AVERAGE INCOMES

Dominion, Volume 34, Issue 80, 28 December 1940, Page 11

AVERAGE INCOMES

Males And Females In New Zealand STATISTICIAN’S REVIEW Based on declarations of income made under the Social Security Act, figures compiled by the Government Statistician show that the average income per head of males in New Zealand for the 12 months ended March 31. 1939, was £264, and for females £95. The total number of returns received til) to April 16. 1910. was 995,134; these comprised 485.674 tor males. 462.060 for females, and 7190 eases where no data of tiny kind had been entered ou the questionnaire, says the Government Statistician. The number of returns received was substantially less than should have been furnished. It is believed that the great ‘majority failing to supply returns bad little or no income apart from salary or wages; in such cases having no further social security tax (or very little) to pay, many did not appreciate, despite considerable publicity given to the requirements, that a return was still necessary.

Of the 426.060 returns for females. 12,390 were incomplete in respect of income, and 22S were cases of duplicate or amending returns, or returns for the wrong year: 427 were cases of loss of income, 200.000 of no income, and 243,015 recorded their incomes. Dealing with the latter group only, it is found that the aggregate income was £23.057.370. an average of £95 a head. Since the average relates to all females of 16 years and upward, it obviously includes many married women nor engaged in industry and with only small incomes derived from Post Office Savings Bank deposits or other investments.

Of the 127 eases of loss of income. 312 specified the amount, an aggregate loss of £41.933. If the remaining 115 lost in tile same degree. the aggregate of 213.412 females. 16 years of ago or over, bad a toial income of £22.999.981. or £94 a head. Though the degree of comparison is not good since a much larger proportion of males are in gainful occupations, comparative figures for males are given—number, 433.329: aggregate income. £114.274.174: average a bead. £264 Tito inclusion of those without income fmales. IS.500: females. 200.000) would reduce the averages to--males, £253: females. £5l.

In broad divisions ami omitting persons with no income, or with not loss of income, the aggregate income of the sexes in the year ended March. 1939. was distributed as follows: -

Income. .Males'' Female 0.0 7.0 £50-£99 is.e £100-£149 5 0 ?o.O £150-£109 7 9 £200-£249 13.2 S.4 £250-£209 10.9 £300-£349 12.9 4.2 £ 350-£ 399 £400-£499 , S.3 •’ Si £5110-£749 5 * £750-£999 1.5 £1000- £1999 i; f > 5 0 Over £2000 4.7 3.0