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13
Cancer of the Lung.
During the years 1950/53, sixty-seven persons have died of cancer
of the lung. This cause of death has increased in recent years. This
may be due to better diagnosis, but the general opinion is that there
is an actual increase of the disease throughout the country. No other
form of cancer shows a like increase. Investigations as to the reason
for this increase are actively proceeding under the direction of the
Medical Research Council, and it is too early yet to say whether it is
due to excessive smoking or to carcino-genic factors in the atmosphere
However, a field for prevention lies open.
Maternal Mortality.
There were two maternal deaths in the Urban District during
1953, giving a rate of 2.1 per 1,000 live and stillbirths.
There have been four maternal deaths in the last five years, compared
with nine during the previous five-yearly period.
Infantile Mortality.
The Infant Mortality rate for the year is 17.2 per 1,000 live births.
Sixteen infants died during 1953 before reaching their first birthday.
Of this number, fifteen were legitimate and one illegitimate. There
were nine neonatal deaths (under one month of age).
The fall in the Infant Mortality rate is general throughout the
country.
UNEMPLOYMENT.
There is, no doubt, in my mind that full employment is one of
the main factors that make for the health of the public. I am,
therefore, indebted to the Manager of the Local Employment Exchange
for the following information in respect of the year 1953:—
"The year opened with the usual seasonal increase in the numbers
unemployed as the house decorating season and the Christmas trade
demands returned to the quiet season, but during the early months
trade gradually improved and the unemployed register slowly
decreased as local factories and building firms steadily engaged
workers. Hospitals and the retail trades in addition to private
domestic demands accounted for a small but steady reduction in the
register.
Reviewing the year as a whole, however, there has been less turnover
of labour generally, owing to the increased competition for the
overseas markets and the tendency for employers to retain workers
with skill and experience to maintain output. On the workers' side,
there has also been less tendency to change jobs owing to the fact that
opportunities have been fewer.