H.-31

XIV

April, 1903, before the Institute of Actuaries at London, under the heading " Children's Benefits," lxe stated that in order to ascertain the ages and the number of children left by a married man at his death he had to go to the same source as Mr. King did when he constructed his table of " Family Annuities " —viz., the " Statistics of the Colony of New Zealand." And further, after announcing his intention of making very considerable use of the information, he gave the tables, grouping five ages together. (" Journal of the Institute of Actuaries," October, 1903.) Although the subject is not one of general interest, as the Year-book is more often referred to than a statistical volume, it may be excusable to draw attention here to the tables published for the year 19"04 and the experience of the quinquennial period, as shown in the " Statistics of New Zealand." The first table shows, for the year 1904, the total number of men who died at each year of age from twenty upwards; the number of married men stated in the registers as having died (a) childless, (b) leaving children ; and the number and ages of the children living at the time of the father's death. The next is a similar table, but giving five years' results for all ages of the fathers. A condensation of the table is shown.

New Zealand, 1900 to 1904.

A table has also been prepared showing, for the year 1904, the number and ages of the youngest orphan children left. Infantile Mobtality. Subjoined is a classified statement of the deaths of infants under one year during 1904, with the ratio of the deaths in each class to the 1,000 births during the year: —

Seventy-nine out of every 1,000 of male children born, and 62 of every 1,000 females, are found to have died before attaining the age of one year. The mortality is thus one in thirteen of male children and one in sixteen of females, even in New Zealand, where conditions are far more favourable to infant life than in Australia, at least as far as relates to the cities. It will be seen from the figures that the chances of living during the first year of age are far greater for female than for male infants. Thus, during the year 1904 there were — 100 deaths of males to 74 deaths of females under 1 month of age; 100 „ 90 „ from Ito 3 months of age ; , : 100 „ .65 „ from 3 to 6 months of age; 100 „ 95 „ from 6 to 12 months of age ; 100 „ 78 „ . under 12 months of age. The rates of infantile mortality —that is, the proportion the deaths of children under one year of age bear to the births —are higher in the Australian States than in New Zealand. Dealing with the results for ten years, the deaths of infants under one year are in the large proportion of three-fourths of the total deaths under five, as might be expected, the first year being the tenderest period. (See notes to tables.) . . . . . ~ ■'■-,'.

Ages of Married Men at Death. Number of Married Men who died Nui iber and Ages of Living Issue. Childless. Leaving Children. Under 5. 5 to 10. .., 1K ... O1 21 and ' Not 10 to 15. 15 to 21. QVer Rifled. 10 to 30 10 „ 40 :0 „ 50 i0 „ 60 i0 „ 65 ... ! i5 and upwards 65 120 148 199 149 611 150 651 950 1,419 1,018 4,029 218 725 606 267 63 76 34 693 992 659 176 187 1 ... ... 12 318 55 ... 88 1,095 I 976 345 i 151 1,127 1,991 3,199 353 397 979 4,014 277 473 1,283 18,284 1,167

Year. Sex. Under 1 Month. 1 and under 3 Months. 3 and under 6 Months. I Months - Months. .904 I Male '" \ Female Number of Deaths. 395 141 274 119 222 134 175 156 933 683 .904 I Male I Female Deaths to the 1,000 Births. 33-58 11-99 24-90 10-81 18-87 12-18 14-88 14-18 79-32 62-07