New Zealand Times. WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 25, 1874.

New Zealand Times, Volume XXIX, Issue 4269, 25 November 1874, Page 2

New Zealand Times. WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 25, 1874.

We have to acknowledge from the Regis-trar-General a copy of the Statistics of the Colony for 1873, containing abstracts from the agricultural statistics of 1874. A great deal of the information in this blue-book has been anticipated, it having been printed and laid before Parliament last session. Nevertheless, wo welcome the Statistics of New Zealand for 1873 as a valuable book of reference ; and wo should add, that in point of time it is in advance of the issue for previous years. # The volume before us docs not contain the results obtained during the late Census. These results, the RegistrarGeneral states in his report, “will be kept “ almost entirely separate from the annual “ statistics, but they will be prepared in “ such a form that they can, when it is ‘ ‘ found desirable, be bound up in the “ same volume.” Great exertions are being made, we understand, to compde the Census returns, but delay must necessarily take place in consequence of the unsuitableness of the offices which the Registrar-General's staff occupies, and of the limited number of the staff itself. Having recently expressed a very decided opinion on the necessity for an entire remodelling of the statistics, annually published by authority, we have pleasure in stating that this volume presents very many improvements of an important character, which cannot fail to commend themselves to all who have been in the habit of consulting them. The Registrar-General states that he has “ taken advantage of the receipt of fresh “ type by the Government Printer, to “ remodel the form of the tables and the “ volume as a whole and we must say that a very creditable piece of typographical work it is. The volume would have been completed in time for the Assembly had the session lasted the usual time, but the pressure upon the Government printing-office during session was so great as to cause the statistics to be laid aside. This is a pity, because it would have been most desirable to havehad the statistics for 1873 complete, and in the hands of members before the prorogation. However, it is to be hoped that next year will find them in a more forward state. Moreover, the volume before us contains much new matter. The RegistrarGeneral writes of Part I. : “ This part “ comprises an entirely new set of tables, “ supplying information that was often “ desired but not hitherto compiled. It “ includes a list of Governors from the “ foundation of the colony, a list of the “ Parliaments and of the Ministers that “ have held office since the establishment “ of the system of Responsible Govern- “ ment in New Zealand, lists of the “ members of the Legislative Council “ and House of Representatives in 1873, “ and .also a list of foreign consuls in “ New Zealand.” No doubt this historical information will be prized by many persons. A little care, however, would have rendered corrections unnecessary. It would be impossible, within the limits of a single article, to do more than glance at the general information regarding the colony compiled by the Registrar-General. We shall, however, endeavor to present some of the more important points in his report. Taking Part 11., reaufe^ Estimated population, December 31st, 1873 .. 295,940 Births registered during 1873 ~ .. .. 11,222 Deaths registered ditto 3,645 Natural increase ditto 7,577 The natural increase, by excess of births over deaths in New Zealand, was thus at the rate of 20'75 per diem. Comparison is made between the natural increase of population in England and Wales, and the increase, by excess of births over deaths in New Zealand, with the following results : In England and Wales 100*00 In New Zealand 213*31 The Registrar-General promises to furnish further information on this point, on the completion of the Census compilation now in progress ; but with all respect to his great ability, we are very confident that he will not “ arrive at the causes of “ this difference” by the simple comparison of figures by which h« proposes to elucidate them. The causes Ho much deeper. Statistics exhibit results, but do not reach to causes. It is essentially a social question ; the most important social problem the world has yet encountered. Shortly, we may stale, that where the conditions of existence are favorable to natural increase, as in New Zealand, where money' is plentiful, labor light, and the climate enjoyable, there population will increase by natural law, at a far more rapid rate than it will increase in a country like England, where there is an incessant struggle for existence by four-fifths of the entire population. It may seem a harsh thing to say, but it is a fact nevertheless, that population cannot afford to multiply itself in old countries as it may do with impunity in new countries. None but the reckless or unthrifty amongst the toiling classes in Europe have large families. The excess of immigration over emigration during 1873, was 8811, against 4973 in 1872. The total increase to population during the past year, was therefore 16,388. But here we find a most significant fact stated by the Registrar-General, without a word of comment illustrating “ the causes.” The excess of immigration over emigragration, wo are told, as above, was 8811 ; whereas, “ the total immigration to New “ Zealand in 1873 amounted to 13,572 “persons,” of whom 8754 had their passages paid wholly or in part by the Government. In other words, while the colony paid heavily to introduce 8754 immigrants, without colonial experience of any kind, and of whom 1509 were children, it lost 4761 persons, a large proportion of whom were experienced colonists, being equal to 33 per cent, of the total number of immigrants. Surely, there is a cause for this ; and it would be worth finding out, for it concerns the colony much more nearly than the other aspect of the population question which the Registrar-General proposes to investigate for public information. Our own opinion is, that notwithstanding the actual increase of population during the past year, the colony sustained a heavy money loss by the exodus of so many colonists. Doubtless, the unsatisfactory state of our laud laws, which renders it difficult to obtain suitable land for settlement, and the grinding impositions on gold miners, wore the principal causes for tho departure of so many persona from tho colony during 1873. Of course, a proportion of these were mere birds-of-passage ; others loft tho colony temporarily; but even making allowance for these, wo should not bo far out, wo think, in stating that something like 4000 persons emigrated for good during 1873. If wo are wrong, wo shall only bo too happy to acknowledge our error.

There is one part of the vital statistics which we can hardly commend, namely, that in which the relative morality of the several provinces is sought to be exhibited by the number of illegitimate births registered in each. We do not accept this as any essential tost of morality, nor can any person having the least acquaintance with sociology do so either. According to the Registrar-General, Hawke’s Bay is just a trifle more moral...than Auckland ; Marlborough registers a superfluity of naughtiness, the other provinces having something like a general average of propriety or impropriety as' you will. Such comparisons can do ho good; and in this sparsely peopled country, at all events, should not be made. Wo trust such prominence will not be given to it in future. Tho number of marriages in 1873 was 2376, being an increase on 1872 of 403. And here again we have a parade of the same instinct of official morality of which we complained in the preceding paragraph. The Registrar-General writes: “ The number was more than propor- “ tionate to the increase of population, “ for the marriages in 1872 were in tho “proportion of 6'85 to every 1000 of “ the population, but in 1873 they were “ at the rate of 7’90.” Now a very obvious remark will suggest itself to the minds of most readers on perusing this passage, which we need hardly express; but we are compelled to say this, that the Regis-trar-General had very much bettor in future leave generalising of this nature to the public, which will not be slow to draw its own conclusions from the statistics supplied by him. Our space does not admit of further comment to-day. We shall return to these statistics, which are really creditable to the Registrar-General and his department.