LOW DEATH RATE

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXI, Issue 21910, 20 September 1934, Page 12

LOW DEATH RATE

POSITION IN DOMINION COMPARISON WITH AMERICA [by telkcraph—prkhh association] WELLINGTON. Wednesday A question whether it was not probable that New Zealand's low death rate was due to climatic and environmental factors, rather than to any advanced sociological influences, was raised by Dr. G. A. Barker, professor of geography at Colorado Htato Teachers' College, Greoly, Colorado, in an interview last night. - Dr. Marker said tho low death rate in New Zealand went on from 1870. and antedated tho low birth rate, so he did not really think the low death rate was duo to advanced legislation. He said America had a very high death rate, but that part of America which had the lowest death rate had a climato somewhat simdar to New Zealand's. After comparing tho climates of various parts of the vorld ho said that undoubtedly the lowering of the death rate all over the world was a sociological factor, because climate had not. changed. Sociological selection might have had something to do with tho low death rate in New Zealand. It was a loniz distance from Europe, and, consequently, only the hardier type of person would be found here. In this respect Dr. Barker compared New Zealand with California and Oregon in the United States. Settlement of these parts had entailed a journey of ereat difficulty and hardship which had eliminated all but the fittest.