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1947 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. M. B. HOWARD, MINISTER OF HEALTH

REPORT The Deputy Director-General of Health to the Hon. the Minister of Health, Wellington. I have the honour to lav before you the annual report of the Department for the year 1946-47. VITAL STATISTICS (The figures given include Maoris unless otherwise stated) Population.—The mean population of the Dominion for 1946 was 1,761,399, an increase of 66,685 over the figure for the previous year (European, 1,659,145 ; Maoris, 102,254). Births. —The registered live births numbered 47,647 (European, 41,871 ; Maori, 5,776), the highest ever recorded in New Zealand history. The birth-rate was 25-24 per 1,000 of mean population for Europeans and 56-49 per 1,000 for Maoris. The European birth-rate is the highest since 1917. Deaths.—Deaths numbered 17,720 (Europeans, 16,093; Maoris, 1,627). The respective crude death-rates were 9-70 per 1,000 mean population for Europeans and 15-91 per 1,000 for Maoris. Infant Mortality.—The infant-mortality rate was 26-10 per 1,000 live births for Europeans and 74-62 per 1,000 live births for Maoris. The European rate represents a new low record for European infant mortality.