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54
SECTION 4.
MATERNITY AND CHILD WELFARE.
The Council's Scheme under the Maternity and Child Welfare
Act, 1918 has been extended during the year. The institution of
an additional medical session at each of the Welfare Centres following
the additional appointment of a part-time medical officer, will
be a factor in furthering the efficiency of the Scheme.
The use of the Artificial Sunlight Clinic, working in co-operation
with the Infant Welfare Clinics, is already being attended with good
results.
During the latter part of the year an attempt was made to
reorganise this section of the department by putting into operation
a number of reforms long overdue, although certain existing
difficulties had continued to prevent their adoption. An
improvement in the position generally was obvious by the end
of the year.
REGISTRATION AND NOTIFICATION OF BIRTHS.
By the Registration Act, 1836, all live births must be registered
within a period of six weeks.
The actual number of live births within the district during
the year was 803, the net total of 818 being obtained by adjustment
of inward and outward transfers, etc.
The births registered included 424 males and 394 females. Tbens
were 26 illegitimate births, or 3.1 per cent, of the total. In comparison
with 1925, 7 fewer births were registered during the year
a fall equivalent to 0.8 per cent.