RECENT N.Z. CENSUS

Lake Wakatip Mail, Issue 4724, 10 January 1946, Page 3

RECENT N.Z. CENSUS

INCREASE IN POPULATION PRESENT FIGURE 1,746,319 Commenting on the interim results of the recent census, the Minister in Charge of the Census and Statistics Department, Hon. W. Nash, said the returns disclosed an increase in population of 128,41.1 or 8.2 per cent., to the present figure of 1,702,224. This total, however, is related only to persons resident in New Zealand at the taking of the census. The addition of 44,096 members of the aimed forces who were overseas at the date of the census brings the total increase to 172,509,' or 11 per cent., and the total present population to 1,746,319. Exclusive of Maoris, but allowing for troops overseas, the percentage rate of increase during the nine and a-half year period, 1936-1945 (10.6 per cent.) is only a fraction lower than that for the 10 year period 1926-1936, when the rate of increase was 10.9 per cent, the net reproduction rate (population is just reproducing itself when the rate is one) steadily increased from 0.970 in 1936 to 1.274 in 1941, since uhen it has receded slightly to 1.207 in 1944. A too optimistic conclusion as to the growing birthrate is, however, checked by reference to the census period of 1921-1926, during which a five year increase in population amounting to 10.7 was recorded. Referring to the increase in population of the Dominion Mr Nash said the cities and boroughs, which had contributed 115,906 of the total increase (excluding those in the forces) of 128,413, now contained 63.1 per cent, of the population compared with 59.3 per cent, in 1936. Independent town districts recorded an increase of t 5225, while on the preliminary figures dependent town districts showed a dc- | crease of only 6280. A small balance of the total recorded increase ; was accounted for by the population | on board ship and on adjacent is- I lands, where they were not part of ! counties. Most of the urban increase i had been in larger centres. Foremost was Auckland city, industrial developmen of which had resulted in a gain of 20,983, or 20.5 per cent., while contiguous districts had increased substantially. The Auckland urban area showed a total increase of 51,416. The Wellington urban area occupied second place for a similar reason. The most spectacular had been the growth in the population of Lower Hutt city from 17,772 in 1936 to 31,190 in 1945, icprosenting a 75.5 per cent, increase and accounting for the major part 0 f the increase of 22,916 shown for the Wellington urban area.