Praise for NZ Health

Policy In Samoa

THE public health programme carried out by the New Zealand Govern ment in Western Samoa has been praised by the Department of Social Affairs Department of the United Nations, The Department has just brought out a report which states that the year 1920, when Western Samoa became a New Zealand Mandate, marked a new epoch of Samoan population history.

Because due regard has been paid to improving health and sanitation in the Territory, the population has increased steadily at an average rate of 2.5 per cent, oer annum which is one of the highest rates of increase recorded in any country in the world in recent decades.

One of the most notable achievements, according to the report, is the prevention of any large-scale epidemics such as in fluenza, dysentery, measles, etc., between the time the Mandate was granted and the present day, (In 1918 the disastrous influenza .epidemic carried off between 8,000 and 9,000 Samoans.) The report sounds a warning that the mounting density of population might, however, create its own problems in years to come. At the present rate of increase the population of Western Samoa will be 150,000 in 30 years’ time (compared with 70,000 to-day).

If the present living standards are to remain as they are, this means that all available resources must be ener getically developed.