DRIFT TO CITY.

Auckland Star, Volume LX, Issue 223, 20 September 1929, Page 9

DRIFT TO CITY.

MAORI POPULATION. WHAT THE CENSUS REVEALS. ANALYSIS OF FIGURES. Although the native population of Auckland in 1855 was much larger than it is to-day, it was probably taken over a much larger area, in addition to which the departure of many to the Waikato War in 1863, together with migrations back to tribal homes, greatly reduced the original Maori population in the suburbs. In recent years there has been a noticeable drift to the city itself of Maori people. Of a total of 805 Maori people residing in Auckland and its environs, it is revealed by a census compiled by the Akarana Maori Association, that only 182 of the number are now living as native communities, these being the remnant of a Maori population of 3000 over the same area, living in primitive conditions in 1855. The details of the present tabulation, which will be placed at the disposal of the commission that recently sat in Auckland, are as follows: — Maoris, including half-castes, living in Maori communities. —Orakei 60, Mangere 41, Pukaki 22, Takapuna 41, and Northcote 18. There are 124 living in the city and 247 in the suburbs, making altogether 553, but 252 half and quarter-castes, living as Europeans in the same area, have to be added to complete the list. Several iiundred of eighth caste and lesser Maori blood are also resident in the city and suburbs, but these are not taken into account. The official figures show that the sexes are well balanced. Of the 553 Maoris living in their own communities 154 are males and 167 females, there being 275 minors. Details? of Employment. - The table shows that 163 males and 164 females are in employment, 77 being engaged in agricultural work for Chinese, 69 of these being females. The figures are affected to some extent by the inclusion of minors who are at work, and by a number of adults being unemployed. The main avocations otherwise jet, out show that general labouring is

undertaken by about half of the male population, but there are a number of Maoris in professional and clerical spheres, and a few engaged in trades, such as motor industry work.

Apart from the students in Maori colleges and other secondary schools, it is estimated that there are approximately 150 Maori and half-caste children attending primary schools in the city and suburbs, this being about* 60 per cent of the total number of minors.