The Waikato Times With which is incorporated The Waikato Argus. SATURDAY, OCTOBER 15 1921. THE CENSUS IN BRITAIN

Waikato Times, Volume 94, Issue 14776, 15 October 1921, Page 4

The Waikato Times With which is incorporated The Waikato Argus. SATURDAY, OCTOBER 15 1921. THE CENSUS IN BRITAIN

The cabled information respecting the results of the census taken in :he 01.1 Country in June is now supplemented oy the particulars published ii; Home papers. In the United Kingdom the census is Uken every 10 years. The Registrar-General is evidently convinced of the advantages of a quinquennial enumeration —such as we have, in New Zealand—hut he is content at present to limit his aspirations by the proviso "should the national finances permit." We may assume that the cost of taking the census, no bagatelle at any time, has, like that of other services, very materially increased in these days. The latest returns will be scanned with more than usual interest by all who are anxious to know how it fares with the Motherland. They show, as would be expected, that her population was never so great as it is to-day. The England of a century ago, with its sacrifices and victories in the Napoleonic wars fresh in its memory, was a nation of but twelve millions. To-day the population of England and Wales is very close on 3S millions When that of Scotland is added, a population of 42,767,530 in Great Britain is attained. Ireland, where the disturbed conditions precluded the possibility of an enumeration, probably contains another five millions. In point of population the United Kingdom is exceeded only by Germany among organised European States to-day, disorganised Russia being omitted from the calculation. In a broad survey of this kind the position will appear more satisfactory than when it is closely examined. Between the census of this year and that of 1911 lies the great gulf of the war period, and its influence is inevitably indicated in regrettable terms. During the inter-censal period the population of England and Wales increased by a trifle over 5 per cent. — that of Scotland A a lower rate—but this increase is scarcely half that recorded in the reckoning of 1911. Whether the growth of population would have equalled that of the previous decennial period had the war not occurred cannot be very well determined. But the effects of the war in modifying this growth are in certain directions measurable. Over half a million English and Welsh non-civilians gave their lives in various theatres of yvar- Again, between 1915 and 1918 the fall in the birth-rate was from 20 to 25 per cent, below the normal.' The effect of this upon the population returns must have been very considerable. A much more satisfactory circumstance is the marked recovery in the birthrate which has since been recorded. The effect, combined with the decline in the death-rate, has been that there was in 1920 a natural increase greater than that of any previous year. While the war has severely affected the census returns in tfrcat Britain, her position is yet infinitely better than that of France. Stationary' before the war, the population of Prance, most seriously reduced by the casualties of the battlefield, shows now a decrease of 5.5 per cent., inclusive of that in the restored provinces.

The preliminary report of the Regis-trar-General unfortunately suggests that the tendency towards the growth of the towns at the expense of the country has gone on at Home at an accelerated pace- Greater Birmingham is now the second city, in the numerical reckoning, of England and Wales, and is well ahead of Liverpool, though as one journal points out, if Manchester and Salford were taken as one city, which to all intents and purposes they are, they would surpass in population either the Lancastrian seaport or the Midland industrial centre. Greater London, with its populace of just under seven and a-half millions, remains one of the wonders of the world. Whether it is altogether to the benefit of the Old Country thai about a-sixth of its entire population should dwell within 20 or 25 miles of Charing Cross is an open question. But that the population of the great metropolis should be increasing less rapidly than in the past—by 3.1 per cent, in 1921 as compared with 10.2 per cent, in 1011 — can he no cause for national regret The latest census figures will not convey any comfort to those who had hopes that an outcome of the wa r would he a disposition to go back to the land that would help to redress the balance of town and country. They contiini" lo tell the tale of the advance of the groat towns and llii'ir suburban

annexes, and Ihe stationary or declining position of the agricultural divisions. Itisrussinsr ; 11■• revelations which lliey afford respecting the rii*tributi"'i of the population of ureal l'.nl iin Ihe Daily pertinently asks. ' II oS ro ftlher i onntn [>f<-n known in over "f P p r eent. nf th" inhabitants town -dwellers .-.n't l"w:i- work' r- '

It i- |.o be added I'vH Mu - prc|;:omar>

vpp,,r! nf the liec-Irar-i.enerd in

eludes Ihe total figure- of |i.>pul it>i! in the principal countries of the Lnipire

these compulations meaning' something

more than a mere simultaneous count-

ing of heads. The Imperial Statistical Conference held in London early last year gave the opportunity for consultation wfth the statistical officers cf the oversea dominions. As a result of discussions which the*n took place, agreement was reached in regard to the major points upon which uniformity of action within the Empire is desirable, and plans were concerted to secure that common Imperial requirements should he, as far as possible, observed in the results of the separate censuses of fin several dominions, colonies, and protectorates this year.