The Dominion. SATURDAY, MAY 30, 1936. DISTURBING CENSUS FIGURES

Dominion, Volume 29, Issue 208, 30 May 1936, Page 10

The Dominion. SATURDAY, MAY 30, 1936. DISTURBING CENSUS FIGURES

The provisional totals of this year’s census, published this morning, afford little cause for rejoicing. New Zealand’s population continues to grow, but at the slowest rate in her history. In the five years from 1921 to 1926 the increase was 10.73 pet cent. Tn the ten years from 1926 to 1936 the increase was only 11.74 per cent. There are two causes, the cessation of immigration and the falling birth-rate. In several of the depression years more people left New Zealand to make thier homes elsewhere than came here to settle. And 1935 was the eleventh successive year m which the birth-rate was the lowest on record. That is to say, in 1925 there were fewer live births per thousand of population than ever before in New Zealand—and every year since 1925 the figure has been lower again. On page eight of this issue is published a graph showing the growth of population since 1891. In that year the .birth-rate was 37.95 per thousand; last year it was 16.14. _ These are disturbing figures for a pleasant and empty country in the crowded and restless world of to-day. The number of marriages last year was the highest ever recorded in New Zealand, and the rate per thousand of population (8.21) was the highest since 1921. The slump, like the war, had a depressing effect on the marriage market; but the wedding boom of 1921 failed to stimulate the birth-rate. In any case, even if the birth-rate should rise permanently, natural increase will be of little avail to avert the peril so well put by the Prime Minister: “Population is the best defence.” We must resume immigration.