POPULATION OF TARANAKI.

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume L, Issue 16496, 31 July 1924, Page 9

POPULATION OF TARANAKI.

GROWTH OF A DECADE. The population of Taranaki to-day is estimated at 68,173. Ten years ago the figure was 56.5C0, so t lijnt the past decade has seen an increase oy 11,673, or a little moie, on an average, than 1100 a year. New Plymouth in 10 years has practically doubled its population, increasing from 7933 in 1914 to 14,410 in 1924. "Thus, to the provincial increase of 11,673, New Plymouth has contributed 6427. One feature that is not pleasing and serves to emphasise the validity of the .complaint, that there is a pronounced drift from the country districts to the towns (says the Taranaki News) is the fact that the, population of the counties in Taranaki 10 years ago was 35,392. To-day the figure is 34,635, a slight decrease. Against this, of course, it has to be remembered that several centres, including Opunake, have become town board districts independent of the counties in which they are situated. Blit after making all allowances, it is apparent that in the last decade most of the towns in Taranaki have increased considerably in population, while the rural population has remained stationary, and in some eases actually declined,