VITAL STATISTICS.

Hauraki Plains Gazette, Volume XXXX, Issue 5488, 16 October 1929, Page 2

VITAL STATISTICS.

FIGURES FOR SEPTEMBER.

IMPROVEMENT IN DEATH RATE.

In the Government report for September on vital statistics for the urban areas of the Dominion, New Plymouth again showed the highest ratio of deaths with 1.12 per 1000 of population, and Hamilton the lowest, with .63. The North Island showed .856 and the South Island .853. The total number of deaths in September was 616, a decrease of J>9 when compared with the previous month’s figures. Live births registered totalled 1056, as against 1074 in August, a decrease of 18. Of births Invercargill headed the list with 2.11 per 1000, and at the bottom of the table came Wanganui, with 1.17. The North Island returned 1.454 and the South Island 1.543. Of deaths in all age groups the most took place among males between 75 an d 80—35 in all—and among females between 70 and 75—30 in all. No centenarian deaths were recorded, but nine men died between the ages of 90 and 95, and one woman died between 95 and 100 years.

Diseases of the heart, with 135, came first in the list of causes of death, followed by cancer with 73. Diseases of the respiratory system accounted for 65, tuberculosis in its various forms 49, and apoplexy 31. Deaths by suicide through various causes totalled 13, and fatal accidents numbered 24, including two by drowning. Two deaths were caused through starvation.

Premature birth, with 9, caused the largest number of deaths out of the 43 recorded in the infant, mortality list.