Mother, neonatal death persists
An important statement in regard to the maternal mortality rate in New Zealand as compared with that in other countries and what the Health Department is doing was made by Sir Maui Pomare (Minister of Health): "More women die as a result of child-birth in this country than in many other countries which have not the advantages that we possess. The New Zealand maternal mortality rate is 5.1 per 1000; Denmark is the lowest with 2 per 1000, and Belgium and Chili are the highest with 7.2 and 7.5, Australia's rate being 4.7. Again, while New Zealand is justly proud of the record that it possesses the lowest infant mortality rate in the world, close inspection of the figures shows that there is still much to be done, and that New Zealand is even further behind other countries in certain spheres of infant welfare work. The reduction in the infant mortality rate in New Zealand has been wholly due to the saving of infant life after the age of one month, an accomplishment due in no small measure to the excellent work inaugurated and directed by Dr Truby King. The death rate of infants under one month in this country, however, is still (for the year 1923) 20 per 1000 live births and has shown practically no reduction since the Plunket Society commenced its work in 1907 when the rate was 30 per 1000. The further saving of mothers and of infants under one month, however, would appear to rest with the public and the medical and nursing professions. The department will continue to endeavour to grapple with these problems, but to do so will require the whole-hearted co-operation of the public and these professions. Dr Truby King and the Plunket Society will co-operate in this work."
Milton-Lawrence road reopens
Welcome word has been received from the Public Works Department by Mr W.B. Steel, secretary of the Otago Expansion League, that the temporary bridges in the Manuka Gorge were to be open from noon yesterday. It will be remembered that this important road has been blocked for just over a year ever since the floods of April, 1923. Direct communication is now restored again with the Teviot and Roxburgh and all that district. In the meantime the work of erecting permanent bridges is being pushed forward steadily.
More people here
The population of New Zealand is slowly but surely increasing. The annual report on external migration shows that 83,827 persons arrived in New Zealand from overseas during the year 1923, an increase as compared with 1922 of 7095. During the same period 76,451 persons departed, as compared with 69,346 in 1922 — an increase of 7105. The gain in population by migration during the period was thus 7376, as compared with 7386 in 1922. — ODT, 2.5.1924
Compiled by Peter Dowden
