DEPRESSION EFFECT

Hokitika Guardian, 15 June 1933, Page 7

DEPRESSION EFFECT

, | REVIEW BY MINISTER, 1 > HAMILTON, June 13. . Figures were quoted by the Hon. J. . A. Young, Minister of Health, at the i annual meeting of the Hamilton j. branch of the Plunket Society to-day, |to show that the economic stress j through which the country was passj irig had not yet demonstrated itself | in any decline in the health of the people Mr Young said there had been a reduction in the number of admissions to hospital, while with reference to children entering the primary classes of the schools and showing signs of malnutrition the figures were as follows :—1929, 8.26 per cent; 1931, 7.45; | 1930, 8.01; 1929, 8.24; 1928, 8.67; 1926, 8.29. Over the 60,000 to 70,000 school children of all ages examined anually the percentages worked out somewhat lower Mr Young said evidence of malnutrition on account of the economic position might show itself later, but it had not done s 0 yet. Reports received from England were similar to those obtained J in New Zealand in this respect. There j was some evidence that children, while receiving sufficient food, were not receiving the right kind of food. If vital statistics afforded a true indication of the health of the community, and there was every reason to believe they did, then it could certainly be said that the economic crisis so far at any rate had no detrimental effects on the state of the public health* The Minister spoke of the superiority of wholemeal bread over white bread and the beneficial effect wholemeal bread had on the teeth and the blood system.

Referring to infantile mortality, Mr Young said the infantile mortality rate per 1000 live births in New Zealand showed a steady decline for the last 27 years, and last year, 1932, it was 31.22, a record low rate for New Zealand and for the world.