DOMINION'S POPULATION

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVI, Issue 20263, 24 May 1929, Page 8

DOMINION'S POPULATION

NATIVE AND FOREIGN BOM,

NEW STATISTICAL RECORD,

MAJORITY BORN IN COUNTRY,

Over three-quartern of the population of New Zealand is now comprised of per. bods born within the country. This is ono of the chief conclusions reached by the Government Statistician in the latest compilation arising out of the 1926 census.

For the purpose of the compilation per. sons born in New Zealand have been designated native-born, those born outside New Zealand being called foreign-born. In 1926 a total of 991,296 persons (493,009 males and 498,287 females) were returned as born in New Zealand, a proportion of 75.37 per cent, of the total non-Maori population, excluding cases where particn. lars were not specified. The foreign-born totalled 323,955 persons (179,367 males and 144,588 females), or 24.63 per cent. The numerical increases over 1921 figures were:—Native-born: Males, 43,858; females, 41,155; total, 85,013. Foreignborn: Males, 5647; females, 6331; total, 11,978. The proportion of native-born fell from 31.52 per cent, in 1858 to 24.11 per cent, in 1864, after which the rising numbers of the native-born were reflected in an uninterrupted series of increases in the proportions per cent, of the total population, exclusive of cases of origin not specified. It is interesting to note that the respective positions of the native-born and foreign-born in 1864 were practically the reverse of their proportional distribation in 1926. During the intercensal period, 1881-86, the native-born gained numerical superiority for the first time. Preponderance o1 Native-born.

" In brief, the foreign-born population, which in the early days of colonisation comprised practically the whole population of New Zealand, was equalled at tha end of a, period of approximately half a centmy by the numbers of native-born," the statistician remarks in a commentary on the various detailed tables. "The subsequent 40 years have seen the latter multiply until they now form more than three-fourths of the total population." A comparison -with other countries shows that in 1926 the proportion of native-born persons in the population of the Dominion, 75.37 per cent., was the lowest, a condition to be expected in a country of such comparative recent settlement. The corresponding percentage for the white population of the United States ■was 85.54, for Australia, 84.51, for South Africa, 84.13, and for Canada, 77.75. The regional distribution of population according to origin is of considerable interest'. Previous census results showed the distribution of the population by country of birth, thus indicating to a certain extent the districts favoured by settlers from various countries. In addition, the duration of residence of foreignborn in relation to geojfraphical factors is an important study, revealing among other things the regions of settlement of recent arrivals from overseas. Nativeborn residents in the North Island in 1926 totalled 593,558, or 59.88 per cent, of the Dominion total. Foreign-born numbered 219,944, or 67.89 per cent. Foreign-bom in Counties. The North Island, therefore, possessed more than two-thirds of the total foreignborn population of the Dominion. Narrowing the regional proportions to the provinces, Auckland hs.d the highest percentage of foreign-born with 28.33: Wellington came next with 26.97 and then Hawke's Bay with 25.14. Marlborough was lowest with only 15.68 per cent. The following counties in the North Island had a higher proportion of foreignborn than the general proportion of 27.04 per cent, for the whole •of the North Island:—Waitemata, 34.21 per cent.; Eden, 31.66; Raglan, 34.65; Tauranga, 27.93; Rotorau, 28.83; Taupo, 33.15; Waiapu, 31.78; Cook, 27.65; Hawke's Bay, 27.46; Hutt, 28.47; Makara, 32.57. The highest proportion of nativeborn was in the Nelson urban area, 80.85 per cent., with Invercargill next with 80.46.

In the Dominion as a whole 19.22 per cent, of the foreign-born population were residents of less than five years' duration. iL This proportion differs widely in various districts. The highest, percentage was in Nelson with 23.80, followed by Auckland with 21.87 and Wellington with 21.05. Marlborough had the lowest, namely, 13.52', with Southland next with 13.97. Further light on the regional distribution of more recently arrived immigrants is revealed by a table showing the proportionate distribution by provinces of all persons resident im the country for less than seven years. Auckland is by far the highest, with a percentage of 41.58, Wellington being next with 23.41 and Canterbury next with 11.35. These figures reveal that the preference for urban life is more strongly marked with those who have taken up their residence in New Zealand in recent years. They represent the survivors at the censns date of practically all the heavy post-war immigration exclusive of soldiers and other New Zealanders returning from abroad. Retention ol Immigrants. Out of four years' immigration totalling 56,179, the tables show that 43,'744 were actually "retained" in the Dominion. "In other words, it may be said, on the assumption that few of those staying over 12 months will subsequently depart, that the Dominion has been able to 'retain' four-fifths of its immigrants, the statistician remarks. "As the period covered a time of below normal prosperity the 'retained' immigrant is probably proportionately lower than usual. "Among females of overseas origin employed in gainful occupations the two groups which exhibit the greatest divergence from normal are those representing occupations connected with primary pro* duction and domestic service. In general females who arrived within the last ten years were not attracted to farming and other primary productive pursuits to the same extent as earlier arrivals. "With domestic and personal service the position is reversed, and of females who arrived within five years of, and were actively employed at the census date, almost one-half arc credited to domestic and personal service. This is, of couise, a reflection on the immigration policy pursued from 1920 to 1926," under whicfi bona-fide domestic servants under 40 yea" of age were granted free passages froi the United Kingdom to New Zealand subject to certain conditions."