Rapid Growth Of Popuiation In Australia Is Being Aided By Migrations

Wanganui Chronicle, 29 April 1949, Page 5

Rapid Growth Of Popuiation In Australia Is Being Aided By Migrations

(By R. Mentiplay, N.Z.P.A. Correspondent) SYDNEY, April 28 (Rec. 8 pm).—The population of Australia is growing so rapidly because rtf a complex system of migration selzmes" that before the end of next year it will have reached 8,000,000. This means that in 11 years Australia will have gained a million citizens. This is the quickest rate of increase since the middle twenties, though in the boom periods of the late nineties migrants were flowing into Australia at a comparable rate.

The population reached the, million mark in 1858 and doubled ; itself by 1877. There were 3.000,- j 1)00 Australians in 1889 and 4,-1 1100,000 in 1905. The rate of progress was irregular , in the 20th. Century, The five million mark was not leached until 1918 hut in the following seven years an-: other million citizens were created by : migration or natural increase Not until the first year o£ the Sec-I ond World War could Australia claim I a population of seven million. The ' last census, taken in .Tune, 1947, re- : I corded Australia's total population as 11

7,579,358, but 12 months later the .figure was 7,710,229. The increase has only to continue at. this rate to ensure the fulfilment of the aim of Mr. A. A. Calwell, Minister of Immigration, to have 8,000,000 Australians before the end of 1950 The indications are, however, that the rav- will continue to increase as the immigration programme hits its stride. This is indicated by the fact that of 130,871 new Australians in the 12 months following the census only 29,365 represented a gain by migration. Australia’s birth-rate in 1948 was lower than that, of the previous year, but still reflected the derangement of normal living conditions due to war.

, While the birth-rate is settling about 23.1 per 1000, migration figures are i rising in alpiost geometrical progres- | sion The initial migration target ! was'7o,ooo people n year, but 250,000 j are expected to arrive before the end lof June, 1950. In the few years since ' the end of the war the migration rate I has jumped from 2200 to 160,000 ; people a year. i The greatest migrant movement in ' the history of Australia is being made I this month, with more than 25,000 I people on their way to the Common- ; wealth/ Twelve liners are bringing ' 13,000 Britons and 13 vessels, char- ! tered by the International Refugees’ i Organisation, are transporting more J than 11,000 displaced persons. It. is ; believed that, the stream of displaced I persons will have been exhausted i within two years, but indications are ■ I that their place will be taken by‘ other eligible foreigners. I A remarkable ebange is taking ) | place- in the attitude of Australians) ;to the new arrivals There is still ; | trouble among some unionists and i I house-hungry people, but not nearly | | as much as might be expected. Ausi tralians are realising that to survive I ! they must populate their continent.