MISLEADING STATISTICS.

Dominion, Volume 4, Issue 1069, 7 March 1911, Page 6

MISLEADING STATISTICS.

■ Sir,—'JL'ho Government Registrar lias for years very unfairly.staled the relative population of the chief Dominion cities unit their suburbs, his. basis of calculation being' quite misleading. As these misleading figures are copied into statistical returns throughout tho Empire, the position of these cities and communities is consequently widely misrepresented. By the last "Whitakcr's" the population in' January, 1010, of Auckland and suburbs is shown as 97,929, of Christchurch as being 78,005, and of Wellington as 7(i,39Q." Now, by the suburbs of a city is understood the surrounding district interwoven with it in residential, manufacturing, and like interests. Turning to the nearest available official returns and bearing date March 31, the population of Wellington itself is given as 71,553, and with its adjacent boroughs interwoven, as mentioned, viz. Petone, Hutt, Onslow, Karori, Eastbourne, and Miramar, if added, the total .population would be 88,603. In the case of Auckland its population was then 43,295. ' By adding Northcote, Birkenhead, Davenport, Grey Lynn, Newmarket, Parnell, and Mount Eden there is a total of 78,849, or if Onehunga is also included of 83,319. These totals may be slightly disturbed in either case. Hero Johnsonville, Upper Hutt, and parts of the country should bo included, and at Auckland there may even be'more to add, but that is not my point. In our case large communities are excluded that by the legitimate meaning are suburbs of Wellington. Then why this continued under-stating of this city, the capital, and its suburbs, a city of which its people are all so reasonably proud.—l am, etc., A CITIZEN.