H.—3l,

APPENDIX.

REPORTS OF DISTRICT HEALTH OFFICERS.

AUCKLAND DISTRICT. Department of Public Health, Auckland, 1906. J. Malcolm Mason, Esq., M.D., &c, Chief Health Officer, Wellington. I have the honour to submit to you the sixth annual report of the Auckland Health District, covering the period from the Ist April, 1905, to the 31st March, 1906. The character of the work in the district this year might well be summarised in the words of the old adage, "In time of peace prepare for war." I feel satisfied the better public sentiment towards the improvement of health conditions is being well maintained. The self-evident humanitarian aspect of the prevention of disease is being more and more strengthened by a ready recognition on the part of local authorities and the community in general that the less convincing economic side of the problem warrants ample moral and financial support. To quote from a recent writer, Dr. Carter, Commissioner of Public Health, United States "Army : " Modern sanitary requirements unquestionably cost money, but any expenditure that prevents disease and improves public welfare should be regarded as an investment yielding the largest returns not only in respect to improved wealth and happiness, but also as an insurance of industrial prosperity which is directly measurable by dollars and cents." The statistics given below show that once again Auckland City amongst the four chief centres possesses the unenviable distinction of displaying the highest percentages in those two great factors which test the sanitary condition of a town —infantile mortality and enteric-fever rate. It would seem that in the succeeding year peace must give way to war. VITAL STATISTICS. In order to compare the vital statistics of Auckland and suburbs with those of the three other chief centres of the colony the period covered by the returns of the Registrar-General are taken, and these are for the period from the Ist January to the 31st December, 1905, whereas the data otherwise in this report are for the Department's year, Ist April, 1905, to 31st March, 1906. In comparing the following figures it is to be borne in mind that Auckland and suburbs (suburban boroughs only) possess 25 - 5 per cent, of the mean population of the four chief cities with their suburban boroughs (only). The populations treated of are — Auckland .. .. .. •. • • • • • • . • 58,384 Wellington .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 58,365 Christchurch .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 52,722 Dunedin .. 59,663 Birth-rate. The two previous year's records showed gratifying increase in the birth-rate in Auckland District. For a second year in succession Auckland City heads the column. Birth-rate per 1,000 of Mean Population. Auckland City .. .. .. • • • • . • • • 30-06 Wellington .. .. .. •• .. ■■ •• 29-72 Christchurch .. .. .. .. •• •• •• 29-70 Dunedin .. .. .. .. • • • • • • • • 23*90 The mean for the whole colony was .. .. .. .. .. 27.65 The mean for Auckland and suburbs was .. .. .. .. 2788 The mean for the four centres was .. .. .. .. .. 27*71 While the birth-rate for Auckland compares favourably with that of the rest of the colony, it is well to recognise that we are only " comparing ourselves with ourselves." England is lamenting that whereas the birth-rate per 1,000 in England and Wales, 1873-77, was 35 8, it had dropped in the period 1888-92 to 30-8, and by the period 1898-1902 to 28-8. Death-rate. Comparing the death-rate per 1,000 of mean population in Auckland City and its suburbs with the average of the four centres of population during the past five years, we have the following : — Auckland Auckland and Average of City. Suburbs. Four Centres. 1901 . .. .. .. •• 13-10 11-80 11-50 1902 .. .. .. .. •■ 17-21 15-27 12-74 1903 .. .. .. .. 12-97 12-23 11-73 1904 ■ .. .. .. 11-11 10-20 10-73 1905 .. .. .. •• 12-15 10-52 10-43 Mean for five years .. .. .. 1331 12"00 11-42 The death-rate for England and Wales in 1903 was 15-4. I—H. 31.

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