Page 12 Advertisements Column 1

Press, Volume LX, Issue 17984, 30 January 1924, Page 12

An analysis of the Government Statistician's figures published in tlio "Gazette'' 'discloses the disturbing fact that between 1916 and 1921, when the last census was taken, Taranaki's country population increased from 34,094 to 35,477, or 1353, equal to only just under 4 per cent., while the population of the various towns and townships in the province increased from 21,831 to 26,464, or a gain of 4633, equal to 21-22 per cent. In other words, states the Taranaki "Daily News," the urban population is increasing more than three times faster than tlio rural, the country districts not maintaining their natural increase. It is significant that in the past twelve years the town of New Plymouth has been responsible for 6876 of the 11j932 increase made by the whole province in that time, a state of affairs that should set all concerned in Taranaki's progress and development seriously to think. "SThe fact is that the people are moving, not to the land, tho basis of the province's very life, but to the towns, principally to the capital town. No one -will be snrprised at its expansion, because for many years it failed to make the progress its position and opportunities warranted it in making, and it is only now that it is coming into its own, but in a countryside 60 eminently suited for carrying a large population—many times fireater than it is now supporting—it is a subject for surprise and concern that the. trend of tlio population movement is away from rather -than -tn. t>ua Inwd