N.Z. BIRTHRATE

Hokitika Guardian, 2 July 1929, Page 1

N.Z. BIRTHRATE

DECLINE CONTINUES

(By, Telegraph—Press Association)

WELLINGTON, July 1

The Director of Public Hygiene in the Department of Health, Dr. T. McKibbin, -day gave an interesting statement in regard to the health conditions in the Dominion during the past year. The births of 27,000 livingchild ren were registered in the Dominion during 1928, as against 26,781 in 1927. The birth rate for 1928 was thus 19.56 per 1000 of the mean population. Birthrate steadily declines. There were 27,200 births for a population ol 1,390,684, and there were 11,811 deat l the difference or natural increase, being 15,389 or 1.1 per- cent only of the total population.

In the year 1870 the natural increase, was 3.1 per cent. The total number of deaths registered during the year 1928 as compared with 1927 shows an increase of 198. There was a reduction in the rate of stillbirths during the year.

The main causes of death in their order of magnitude, were as follows:

Heart disease (all forms) 2,315; cancer, 1,374; chest diseases (pneumonia, broncho-pneumonia and bronchitis) 1,027; violence 956; tuberculosis (all forms) 699; apoplexy or cerebral haemorrhage 643; senility 544; kidney or Bright’s disease '455, disease of the arteries 394, diabetes 167, diseases and accidents of childbirth (maternal mortality) 134, diarrhoea and enteritis 110, appendicitis 107, hernia and intestinal obstructions 100; epilepsy 60.

Deaths from common infectious diseases were: Influenza (all forms, including pneumonia.) 242, diphtheria 72. scarlet fever 55, whooping cough 26, fever 16, meiisles 12. The infant mortality, that is infant deaths under one year from all causes numbered 984.