POPULATION. STATISTICS.

Dominion, Volume 1, Issue 195, 12 May 1908, Page 8

POPULATION. STATISTICS.

A SEEMING DISCREPANCY. EXPLANATION BY REGISTRARGENERAL. The method adopted by tho RegistrarGeneral of presenting tho population returns of tho ,fcur cities which is objected, to by tho Canterbury Industrial Association, was very simply accounted for by Mr. E. J. Von Dadelszen in an interview yesterday. The latest returns issued give tho estimated populations as follow:— Totals: Auckland and suburban boroughs l (Birkenhead, Dovonporii, Newmarket, Grey Lynn, Parnell. and Mount Eden), 71,916. > l]otals : Wellington and suburbs (Karon, Onslow, and Miramar), 70,947. ; Totals: Christchurch and ' suburban boroughs (Woolston, New Brighton, Sumner), 09,391. . Totals: Dunedin and suburbs (Maori Hill, Moraington, North East Vail-?}' 1 ,' Roslyn, St. ■Kilda, AVest Harbour), 59,495. Obviously these' figures iirescnt a different ■comparison from that which is given by tho consns results of 190G, sot out in the samo return as follows: — Greater Auckland, 82,1Q1, including suburbs not in boroughs. \ Wellington and suburbs, 63,807. , , J 'Greater Christchurch, 69,059, including suburbs net in boroughs, and Now Brighton and Sumner. Dunedin and suburbs, 56,020. . - ,As regards tho first tables, showing the present estimated population. Mr. Von; Dadelszen explains that tho returns aro made up primarily "for the purposo of finding tho birth rato and death rate. In all cases of boroughs, an 1 animal return is received showing tho number of inhabited dwellings, and by multiplying'this number.by the average proportion of dwellers to each house, as shown. by ' tho previous oensus, a sufficiently correct estimate' is obtained of tho population. : But in the caso of suburbs' that are still parts. of road districts no such reoorcls aro obtainable,' and it is. impossible to ob-tai-n estimates of present .'.population. which would be suffieiently correct to give a re-, ■liable idea - of- the 'death rate. Therefore, for 'tho purpose of these! vital statistics, these suburbs aro omitted from'^ the RegistrarGeneral's 'return, -and .from this cause Auckland and Christchurch seem. ,to bo placed at a disadvantage in the monthly estimates of population. The reason is clearly explained in a. feotnete, to the report, which states that "the omission-is'not very important, .'forthere are ;in either case oruite enough suburbs included within borough boundaries to giyo a fair, idea of the death rat'e of Greater Auokland-and Greater'Christchurch." And that, as has been said before, is the great object of the returns. If it is desired merely to,, compare.'city populations, one can do this on the census returns of 1906, which include both classes' of suburbs, and which are given 'separately for tHat purposo. If Auckland and Christchurch wish- to loom.LargO/in tho population returns, tlioy must either take this oaurso. or get, t'noir suburban districts 'now under road boards /municipalised, wheil' a broader basis will, be provided for the Regis-'trar-Gener'aPs estimated figuros. ; Mr. Von, Dadelszen states that- the same system 1 of returns . has been followed ' for years, the only differcnco being that tho figures , for : Mount, Edeh only lately been included,/ thissuburb having but recently Attained tho dignity of a borough.