11.—39 a

1917. NEW ZEALAND

CENSUS OF THE MAORI POPULATION (PAPERS RELATING TO).

Presented to both Houses of the General Assembly by Command of His Excellency.

Memorandum for the Hon. the Native Minister. Native Department, 2nd July, 1917. I have the honour to submit the preliminary results of the census of the Maori population which was taken during the month of October last. The total Maori population, according to the census, amounted to 49,776 persons. The following table shows the population as recorded in previous years: — Year. Persons. Increase. Decrease. 1867 (approximate estimate) .. .. .. 38,540 1871 .. .. .. .. .. 37,502 1874 (first census) .. .. .. ..45,470 1878 .. .. .. .. .. 43,595 .. 1,875 1881 .. .. .. .. .. 44,097 502 1886 .. .. .. .. .. 41,969 .. 2,128 1891 .. .. .. .. .. 41,993 24 1896 .. .. .. .. .. 39,854 .. 2,139 1901 .. .. .. .. .. 43,143 3,289 1906 .. .. .. .. .. 47,731 4,588 1911 .. .. .. .. .. 49,844 2,113 1916 .. .. .. .. .. 49,776 .. 68 Since 1901 the figures show an increase until the last census, when a decrease of 68 as compared with 1911 is shown. How far the figures on this occasion are affected by enlistments it is difficult to say accurately, but they must be affected to some extent. The details of the census are set out in the tables attached hereto. Extracts from the reports of the Enumerators are attached. It will be observed that the Enumerators for the North Island —Taranaki, and particularly Waikato Districts —report that some difficulty was experienced in obtaining information owing to the fear on the part of the Natives that the statistics were being obtained for the purposes of recruiting. How far this may have affected the accuracy of the figares of these districts it is impossible to say, but not, I am inclined to think, to any great extent. The Enumerators generally report that, with the exception of the smallpox epidemic in 1913, and some cases of typhoid, the health of the Natives has been generally good, and that in most districts there has been continued improvement in the habits of life and industry of the Maoris, especially in districts where land is being opened up and settlement advancing, giving greater opportunities of employment, &c. On the whole the reports may be regarded as indicating satisfactory progress, but there is still much scope for improvement. The census for the South Island was taken wdth the European census on this occasion, as the Natives and half-castes there are regarded as living as Europeans. The agricultural statistics were not on this occasion taken with the census. C. B. Jordan, Under-Secretary.