11.—31.

1933. NEW ZEALAND.

DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH. ANNUAL REPORT OF THE DIRECTOR-GENERAL OF HEALTH.

Presented in pursuance of Section 100 of the Hospitals and Charitable Institutions Act, 1926.

HON. J. A. YOUNG, MINISTER OF HEALTH.

C C) N I 1 E NTS. Reports of— paob Director-General of Health .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 1-6 Director, Division of Public Hygiene .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 7-19 Director, Division of School Hygiene .. .... .. .. .. .. .. 19-27 Director, Division of Hospitals .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 27-29 Director, Division of Dental Hygiene .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 29-33 Director, Division of Nursing .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 34-37 Inspector of Private and Maternity Hospitals .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 37-41 ux : Investigation into Cases of Typhoid Kever traced to the rating (if Polluted Shell-fish; Bacteriological Control of Milk Supplies, Gael Cape Health District: The [ce-cream of Gisborne — Bacteriological Control and Sterilization of Factory Equipment.

EEPOETS.

The Director-General of Health to the Hon. the Minister of Health, Wellington. I have the honour to lay before you the annual repori of the Department Eor the year 15)32-33.

" PART I.—GENERAL SURVEY. Vital Statistics. Death-rale. —1932 was remarkable Eor its death-rate- viz., 8-02 per 1,000 mean population, the Lowesi rate bo far recorded in New Zealand. A Calling death rate is a feature of our vital statistics, but the present level of the rate is lower than would have been considered possible a few years ago, more particularly in view of the altered age constitution of our population and the ever-increasing number of people of advanced years in our midst. Birth-rate. — The birth-rate, which was 17-09 per 1,000 mean population, shows a further fall as compared even with the low rate for the preceding year. The falling proportion of married women of child-bearing ages has been a distinct factor affecting this rate. Infant Mortality. —lnfant mortality has shown a steady improvement during the last twenty years, the rate for 1932 being the record low figure of 31-22 per 1,000 live births. Still-births. —The still-birth rate was 30 per 1,000 live births, a slight reduction on the previous year's rate of 30-4.

I—H. 31.