THE CENSUS.

Sun (Christchurch), Volume III, Issue 866, 18 November 1916, Page 2

THE CENSUS.

j FIGURES FOR CHRISTCHURCH.| INCREASE IN POPULATION. ! The census returns for Christchurch city and suburbs were completed last night, ami ;is a result of the cen-| ! sus taken on October 15, the popu-j jlalion has been set down at 87,008,! or an increase on that of 1011 (the 1 I year of the preceding census), of I |GBIS. It will be seen from the subjoined details ibal while the female! j population has increased by 5.121, 'the increase in the number of nudes; ;is set down at only 11288. The abi sence of so many men on active ser-! I vice, of course, accounts fortius' seemingly small addition to the male! population. II will also be noted that,; {for the whole district, Ihe proportion of females is 54.3 per cent, of' the total population, while that of •males is 15.7 per cent. With the re- j ■'cent extension of the boundaries of] I the city proper and the introduction: j of a totally different system of de- ! j limiting the boundaries of the various districts, it is difficult to assess; 'the increases in the population of I the separate suburban and city! j areas, nor is it possible to institute) I comparisons. Nevertheless it isj [gratifying to be able to record a sub- i slantial aggregate increase over the' 1911 figures and to announce that] Christchurch maintains its position; as the second city of the Dominion, j

The delay in announcing the city figures was due, in a measure, lo Ihe difficulties thai were placed in the way of the collectors and enumerators, carelessly and wilfully. 11 was felt that the more satisfactory course lo pursue would be to wait until the final figures were available

j and thus obviate the necessity of [publishing supplementary lists.

There were many cases of carelessness on the part of householders,

and numerous instances of wilful; obstruction to the work of collecting the papers. On the whole the; .schedules were not well tilled in. | Strange to say the least common-; sense was displayed by business and professional men. These, generally, filled in the schedules without first; becoming acquainted with the in- ' structions. On the other hand, much ! intelligence was shown by the lab-! ouring and artisan classes. They,' evidently, had taken the trouble to j read the instructions and had, in the majority of cases, followed them! out. Some of the collectors met with opposition, but on the whole the census-taking went fairly smoothly. j It was well organised and was con-1 ducted by the postal officials in aj most creditable manner. Persons. Males. Females, i City of Chrlstcliurch (including part ol' Opawa taken In) 05,.'58."> 25,013 .'!0,.'J70 i Suburban Boroughs—

New Brighton .. 2,310 1,011 1,200 Woolston .. .. •.'!,!>!) 1 ],!)2li 2.0C5 Spreydon .. ,. 4,28!» 2,i)0i> 2,28:! Kiccarton ., .. 2,S!)0 J,:!42 1,5-18