THE ABORIGINES OF AUSTRALIA.

Press, Volume LXIX, Issue 20868, 30 May 1933, Page 9

THE ABORIGINES OF AUSTRALIA.

POPULATION STEADY. INCREASE IN NUMBER OF HALF-CASTES. SYDNEY, May 18. Every year, with the assistance of State statisticians, boards, and officials who protect the aborigines, the Commonwealth Statistician compiles a census of aborigines and halfcastes. About 500 people collaborate in this work. Statistics for 1932 show that there are 59,719 full-blooded aborigines in Australia. Since 1921 the figure has varied little from the 60,000 mark, thus proving that the previous heavy decline in numbers has been arrested. Victoria has 50 full-blooded aborigines. The bulk of the full-bloods are in Western Australia and the Northern Territory. The respective figures are 13,147 males and 11,736 females, and 10,275 males and 8502 females. This preponderance of males is the chief cause of the tribal clashes which occur from time to time among the less civilised of the aborigines. Beyond Civilisation. Included in the Western Australian totals is an estimate of 10,000 abocigines who live outside the influence of Europeans. The estimate has not varied for the last 11 years. The figure is naturally difficult to assess, because these natives have little or no contact with civilisation. No Tasmanians. Tasmania is without a single aboriginal. The last died out many years ago. Victoria has the smallest fullblood population, and South Australia is next smallest with 953 males and 769 females. Of the total number of full-bloods 9300 are in regular in all parts of the continent. They are almost exclusively employed in primary industries, and the majority is to be found on cattle and sheep stations. Others work on farms; trap rabbits, dingoes, and foxes; flsh, pull corn, dig potatoes. The employed females are mostly in domestic work. While the aboriginal population remains stationary, that of the halfcastes is growing. In 1921 halfcastes numbered 12,630. To-day the figure is 19,196. The half-caste population is greater in New South Wales than in any other State. There it amounts to 8809 persons. Victoria has only 553 half-castes, Queensland 4068, South Australia 1689, Western Australia 3351, and Northern Territory 730. Half-caste children are estimated at 8305, and of the 10,891 adults, only 2800 are in regular employment.