On March 31st, 1901 (the last census date) there were 23.01 persons per
thousand of population over 15 years of age, unable to work from
sickness, accident and infirmity. Of these 12.72 were due to sickness
and accident, and 10.29 to "specified infirmities."

The proportion of those suffering from sickness and accident in 1874 was
12.64 per 1000 over 15 years, practically the same as for 1901, while
disability from "specified infirmities" (lunacy, idiocy, epilepsy,
deformity, etc.)--degeneracies strongly hereditary--rose rapidly from
5.32 in 1874 to 10.29 in 1901, or taking the total sickness and
infirmity, from 17.96 in 1874 to 23.01 in 1901.

On the last census date there were 340,230 bread-winners, and 12,747
persons suffering from sickness, accident, and infirmity, or 26 fit to
work and earn for every one unfit.

The cost to the Colony per year of--

£
1. Hospitals, year ended 31st March, 1903 138,027

2. Charitable Aid (expended by boards),

year ended 31st March, 1903 93,158

3. Lunatic Asylums, year ended 31st Dec,

1902 (gross) 85,238