THE POPULATION QUESTION

Otago Daily Times, Issue 14212, 13 May 1908, Page 3

THE POPULATION QUESTION

THE REGISTRAR-GENERAL' AND HIS FIGURES. A REPLY TO CRITICS. (Fiton Our. Own CoHREsroNDEXT.) WELLINGTON. May 11. The Registrar-general lias been explaining ihe position in regard to the csti-iuitcd population of the. four cities. He says if the people who co.up!ain had cxaniiaed the Gazette of April.24, in which details of the statistics appeared, with explanatory notes, they might have postponed their allegations. The estima-led populations of the four centres in January this year are given thus:— Auckland-City, 42,335;' six suburban boroughs, 29,581; —total, 71,916; total population of Greater Auckland, census 1906, 82,101 (including suburbs not in Iwmighs). Wellinglon.-City, C 5.756; Karori, 2449. Onslow. 1226; Miliar, 1525;— total, 70,947; census 1906, 63.807. ' Christchurch.-City, 53.826; 53,826; Wool, ston, 3252; New Brighton, 1132; Sumner, 1181;— total, 59.391; total of Great ?.r Christebureh, census 1906, ' 69,059 ((including suburbs not in boroughs and New Brighton and Sumner). ' Dunedin.—City, 38.058; six suburban boroughs, 21,437;—t0ta1,'59,495; total, census 1906, 56,020. To a Post reporter the Registrar cxi plained that: "In the tables are given tho deaths aiul' death-rates for each of the four cities, for the surburljan boroughs severally, and for each city with its suburlxm town. As regards Auckland and Christchurch, the whole cf the area usually reocgni.ted as suburban has not. yet ken brought under municipal government, and tho vital statistics do not deal will) such portions as still remain in road • districts. But the omission is not very important, for there arc in either ease tjnito enough suburbs included within the borough boundaries to give a fair idea, of the deathrates of Creator Auckland and Greater Christchurch. As further boroughs are formed, the vital statistics will bo made to include them. Christoliurcli contends that Road Board districts such as Heathcoto, Avon, and Spreydon should be included in the city total, but they cannot be taken in, for the simple reason that these are not municipalised, and consequently oxaot reli. able figures alxmt births, deaths, and other matters, for the purpose of striking averages, is not available." Tho Registrar-general's figures arc not for the purpose of contrasting mere masses of population, but to givo tho totals of boroughs in relation to births, marriages, deaths, and so on. Until the districts aro nranicipaliaxl, these vital matlors cannot bo readily tabulated. "It has boon found impossible," said Mr Von Dadelraen this morning, "fo get, from suburhc lying in road districts not municipalised correct estimates of population year by year, to which tho birtlis and deaths may be applied." For the purpose of striking rates, the borouglis of Sumner (seven miles out) and New Brighton (nv« or six miles), on the sea coast, havo been added to the Ohristchuroh figures. Similarly it has been urged that Pctono should be included in Wellington's list, but the Rcgistrar-geiicral holds that Potone, with different conditions, should JtavG vital statistics of its own. If PetOTjo was "rung in," why not tho Lower Hutt, and so on, till it could be shown that tho North Island was Greater SVclUnstonor Greater Auckland?

Auckland dissatisfied.

(P2oit..Pj!!3 Own Correspondent.) '■; ; " AUCKLAND, May 12. Tho 6jsicm of arriving at population statistics at present in vogue is looked upon hero as being very unfair. Under tho jEogietrar-general's schemo tho Auckland Road Board districts are not counted in, whereas' Wellington and Diuiedin havo been allowed to retain their outlying suburbs. Despite the departmental explanation, the system is misleading. TJio chairman of the Auckland Chamber of 'Commerce (Mr L. J. Bagnali), seen by a Herald representative, said tho method was a most unfair one. Ju all fairness, ho considorcd, tho road boards attached to the city should lie counted in. Arch ITilj arid Kdcn Terrace districts, for instance, were quito as much entitled to be called suburbs of Auckland ns the boroughs. "Thoy are certainly suburbs of Auckland," continued Mr Bagmall, "and I fail to see what object tho department has in changing the old method. Surely tho Registrar is not influenced by any party feeling of jealousy regarding the population of Auckland as compared with Wellington:' I suppose tho explanation is that all road districts are being left out."

Mr ,7. H. Jlackio. secretary of (lie Inilustml Association, also expired his dissatisfaction with the present method, which, lie said, would disturb the continuity of llio system that calculation has been k-isod on for a number of years past. "It would not matter," said Mr Mackie, "if the basis of rom.pil.ing tho statistics was uniform throughout New Zealand, lnil. hero thorn appears to k> unreasonable discrimination as a basis. Tim figures now being supplied arc of no value as far as the relative progress of the cities is concerned. Looking at. the matter from a practical utility point of view, the new •yslem will defeat the object for which the statistics wew provided.' Others expressed similar views, it. lieiii? considered that the four cities should bo brought into line with each other.