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1935. 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. SIR ALEXANDER YOUNG, MINISTER OF HEALTH.

CONTENTS. Reports of— PAGE Director-General of Health .. .. . . .. .. .. .. .. .. 1-10 Director, Division of Public Hygiene .. .. .. .. .. .. .. ..11-27 Director, Division of School Hygiene .. .. . . . . .. .. . . . . 28-39 Director, Division of Hospitals .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 40-43 Director, Division of Dental Hygiene .. .. .. . . .. .. .. .. 44-50 Director, Division of Nursing .. .. .. . . . . .. .. .. .. 51-57 Inspector of Private and Maternity Hospitals .. .. .. .. .. .. 58-67 Appendix.—Ante-natal Care in New Zealand .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 68-71 »

REPORTS. The Director-General of Health to the Hon. the Minister of Health, Wellington. I have the honour to lay before you the annual report of the Department for the year 1934-35.

PART I.—GENERAL SURVEY. Vital Statistics. The state of the public health remained at much the same level in 1934 as in recent years. Although measles, whooping-cough, and influenza were wide-spread there was a comparative absence of other infectious diseases. Death-rate.—The death-rate per 1,000 mean population was 8-48. In 1933 it was 7'98. Infant Mortality. —The infant-mortality rate was 32-11 per 1,000 live births as compared with 31-64 in 1933. Still-births. —The still-birth rate was 28-3 per 1,000 live births. This is a reduction from the rate of 29-7 in 1933. Birth-rate. —Births numbered 24,322, as compared with 24,334 in the preceding year. The birthrate was 16-47 per 1,000, as against 16-59 in 1933. The 1934 rate is the lowest on record in New Zealand.

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