TIDE OF POPULATION.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVI, Issue 20331, 12 August 1929, Page 10

TIDE OF POPULATION.

ESTIMATES FOR TWO ISLANDS EASTER TRAFFIC DISTURBANCE. NORMAL POSITION RESTORED. An abnormal movement of population between the North and South Islands was indicated by the official estimates of tho relative numbers at March 31. Those for June 30, published in last week's Gazette, show that the apparent disturbance has been adjusted. During the 12 months to March 31. 1928, the population of the North Island increased, according the the Government Statistician's estimates, by 11,763, and that of the South Island by 3191. This year's estimates at the corresponding date showed an increase in the North Island of only 2056, as against 14,200 in the South Island.

When inquiries were n;;i(le, (he Government Statistician expressed his confidence in the figures, as representing the -position as accurately as possible. It was recognised that somo abnormal influence had intervened, and the suggestion was mode that it was probably the incidence of Easier, for while the festival occurred in April in 1928, this year March 31 was in the middle of the holidays, so that the South Island estimate was probably inflated by the number of passengers going from North to South. This explanation is confirmed by the estimates as at June 50, which are shown below in comparison with those for the two preceding years:— North South J.-ilnnd. Island. Totfils. 1027 .. 83fi,C>0(> 516,181 .1 ~172,787 IMS . . sr,!>.l!)9 51!),577 1,389,076 1929 . . 880.913 523,572 1,404.520 . These are estimates of the population excluding Maoris. They show increases in the North Island of 12,893 in 1927-28, and 11,449 in 1928-29, while the numbers for the South Island are respectively 3396 and 3995. Moreover, if comparison is made between the March and June estimates of this year, it is found that the latest figure for the North Island is higher by 11,412 and that for the South Island lower by 11,848. Tho June 1928 estimate attributed 62.59 per cent, of the population to the North Island. The latest shows 62.72 per cent.