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Combining the figures in the above two tables, the following table shows the Maori rate of natural increase, and for comparison the European rate of natural increase : Table No. 33.—Table shoiving Rate of Natural Increase of Maori and European Population from 1939 to 1945 Year. Maori. European. Year. Maori. European. 1939 .. .. 26-28 9-53 1943 .. .. 28-51 9-66 1940 .. .. 29-36 11-95 1944 .. .. 28-37 11-72 1941 .. .. 24-18 12-97 1945 .. .. 29-86 13-15 1942 .. .. 27-50 11-13 Because of the much greater reproduction rate of the Maori people, the potential Maori population is relatively much greater than that of the non-Maori people. This people is increasing at the rate of approximately 2-0 per cent, annually, as compared with just over 1 per cent, per annum of the non-Maori population. Because of this fact the age-structure of the Maori population is entirely different from that of the nonMaori people in that the former have a large preponderance of younger people and relatively fewer older people. The following table shows the age distribution of the Maori population in 1943 : Table No. 34.—Table showing Percentage Age-distribution of Maori Population compared with that of European Population in 1943 Maori Age- European Agedistribution. distribution. Per Cent. Per Cent. Under 15 .. .. 46-5 24-8 15 to 64 .. .. 50-5 66-8 64 and over 3 • 0 8-4 100-0 100-0 111. EXPECTATION OF LIFE An important question in any population study is that of the average expectation of life. The extension of the average age of the community raises important problems as to the support of the aged section. This question will be discussed under the heading of financial implications of changes in population. Over a period an extension of the average expectation of life is to some extent a reflection of changing living and health standards. The following table shows the expectation of life at age 0 for the European population from 1891-95 to 1934-38 Table No. 35.—Table showing Expectation of Life for the European Population, from 1891-95 to 1934-38 Period. Males. Females. 1891-1895 .. .. .. .. 55-29 58-09 1896-1900 .. .. .. .. 57-37 59-95 1901-1905 .. .. .. .. 58-09 60-55 1906-1910 .. .. .. ..59-17 61-76 1911-1915 .. .. .. .. 60-96 63-48 1921-1922 .. .. .. .. 62-76 65-43 1925-1927 .. .. .. .. 63-99 66-57 1931 .. .. .. .. 65-04 67-88 1934-1938 .. .. .. .. 65-46 68-45 The figures show a steady increase with a tendency for the rate of increase to lessen over recent years. For Maoris the corresponding figures for the latest date available are 46-2 for both males and females.

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