WEALTH OF COMMUNITY.

Manawatu Standard, Volume XLVI, Issue 26, 30 December 1925, Page 9

WEALTH OF COMMUNITY.

STATISTICIAN’S ESTIMATE. £576 PER CAPITA. WELLINGTON, Dec. 29. After the orgy of Christmas shopping, tho average New Zealand parent is probably wondering what lie is still worth. The Government Statistician, who deals only in averages, and not occasional domestic events,\ has been investigating tho general wealth of the community, and has come to the conclusion that it amounts to £576 per capita of tho whole population. But as wealth is usually held and controlled by adults, an assessment of tho capital in the possession of New Zealanders over the age of twenty years brings the total per individual out at the excellent figuro of £952. The method of ascertaining tho amount of private wealth held in tho country is to take the estates certified for stamp duty over such a period as will dispose of unusual fluctuations due to exceptionally largo estates becoming subject to death duty. Tho totals over a series of years are averaged, and it has been found that tho system works out with fair accuracy. On this basis it is found that _ the total private wealth of the Dominion amounts to over £794,000,000. Compared with the estimate made in 1914, the private wealth of the country has increased by the remarkable total of £500,000.000, and it is officially suggested that, in accounting for this enormous increase, the part played by currency inflation should not be overlooked. It is well known that the value of property, particularly land, has increased very largely during the decade, but the statistician adds that the figures reflect largely tho prosperity of New Zealand during the period under review.