THE DOMINION’S POPULATION

Otago Witness, Issue 3961, 11 February 1930, Page 6

THE DOMINION’S POPULATION

INCREASE OF 17,137 FOR PAST YEAR. WELLINGTON, February 3. During the year ended March 31, 1929, the population of New Zealand increased by 17,137. equal to 1.18 per cent, of tho population at the beginning of the year. If Maoris be omitted the absolute increase falls to 16,261 and the relative increase to 1.17 per cent., states a report upon population and buildings for the year 1928-29, which has just been issued from the Census and Statistics Office. For the calendar year 1928, the increase was 16,862 (1.16 per cent.), if Maoris are included, and 16,071 (1.16 per cent.) if Maoris are excluded. During the year 1928-29 the excess of arrivals over departures was 990 exclusive of Maoris. For the calendar year it was 682, the lowest figure since 1891. Assisted immigrants arrived in 1928 to the number of 2220 compared with 5899 in 1927 and 10.766 in 1926. During the latter half of 1927 and in 1928 the scheme was partially suspended, the only assisted persons being domestics, youths under special schemes, or wives, etc., of immigrants who had arrived previously. During the year ended March 31, 1929, the total increase of population (exclusive of Maoris) was 16.261. The net gain of population in the North Island was 10,457, or 1.21 per cent. The increase in the South Island was 5504. or 1.11 per cent. As the excess of births over deaths in the North Island for the year was 10,064 and in the South Island 5206, the gain in population over and above the natural increase was 393 for the North Island and 598 for the South. This is the first time for several years that the gain in population over and above the natural increase in the South Island has exceeded that of the North.

Hie population of New Zealand as at April 1. 1929, exclusive of Maoris is given as 716.678 males and 688,283 females, and the Maori population as 34.296 males and 31.396 females. The total population of the Dominion of New Zealand, dependencies and mandated territory is set down at 1.530.073. 751.541 of whom are males and 748.232 females.