Nash Explains Decline In N.Z. floral Population

Northern Advocate, 5 January 1946, Page 2

Nash Explains Decline In N.Z. floral Population

(P.A.) WELLINGTON, This Day The following list of urban areas, with their present populations and intercensal increases, was given by the acting-Frime Minister (the Rt. Hon. W. Nash), when reviewing census figures yesterday:—

The trends over counties, cities and boroughs and town districts are summarised in the following table: —

RURAL POPULATION DOWN

‘ The decline in the rural population, although more apparent in the South Island, is general." said Mr Nash. "Only 11 counties in the south have recorded increases, as against 42 which recorded decreases.

"The comparable figures for the North Island arc 30 and 46. The total gain in North Island counties was 27.330, while South Island counties declined by 21,050.

"The rural population is thus barely holding its own. although caution is necessary in drawing conclusions as to the consequences of the census results for the farming industry. "It has to be realised that the number of farms has not decreased, that farm technology has economised manpower and that rural development and constructional work, which formerly occupied a larger proportion of the population, is now tapering relatively to urban activities.

! "The growth of many counties in the iAuckland provincial district is made (more marked Lv the generally static |county positions, I RETURN OF SERVICEMEN “Every county in the large area extending from Auckland City south to the Waikato counties and east, through Piako, Matarnata. Tauranga. Rotorua and Bay of Plenty has ihe distinction of recording a population increase. "In other parts of the country the ! growth has been less extensive and in some instances has been due to the location of service establishments. "A slight decline in yet a number of other districts will be offset by the return of service personnel from overseas, while the position of certain counties was distorted in ’1936 by a relatively large number of relief and other workers there located. "None of the figures given includes] United States servicemen or enemy ! prisoners of war."

Urban Areas. Population. Increase. Auckland . . . . 2611.575 51.416 Wellington .. 172,387 22.916 Christchurch ... 149.741 ♦17,182 Dunedin .... 83.055 1.094 Lower Hull . 31.1.90 13,418 Invercargill . . .... 27.419 1.647 Palmerston Nr >rth 27.277 3.210 Wanganui . . 26,453 658 Napier 20.286 1.597 Tim am 19,570 756 Gisborne 16.945 1.060 Nelson 16.552 2.968

Increase— Counties Cities & Boroughs Town D’tricts Under 5 per cent 11 22 4 5-10 per cent .... 10 51 4 10 per cent or over 20 23 Totals 41 95 31 Decrease — Under 5 per cent 11 18 G 5-10 per cent 10 9 7 10 per cent or over 61 G 8 « ■Totals till 33 21