DECLINING BIRTH RATE.

Otago Witness, Issue 3861, 13 March 1928, Page 36

DECLINING BIRTH RATE.

LOWEST RECORDED FOR EIGHT YEARS. SAVING OF INFANT LIVES. WELLINGTON, March 6. The number of births registered in the Dominion last year was the lowest recorded for eight years, the low birth rate being unprecedented in the history of New Zealand. This is, to a considerable extent, offset by tbe decrease in infant mortality, last year’s rate establishing a new low record. An interesting analysis of the vital statistics of the Dominion for the year ended December 31, 1927, is given in tbe latest monthly abstract of statistics. The number of births roistered in New Zealand during the year 1927, it states, was 27,881 (males 14,291, females 13,590). This figure, is the lowest recorded since 1919, and is a decrease of 592 over the previous year, this being the first time since 1923 that a decrease in the actual number of births registered has taken place. A substantial drop in the rate per 1000 of mean population is also recorded, the figures for 1926 and 1927 being 21.05 and 20.29 respectively. Such a low birth rate is unprecedented in the history of the Dominion.

The problem of still Births anpears to be a gripping one, coinciding with the decline m the live birth rate. No fewer st \ l1 .xu irth , s were registered during 1927. Although a decrease of eight in the actual number is recorded as compared with 1926, the percentage of still births to living births actually increased from 3.11 m 1926 to 3.15 in 1927. This iO9^ POrtl 5 n - is . L tlle hjgbest attained since 1923, and is the third highest experienced since the registration of still berths yas instituted during 1913. 0 statistics of deaths for the past year Mrth enc ? ur agmg than are those of births, proceeds the abstract. Only 11 6U deaths were registered during 1927 as compand with 11819 for the previous ye«. bgure, while not as low as some re--2: - d J n recent years, is nevertheless sufficient to maintain the death rate on the same satisfactory low level as has been established since 1924. The death rates per 1000 of mean population for the years 1926 and 1927 were 8.74 and 8.60 respectively. The increasing saving in infant lives during recent years goes a long way toward offsetting the discouraging aspect of the declining birth rate in ’Tew Zealand Ino continuous decrease in the number of deaths of infants under one year of age has for some time been a matter of national pride, and the record attained for 1927 may indeed be regarded as phenomenal. The figure of 1078 for the infant mortality statistics of 1927 i s a N ew Zealand, while the rate of 38.66 per 1000 live births has never been excelled. The inclusion of still births would bring the total births fo r 1927 to X“’ 7s9 > and the total infant deaths to 1956. thus what might be termed the true infant mortality rate works out at 68.01 per 1000 births. Even this figure is gratifying from a comparative point of view as another new low record is established.