CENSUS RETURNS

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume 80, 28 November 1945, Page 4

CENSUS RETURNS

THREE CLAIMANTS FOR CITY STATUS Wellington, Nov. 27. Three claimants for city status are likely to come forward in the near future on the grounds that the recent census has disclosed a population in each case of more than 20,000. Mt. Albert, an Auckland suburb, shows a preliminary return of 24,393, and Mt. Eden, another Auckland suburb, has returned 20,185. Hamilton borough is shown at 21,335, but Us claim to city status must depend on the number of the military personnel included in that total. Though Palmerston North, with 24,654, has now reached a total greater than that of either of its long-standing opponents to seventh place among the cities, namely, Wanganui (now 23,528) and Invercargill (now 23,480), its position has been usurped by Lower Hutt whose population has grown phenomenally ffom 17,772 in 1936 to 31,190. Palmerston North is only Just ahead of Mt. Albert. Granted that Mt. Albert. Mt. Eden and Hamilton qualify on the basis of present figures for tentative inclusion among the cities, the following will be the order of the Dominion's cities according to the totals shown in the preliminary returns: —

1945 1936 1. x Auckland 102,295 2. x Wellington ... .... 122.681 115,705 3. x Christchurch .... 112.525 101,948 4. x Dunedin .... 65,487 64,710 5. Lower Hutt ... .... 31,190 17,772 6. Palmerston Nth. 24,654 22.202 » 7. Mt. Albert ... .... 24,393 19,721 8. Wanganui .... 23.828 23,178 9. x Invercargill ... 22,113 10. Hamilton ...» 21.335 16.793 H. Mt. Eden ... .... 20.165 18.515 12. Nelson 11,214 x Excluding suburban boroughs such as Eastbourne, Newmarket, or Riccarton. An amended census return for Palmerston North records an ncreane in the city’s population of 3058 since 1936. In the following figures those for the Manawatu and Kairanga Countias are amended return s, with ManawatU’s 1945 total including military cartips:— 1945 193C Palmerston N. City .... 25.260 22.202 Kairanga County 5.667 5,368 Manawatu County . 6.244 5.283 Mataura Borough 1,500 Gore Borough 4,635 Winton Borough 877 Southland County . 23,361 26.07( Wallace County 8,630 10,034 Fiord County If