COLOURED RACES.

Auckland Star, Volume LX, Issue 47, 25 February 1929, Page 17

COLOURED RACES.

DOMINION'S SHARE. GLEANINGS FROM THE CENSUS FIGURES AND FACTS. At present the "white*' population of New Zealand, broadly speaking, comprises 95 per cent of the whole. The "'coloured'' population, exclusive of the Maoris, however, is deemed by the Government Statistician to be sufficiently numerous to have a census volume all of its own. the facts and figures collected about the people at the time of the 1926 Census being summarised under the heading of ''race-aliens." the term being used to denote persons not of European or of Maori descent.

Race-aliens as a whole numbered 6302 in 1926. The great majority (."5417, or 86 per cent) were Asiatics; in fact, Chinese, Indians, and Syrians aggregated 5303, equivalent to 84* per cent of all race-aliens. i n addition to the three races noted, the only ones to attain numerical importance were Japanese (59), Fijians and other Polynesians (697), negroes (95), and "West Indians," so returned (61). One-half of the total increase, 1916-21, was due to an expansion in the numbers of Chinese, while gains by Syrians, Indians, and Polynesians accounted for the greater part of the balance.

During the intercensal period, 1921-26, the greatest, absolute increase (337) was recorded bv Polynesians, while second place (316"; fell to Indians, third to Syrians (244), and fourth to Chinese (108). Gains in a lesser degree—although, in view of the small numbers involved, at a relatively high rati;—were the part of Japanese, West Indians, and Arabs. Filipinos made a first appearance in race-alien tables. Declines were noted in the case of Asiatic Jews, Melanesians, Cingalese, and Malays. Polynesians, who are, of course, akin to the Maoris, come to New Zealand largely from Fiji; from the Cook Islands, which were annexed to New Zealand in 1901; and from Western Samoa, now administered as mandated territory.

The Chinese. At one time forming the only considerable J)odv of non-European or nonMaori race in New Zealand, Chinese <till form the greatest section of the race-alien population. Originally coming to the country in numbers in the wake of the rush following gold discoveries, by ISBI they had attained to a strength of f>oo4, equivalent to 1.0*2 per cent of the total population other than Maoris. The numerical record is, a* follows:—

In ISBI was passed the Chinese Immigrants Act, the first legislation directed against the free entry of Chinese. This Act placed a poll tax of £10 per head on each Chinese immigrant, and also limited the number of such immigrants that might be carried by one vessel to one for even ten tons burthen. For many years after 18S1 the Chinese population steadily decreased, but in 1894 and 1895 there appeared signs of an increase in numbers, and in 1896 an Act was passed imposing further restrictions. The poll tax was increased to £100, and the limit of Chinese immigrants on one vessel placed at one for every 200 tons burthen. This again caused the number of Chinese to decfine, but the substantial gain between 191t> and 1921 and a smaller gain 1921-26 will be noted.

Indians and Syrians. A point of distinction between Indians and other race-aliens is that the former are usually British subjects. Indians in the Dominion in 1911 numbered 15. By 1916 this figure had increased to 181, to 671 by 1921, and to 957 in 1926. Syrians have likewise shown a marked j increase from 195 in 1396 to 951 in 1926. The rapidity with, which the number of race-aliens of mixed blood has arisen is shown by the fact that in 1916 these numbered 347 and 1390 in 1926. An interesting aspect of racial data is that which tends to show whether assimila- i tion of race-aliens into the general popu-1 lation occurs more rapidly in certain locations than in others, but no conclusive evidence which might serve as a basis for speculation can be drawn from available figures. ! Geographical Distribution. In earlier days the race-alien population was located on the goldfields; but in more recent times it has shown a tendency to urbanisation, and a predilection for the North Island. In 1926 nearly 80 per cent of race aliens were located in the North Island. Proportions of race aliens per 10,000 of population of all races in provincial district* were:—

Westland. it will be observed, possesses the highest ratio of race aliens Reference to table three will show that there, with the exception of a fewSyrians, the race aliens are whollv Chinese. The formerly important gold"fields in Westland and the small total population are sufficient explanation of Westland's position. The comparatively high ratio noted for Wellington provincial district is due to the fact that it contains over onethird of the Chinese in the Dominion. In Southland and in Canterbury the relative numerical paucity of race aliens is very evident. Though Chinese attain a modest representation throughout New Zealand, their real strength lies in the Wellington (34 per cent) and Auckland (32 per eeni) districts. The great majority of Indians are located in Auckland "(57 per cent) and Wellington (22 per cent). Only 15 per cent of the whole were enumerated in the South Island. The main stronghold of the Syrians is Otago, but considerable numbers are to be found in Wellington and Auckland. Japanese are located in Auckland and Wellington, as are also the majority of negroes, while Polynesians are practically confined to the Auckland provincial district. As was the case in 1921, the 1928 ceiwofl ateo showed that 63 per cent of all race-«H«u were residents of the 14 urban areas or largest centres of popalatka in New Zealand.

Cpdsus. M.iIps. Females. Total. 1874 2 4S1C, 1S7S 4424 9 4433 1S81 40<).-> !} 5ft<>4 1SS6 4527 l."> 4542 1*91 4426 13 4444 1896 3685 2»i 3711 1901 282." 3° 'iar,7 1906 2315 55 2570 1911 2542 88 -V.HO 1916 2017 13n "147 ] 921 2993 273 32«6 1928 2927 447 3374

Provincial District. Census. Census, 1926. 1921. Auckland 55 48 Hawbe's Bay 50 49 Taranaki 31 36 Wellington 03 66 Marlborough ....... 31 21 Nelson 28 •>2 Westland oo Canterbury 17 14 Otago 41 46 southland 11 jo