DOMINION CENSUS

Otago Witness, Issue 3509, 14 June 1921, Page 7

DOMINION CENSUS

FIRST PRELIMINARY COUNT. POPULATION INCREASE: 117,525. WELLINGTON, June 6. The first preliminary count of the census is now complete, and shows that the dominion has increased in population since October, 1916, by 117,525 persons. This increase includes many thousands of returned soldiers, who were still abroad in 1916. A much greater ratio of increase is shown in the North Island, particularly in Waikato and the Bay of Plenty districts. In 1916 the North Island (including camps, etc.) possessed 59 per cent, of the population. as against 41 per cent, in the South Island, but the ratio now is 61 per cent, in tho North Island as compared with 39 per cent, in the South Island. It is pointed out by the Government Statistician in a letter in which he conveys these facts to the Minister of Internal Affairs (the Hon. W. D Stewart) that the figures have been compiled from returns made by local census enumerators, and it follows, therefore, that they are subject to errors in compilation and errors in transmission, etc. The final computation must await the completion of tho checking of tile schedules, which probably will require another six weeks. The following table gives the details of the preliminary count, Maoris being' excluded.:

The total increase in the North Island since October, 1916, is given as 87,539, or 13.5 per cent., against 29,926. or 6.7 per rent., in the South Island. Included in the 1916 ’figures were 8724 persons in_ military and interment camps, all of which were in the North Island. The allocation of these to their respective islands would raise the ratio of in *rease in the North Island and lower that of tho South Island. (Froji Our Own Correspondent.) WELLINGTON. June 8. The Government Statistician has prepared a preliminary return tion of certain grouped counties, including the interior boroughs and town districts. The details are as follows: Dunedin, Waihemo, Waikouaiti. Taieri, and Peninsula —1921, 87,904; 1916, 33,070; increase, 4834; increase per cent., 6. Central Otago, Vincent, Maniototo, and Tuapeka—l92l, 14,289; 1916, 14,692; increase, 393; increase per cent., 3. Southland, South Otago, Clutha, and Bruce—l92l, 67.214; 1916 , 64,762; increase, 2152; increase per cent., 4. West Otago, Lake, Wallace, Fiord, and Stewart Island—l92l, 14,151; 1916. 13.3+8; increase, 803; increase per cent., 6. LARGE INCREASE IN NORTH ISLAND WELLINGTON, Juno 7. Fu’ther details of the growth of the population in tho North Island are given m a letter to the Minister of Internal Affairs from the Gove.' intent Statistician. In one section, the Statistician has returned groups of certain homogeneous counties, including interior boroughs and town districts, for the purpose of comparison with tho census taken in 1916. The group showing the largest percentage of increase is the Bay of Plenty, including Tauvanga, Whakatane, and Opotiki, which population has risen by 5764. or 36 per cent. Waikato, including Franklin, Raglan, Waipa, Waikato West, Taupo (half, and MntamaU is next with an increase of 12,523. or 27 per cent Tho Auckland area, including Waitemata, Eden, Maoakau, and tlie Great- Barrier, has a population of 175,717 against 147,508 in 1916. an increase of 28,209. or 20 per cent. All the North Island groups, except the East Coast, show a percentage increase, in all but: three cases, of double figures, but in th? South Island, only two areas show a percentage increase of double figures, while there are three districts, .the" West Coast, Central Otago, and t hatham Island, which show decreases.

Males. Females. Total. North Island 381.380 357.291 738,671 South Island 240.716 237,587 478,305 Totals ... 622,095 594,873 1,216,974