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New Zealand Times, Volume XXXVI, Issue 6272, 19 May 1881, Page 4

The census returns, so far as made public, reveal one circumstance which all who have the interest of the public at heart will desire could be placed in a better light. The tendency of population to crowd round a few centres does not diminish. Auckland, Wellington, Christchurch, and Dunedin number an aggregate population of about 130,000 people. The second rate municipalities —Oamaru, Timaru, Lyttelton, Napier, Nelson, and the West Coast towns will aggregate in population from 50,000 to 00,000 more, making, let us say, 180,000 out of an entire colonial population which barely numbers in Europeans 450,000. This Is not a healthy aspect of affairs, especially when the comparatively insignificant manufacturing industries in operation in these centres of population are taken into account, and a comparison with the wide spread area of land uncultured and untrodden awaiting the advance of settlement. It is true that the exports of produce from the colony show a steadily progressive increase, and the rural population of the colony will be found to have materially increased since the last census was taken, but still the fact remains that there are too many traders amongst ns, too many non-producers, too many who live from hand to mouth upon the precarious profits of barter. The colony needs producers, men who will take Carlyle’s precept to heart, “Produce! produce ! Were it but the pitifullest, infinitesimal fraction of a product, produce it, iu God’s name !"’ There is fear of old country traditions being reflected in this Britain of the South becoming a nation of shopkeepers.