LOWEST T.B. DEATH RATE IN THE WORLD.

Manawatu Herald, Volume L, Issue 40035, 5 December 1929, Page 3

LOWEST T.B. DEATH RATE IN THE WORLD.

NEW ZEALAND’S POSITION

The fact that New Zealand enjoys the lowest T.B. death rate in the world, was referred to by Dr. T. H. A. Valintine (DirectorGeneral iof Health) at the conference or Noirth Island Hospital Board delegates in Palmerston N. on Tuesday. “It is a record of which we may well be proud,” stated the Director.

In the North Island, the death rate in 1919 was 4.88 per 1000 and in 1926 it had'fallen to 3.76'. In the South Island, it was 5.62 in 1919, and had fallen to 4.66 in 1926. Despite the fact that the South Island hhd four sanatoria to the North Island’s two, the decrease in the North was greater. It was very gratifying to learn that with just the two buildings, a greater reduction had been achieved than in the South, which 1 had many more beds for the treatment of T.B. than the North Island. For a population of 935,000, the North Island had 236 beds for patients, whereas in the 'South Island, tlifire were 381 beds for a population of 528,000. Tuberculosis had declined very materially in the Dominion and the work of hospital, boards had contributed to bring about this very happy state of affairs. The good work had to be carried on and hoards should not rest content with an apparent, victory. They had still to fight a virulent foe and with the co-operation of boards, a. great deal more could be done than in tho past. .