THE HEADS COUNTED

Dominion, Volume 19, Issue 237, 21 June 1926, Page 6

THE HEADS COUNTED

PRELIMINARY CENSUS RESULT USEFUL INCREASE REVEALED 1,407,165 THE TOTAL A useful population increase over the last five years is revealed in the preliminary totals which, as the result of the complete arrangements made for the taking of the census and the computation of results, the Government Statistician (Mr. Malcolm Fraser) was able to hand to the Minister of Internal Affairs (Hon. R. F. Bollard) on Saturday. The population of the Dominion, including the Maoris, but excluding Western Samoa and the Cook and other islands, has risen to 1,407,165, while the total, excluding the Native population, is shown to be 1,344,384. A survey of the details of the return shows that there are in the Dominion 686,947 males and 657,437 females, and of Maoris 32,730 males and 30,051 females. The total increase in population since the previous census taken on April 17, 1921, is recorded as 135,501 including Maoris and as 199,707 excluding Maoris. This latter is regarded as being the greatest intercensal gain ever experienced in New Zealand in point of absolute numbers; relatively it has frequently been exceeded. The increment of 129,707 represents a gain of 10.68 per cent, on the population in 1921. North and South Islands. The great bulk of the population increment went to the North Island, The figures, inclusive of Maoris, are: — s 192 - Population. Increase. 1926. North Island 891,970 100,052 12.64 South Island 515,195 35,449 7.39 Dominion 1,407,165 135,501 _ 10.66 The North Island now contains 63 per cent, of the Dominion’s inhabitants; the South Island possesses 37 per cent. From 1861 up to 1901 the South Island contained the majority of the 'population. Prior to 1861 and from 1901 onwards th? North Island predominated in this respect, and is steadily increasing the margin, as the under-

Maori Population. The data quoted for Maoris,' which incidentally covers half-castes as well as those of the full blood, discloses a very satisfactory increment to the num; bers of the Native race. The Maori population in 1921 was enumerated as 56,987. The current census gives a total of 62,781, representing a numerical gain of 5791 and a percentage gain of 10.17. The great majority of Maoris are North Island residents, the Northern Island claiming 60,222, as against the South’s 2559. Maori males outnumbered females by 2679. Sex Proportions. Males in the population (excluding Maoris) are still in the majority and outnumber females by 29,510. The “masculinity” of the population is usually expressed in terms of “females per 1000 males',” and recent census experience is quoted on that basis. The comparisons given below are interesting:— Females per 1000 males. Census 1901 ... 903 ~ 1906 887 „ 1911 896 „ 1916 993 „ 1921 956 „ 1926 957 Results of Last Six Censusss. Commenting on the return, Mr. Bollard said that he had asked the Government Statistician to supply him with the figures for the last six censuses, excluding Maoris, and Mr. Fraser had re-

As the period 1916-21 covers the return of the majority of the personnel of the Expeditionary Forces, its record has obviously been , well surpassed by that of the current intcrcensal interval.

mentioned fiKures serve to prove:— _ N. Island. S. Island. Census 1901 .... 50.55 49.45 „ 1906 .... 53.65 46.35 ]91l 44.10 1916 .... 59.22 40.78 „ 1921 .... 60.81 39.19 1926 .... 63.39 36.61

ported as follows: — Period. Numerical increase. Percentage increase. 1921-26 .. 129,707 10.68 1916-21 .. 119,464 10.87 1911-16 .. 90,981 9.02 1906-11 .. 119,890 13.49 1901-06 .. 115.859 14.99 1896-1901 69,359 9.86