INCOME GROUPS EXAMINED

Press, Volume XCVIII, Issue 28927, 22 June 1959, Page 16

INCOME GROUPS EXAMINED

Figures From 1956 Census Of the total population (including children) in New Zealand on census night, April 17. 1956, 56 out of every 100 were stated to have no income for ths year ended March 31, 1956. Of the population with income. 40 out of every 100 returned themselves as receiving under £5OO. 22 out of every 100 between £5OO-£699. 18 between £7OO- - eight between £9OO-£1099. and 12 of £llOO and over. Of the last 12. six out of every 100 returned an income of £l5OO or more, according to ‘‘lncomes.'' the fifth volume of the 1956 census of population series, which has just been issued. Taking the working population only. said the Government Statistician (Mr J. V. T. Baker) it was seen that the two largest single groups of male workers fell into the income groups £5OO- - which contained 28 per cent, of the male labour force with income, and the £7OO-£899 income group containing 26 per cent. Working women have lower incomes for various reasons, including a different pattern of working life, early retirement through marriage, less overtime and lower award rates. In the female labour force, the largest single group, 42 per cent., fell in the £3OO-£499 income group followed by 29 per cent, in the £lOO-£299 bracket. ‘‘Of the eight industrial divisions, the one comprising agriculture, forestry, hunting and fishing is notable,” commented the Government Statistician, “as containing high proportions of male workers in the extremes of the income range. Out of every 100 in this division. 22 returned an income of £l5OO or over, compared with eight in the total male labour force. On the other hand, 25 out of every 100 showed an income of under £5OO compared with 18 in the total male labour force. The income range for the female labour force, though narrower than the male, also shows the highest proportion in the agriculture, forestry, hunting and fishing division, 11 per cent, compared with 1 per cent, in the total female labour force. At the other extreme of income, this division is joined by the services division which both show two-fifths of workers so classified with incomes of under £3OO.

“As one might expect,” concluded Mr' Baker, “there is a higher ratio of employers in the higher income groups than wage and salary earners. In the male labour force 41 per cent, of employers show an income of £l5OO or over, compared with 18 per cent, of workers on their own account, and 2 per cent, of wage and salary earners. In the female labour force 19 per cent, of employers return an income of £l5OO or over, 3 per cent, of workers on their own account and 0.1 per cent, of wage and salary earners.”