THE YEAR BOOK.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 16918, 18 December 1922, Page 6

THE YEAR BOOK.

AN IMPROVED PUBLICATION The New Zealand official Year Book for 1923 shows an increase in size, owing mainly to the introduction of new matter. An important new section is that dealing with wages, index numbers for the years 1909 to 1922 being given. The material from which these index numbers have been compiled has been collected almost entirely from the awards of the Arbitration Court.

The subsection of “ Trade ” which deals with the purchase of supplies from the Imperial Government, and which was omitted from the* last issue, has been brought up to date and reinstated Other new features include articles on the following subjects: “ Historical Outline of Primary Education,” “ Tariff Reciprocity with Australia,” '* Inland Fisheries.” ‘' Rating Powers of "Local Authorities,” and " The Totalisator.” Ail article on the “ Rating Powers of Local Authorities ” deals with the subject in a detailed and voluminous manner and should form a valuable guide to all interested in local authorities. An interesting extract is given from Sir John Salrnond’s report on the Washington Conference, covering the international status of the Dominion and the relations of the respective portions of the Empire one to another and to the Homeland. Tu an appendix there is revived the formerly a feature of the- Year Book. The following table showing the estimated populations of the cities and towns named as at April 1. 1922, is of interest:—

Auckland . * * 164,450 Wellington , 110.630 Christchurch « - 110.200 Dunedin . . , 73.470 Wanganui . . ■„ 24,170 Invercargill * . 19,590 Napier . . 17,670 Palmerston North . 17,510 Timarn ... 16.040 Hamilton . . - 14,950 Gisborne « . . 14,920 Hostings . . . 18,530 New Plymouth . . 13.510

Regarding the Maori population the Year Book states that a comparison of the figures for the last three or four censuses establishes the fact that the Maori race retains its virility and is on the increase. The position is the rrore satisfactory in that it presents a.T almost unique spectacle of a native i&.ce living with a white race of overwhelmingly superior numbers and yet eMo to preserve its own individuality and strength. In 1921 there were 28,567 births registered in the Dominion, the second highest on record, the figures having been exceeded only in 1920 when the total was 29.921. The rate per 1000 of mean population, however, was lower than in any preceding year, with the exception of 1919. The decline of the birthrate in New Zealand has been partially compensated for by a decrease in the death rate. In spite of the fact that the birth rate in New Zealand is low compared with _pther countries yet so low is the death rate that the Dominion ranks high among the nations as regards the rate of natural increase, its rate of 13.3 being exceeded in only three other countries In the summary of latest statistical information the population of the Dominion (exclusive of Maoris and re sidents in the Cook and other Pacific Islands) is estimated, as at Septembe r 30 last, at x 225,948. The migration figures show the arrivals for the first nine months of 1922 to have been 58,229 and the departures 55^042. Consequent on a return to normal conditions in the Census and Statistics Office and the Government Printing Office, the Year Book has appeared on this ocension much earlier than has been the case for some years past.