THE CENSUS RETURNS.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 13651, 21 July 1906, Page 5

THE CENSUS RETURNS.

10 TOT EDITOB. Sir.—l read with a. good deal of interest tlie opinions expressed by various gentle men on tho lack of progress made by/ Otago, as disclosed by the census returns* As an old Otago resident, I must admit 1 that I am rorry to see Dunedin drop from; the position of premier city of New Zealand to a very poor fourth. It will require a particularly powerful magnifying glass for niost pcoplo to see "that our prosperity in the south is, if anything, more solidthan that of tho north." Dunedin has not maintained its natural increase, and one. of the gentlemen you interviewed a quito right in declaring that one cause ia the lack of full cradles. Dunedin is, admit, tedly, ono of tho most higbjy-educatect cities world. So is Boston, U.S.A., and tho Bostonians, as a rule, do not havet children. Search the homes of the extremely highly-cultured men and women, Mr Editor, and you will find few cradles. Another influence vory great in Dunedin of recent years has, in my opinion, materially affected tho progress of the city. So long as any long-established. industry or business is liable to be wiped out of existence by a majority of votes of tho people, so long will commercial men feel insecure. Of course, this argument against prohibi. tion applies to New Zealand throughout; but other cities, notablv Auckland, with' 89,000 people, have not taken so seriously to no-lieeuso as Dunedin,. Remove tho above causes and give us a fipe harbour, and Dunedin will scon forgo ahcadi again.—l am, etc., July 20. Ppogmss.