THE POPULATION RETURNS.

Wanganui Chronicle, Issue 12856, 25 October 1912, Page 4

THE POPULATION RETURNS.

Most people will o^reo with the "New j Zealand Herald" that the population returns of the Dominion lor 1911, published this weok, would bo exceedingly disappointing had tho country not been j prepared by tho general trend of tho monthly tables of arrivals and departures. During tho year tho gain to New Zealand by excess of arrivals over departures was only 4200, of which the most that can bo said is that it somewhat exceeded tho 3408 of tho previous year; with this solitary exception it ;s tho lowest during the century. Our northern contemporary adds that "No moro crushing indictment of tho Continuous Government could bo made, for prices have been exceedingly good, production has been encouraged by the markets, and every dosirablo acre thrown open upon reasonable- terms has boon rushed for by eager settlers. Very little land was opened for small settlors during tho year, thanks to the policy pursued by an Administration which clung desperately to office by every moans excepting governing well; tho result is visible in the population returns. The Reform Government has a Herculean task before it in its work of lifting the embargo laid upon the waste livnda of New Zealand, but as success crowns its efforts the country will reap j the benefit in more rapidly increasing population and production." Making all

duo allowance for the confusion of statistics, it must be clearly apparent that our increase by migration is "deplorably and inexcusably small," and:we can only hope that the change of Government will, bo followed by a marked change in the policy of population building.