41

H.-31

The following will show the death-rate per 1,000 of Maori mean population, a record for the ten years 1920-29. Though still high as compared with the New Zealand rate (8-75 per 1,000) it must nevertheless be considered highly satisfactory. Maori Deaths.—Numbers and Rates, 1920-29. Year Number of Death-rate per 1,000 of Maori Deaths. Mean Population. 1920 .. .. .. 913 18-34 1921 .. .. .. 842 15-96 1922 .. 913 17-15 1923 .. .. .. 762 14-21 1924 .. .. 773 14-32 1925 .. .. .. 867 15-86 1926 .. .. .. 919 15-12 1927 .. .. .. 1,033 16-05 1928 .. .. ..1,124 17-28 1929 .. .. .. 906 13-73 The following show the birth-rates for the ten years 1920-29. The rate of 33-58 per 1,000 of Maori mean population is again the highest figure reached during the period. It might indicate an absence of V.D. complications and of birth-control. In 1920 the rate was as low as 20-21 per 1,000, probably due to the depressing and other far-reaching effects of the influenza epidemic of that year. The low figures for 1921 may possibly be likewise explained. The high birth-rate as compared with the .European figures (19-09 per 1,000) more than counterbalances the higher death-rate. Maori Births. —Numbers and Rates, 1920-29. Y ear Total Number of Births Birth-rate per 1,000 of Maori registered. Mean Population. 1920 .. .. .. .. 1,006 20-21 1921 .. .. .. .. 1,056 20-02 1922 .. .. .. .. 1,442 27-09 1923 .. .. .. ..1,181 22-02 1924 .. .. .. ..1,246 23-08 1925 .. .. .. .. 1,716 31-39 1926 .. .. .. .. 1,536 25-27 1927 .. .. .. .. 1,495 23-22 1928 .. .. .. .. 1,845 28-36 1929 .. .. .. .. 2.216 33-58 The infantile death-rate per 1,000 live births for the five years 1925-29, though showing a remarkable rate-fall of nearly 40 per 1,000 must still fall a great deal to approach the wonderful figures (34-10 per 1,000 live births) of the New Zealand infantile death-rate. Still, the results are gratifying, and reflect credit on those district nurses who have not neglected that phase of preventive work. Sir Truby King has contributed adaptations from his booklet, " Expectant Mother and the Baby's First Month," and this when translated will be distributed widely. Many mothers are now taking advantage of the advice of Plunket nurses. Infantile Mortality. —Numbers and Rates, 1925-29. v Number of Deaths of Maoris Death-rate per 1,000 r ' under One Year. Live Births. 1925 .. .. .. ..184 107-23 1926 .. .. .. .. 180 117-19 1927 .. .. .. .. 236 157-86 1928 .. .. .. .. 218 118-16 1929 .. .. .. .. 174 78-52 Figures hereunder for the period 1920-29 show the deaths during the puerperal state. Apparently we were labouring under a misconception when we assumed that the maternal death-rate from all causes was so low as to be negligible. It is possible that the figures warrant correction. Many may not be based on a medical certificate or on reliable information. Puerperal State. —Deaths. —Numbers and Rates, 1920-29. v Number of Rate per 1,000 ear ' Deaths. Live Births. 1920 .. .. .. .. 23 22-86 1921 .. .. .. .. 10 9-47 1922 .. .. .. .. 15 10-40 1923 .. .. .. ..13 11-01 1924 .. .. .. .. 10 8-03 1925 .. .. .. .. 11 6-41 1926 .. .. .. ..15 9-77 1927 .. .. .. .. 13 8-70 1928 .. .. .. .. 25 13-55 1929 .. .. .. .. 13 5-87

6—H. 31.