to be apparent, the improvement since .1899 being" 9.28 per cent, on the rate per 1000 in that year. The figures for 20 years, however, show a decline in the-pro-portion of births to every marriage in the preceding year from 4.93 to 3.03. Fortythree 'in every 1000 children born : were born out of wedlock.. .

The number of marriages, 8339, is an increase. of 147 over, the figures for 1907. The bridegrooms under the age of ,21 numbered 177, and the brides 1338.

c The deaths were 9.57 in every 1000, which is slightly below the average of the past 10 years. , v. ./ '•* Seventy-five out of every 1000 male children born and 60 of every 1000 females in New Zealand are found to have died before attaining the age of one year. v

■ There >were only' 64 deaths from : influenza, which ; was less prevalent than usual last year. * The deaths from phthisis were 607, or 6.42 per 1000 of the population. The deaths from violence, apart from suicide, numbered 570, viz., males 448, fe ; males 122. There were 103 suicides, viz., males 89, females 14. • , The means most frequently resorted to by males was shooting, .and by females poison and hanging.

SANITARY AUCKLAND.

A GREAT IMPROVEMENT.

"BY TELEGRAPH. — CORRESPONDENT.] ' % "Tv Wellington', Tuesday.

In his annual report on the Auckland health district, Dr. Purdy, district health officer, 1 states tHat there was a great improvement last year in Auckland as to cleanliness by more systematic \' cleansing, and the enforcement as to storage, collection and disposal of refuse. It 'is noted that there has been a great improvement in Newmarket and Eden Terrace, whilst there has also been great progress in " Onehunga. Devonport is credited with being "the healthiest portion of the district." It is stated that Mount Albert, Avondale, and Point Chevalier all suffer from the lack of regular inspection and sanitary supervision. The cases of infectious diseases reported in the district during the year numbered 737, as against 1071 for the previous year, and 642 for 1906-7. '■ --• £

The proportion of deaths ' of children under: one year to every 100 births was 8.62 for Auckland City, as compared with 10.55 for the previous year. For the city and suburban boroughs the proportion was 10.55, as" compared with 9.72 for the previous year. . > The total death-rate for Auckland and suburban boroughs was 10.41 per 1000 in 1908, as against 11.43, in 1907. The rates for the other cities last year were: 9.10 for Wellington,' 9.52' for Christchurch., and 10.50 for Dunedin. ~ '