Reply to “The Press” on population trends

Press, Volume CXI, Issue 32660, 16 July 1971, Page 6

Reply to “The Press” on population trends

The South Canterbury Public Relations Officer (Mr A. S. Abernethy) has challenged the statement, in an editorial in “The Press” last Monday, that there is no evidence to support Mr Abernethy’s prediction of an actual decline in the South Island’s population some time after 1978. “You adopt the ‘it can’t happen to us’ attitude, all too prevalent when unpleasant facts are wished away,” Mr ! Abernethy says. “What additional evidence I are you going to wait for before you are convinced that a united attack be made on the problem of relatively slow growth and impending decline in the population of the South Island? “From 1961 to 1966 the South Island’s share of the population increase was 29.3 per cent, and from 1966 to 1971 this share fell to 14.5 per cent. This deceleration rate, calculated on a graph, as in all predictions, can be altered, but what is there to alter it? The continuing attraction of Auckland is accelerating at a rate which cannot be satisfied only by

immigration and the natural increase in population, and must be fed by attracting more and more people from the South Island to the extent- that depopulation will occur.

“Large towns like Oamaru, less .7 per cent, and not so large, such as Waimate, less 2.5 per cent, are declining in population now. The spread of this disease will next affect cities. The North Island is not immune, as can be seen by Wanganui’s plight.

“Your Tm-ali-right-Jack’ approach to the problem seems to be an arrogance generated from the comfort you get from the size of Christchurch City—now. "Industry does not ‘Wander’ away without purpose. It pursues the greatest profits, and only the Government can alter the economic climate so that a fair balance can be maintained in all regions. “What long-established industry will be next to leave your fair city? You are not yet apparently losing any sleep over this prospect,” Mr Abernethy concludes.