I—l 7

Of recent years the Maori birth-rate has been very much in advance of the European birth-rate:—

Table No. 30. —Table showing Birth-rate of Maori Population from 1939 to 1944

Maori death-rates are also very high as compared with the European death-rates.

Table No. 31.—Table showing Death-rates of Maori Population from 1939 to 1944

In particular, infantile deaths are at a very much higher figure than for the European population.

Table No. 32.—Table showing a Comparison between Maori and European Infantile Death-rates, from 1933 to 1944

A comparison of infantile mortality among Maori and European infants reveals important differences. There is little difference between the Maori and European infantile death-rate in the first three months of life, ante-natal and unavoidable causes being the essential factors in the death-rate at this stage. From this point on care of the infant plays an increasing part in its survival. In the second quarter the European rate falls considerably, but the Maori rate remains at a high figure. In the third quarter the Maori rate is twelve times as high as the European rate. The cause is carelessness of feeding at a crucial stage of the infant's growth. Maori mothers tend to wean their children early and subsequent thereto do not trouble about satisfactory feeding. The Maori death-rate in the ages Ito 5 years is also very much higher than the European rate. Even in adult life to 35 years of age the Maori death-rate is two or three times greater than the European rate, although in later adult life the differences while still significant, tend to be reduced.

17

Year. Number of Maori Births. Rate per 1,000 of Mean Population. Males. Females. Total. 1939 .. 2,157 1,959 4,116 46-20 1940 .. 2,217 2,048 4,265 46-87 1941 .. 2,156 1,978 4,134 44-77 1942 .. 2 222 2,108 4,330 45-84 1943 .. 2,267 2,173 4,440 45-78 1944 2,328 2,180 4,508 45-32

Number. Rate per 1,000 of Maori Population. x ear. Males. Females. Total. Males. Females. Total. 1939 • 967 808 1,775 20-89 18-87 19-92 1940 844 749 1,593 17-98 17-00 17-51 1941 1,020 881 ] ,901 21-66 19-48 ' 20-59 ' 1942 933 799 1,732 19-43 17-20 18-34 1943 862 812 1,675 17-51 17-11 17-27 1944 861 825 1,686 17-12 16-77 16-95

Year. Maoris. Non-Maoris. Number of Deaths under One Year. Rate per 1,000 Maori Births. Number of Deaths under One Year. 1 Rate per 1,000 Non-Maori Births. 1933 .. 273 92-61 770 31-64 1934 .. 279 93-59 781 32-11 1935 .. 355 109-20 773 32-26 1936 .. 399 109-92 769 30-96 1937 .. 366 92-17 812 31-21 1938 .. 566 153-26 971 35-63 1939 .. 473 114-92 898 31-14 1940 .. 372 87-22 990 30-21 1941 .. 517 125-06 1.045 29-77 1942 .. 424 97-92 964 28-71 1943 .. 399 89-86 951 31-37 1944 .. 461 102-26 1.012 30-12