The Dominion. WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 1, 1909. A QUESTION OF POPULATION.

Dominion, Volume 2, Issue 601, 1 September 1909, Page 6

The Dominion. WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 1, 1909. A QUESTION OF POPULATION.

The movement of population is always an interesting subject, and espec ally so to a young country with vast resources awaiting development. For a great many years New Zealand, doßpite the competition of Australia and Canada, has shown a steady increase in population attracted from other lands. The stream of immigration has poured in, and tho Registrar-General has been able to produce statistics which have made pleasant reading to thoso who appreciate the need of a greater population, not merely from the economic point of view, but from tho standpoint of national defence. So long as a country is sparsely settled it offers temptations to other nations with teeming populations to look in its direction as a possible outlet for their surplus people. Since Fobruary last the Eegis-trar-Goneral's statistics relating to immigration and, emigration havo shown a marked change. It has been generally recognisod that thoro has been a large exodus of population' from these shores. Some of tho members of the Govornment have attempted to minimise the fact, but most people have been moie or less cognisant of what has been going on in this respect We do not think, however, that tho oxtent of the exodus has been fully realised. Whonever tho question has been raised the prompt retort has been mado that thoro is always a heavy list of outward-bound passengers during tho winter months, but that this is moro than compensated for by tho inflow during tho spring and summer. This is true enough, but thoso who, use this argument ignore the exceptional figures recorded on the debit side during the past fow months In order that tho public may gain a clear understanding of the position we have ariangod in tabulated form tho official figurcß of the EegistrarGenoral for tho soven months of tho picsent year ended July, and have compaicd with them tho figures for the corrc sponding months of tho previous year. It will bo seen from those figures, given ~belav¥4 how tat wo have goas to the bad

in the matter of population this jear as compared with the corresponding period of 1908: Excess Do- Excess of DopnrArnvals pnrturcs. Arrivals, tuiea Jan, 09 ... 5,822 2,Ui 3,58 i) - Jan., '08 ... 4,957 2,391 2,503 — Feb, '09 .. 4,1n 2,857 1,-* - Feb., '03 ... 4,567 2,906 1,601 - Mar., '09 ... 3,347 4,785 - . 1,438 Mar.,' 0 8.... 3,382 ; 3,998 ' — 616 April, '09 ..." 2,372 4,015 — 1,643 April, '03 ... 3,022 3,313 - 291 May, '09 ... 2,421 3,556 ■ ' .—- 1,132 May, '08 ... 2,059 3,031 .— '... 372 June, '09, ... : 1,929 2,671 — , 742 Juno,'oß ... 2,706 2,753 .—. ' 52 July, '09 ... 2,232 2,839 — 607 Jidy,'oß ... 2,941 2,261 677 — The figures hardly require any explanation. , In order, however, to make the position perfectly clear wo present them arranged in another form, and which, for the purposes of comparison, is perhaps simpler. It is as follows:— Arrn als Departures 1 1908 1909 1908 1909 January ... 4,957 5,822 .„ 2.391 2,233 February ._ 4,567. 4,141 .- 2,01>G ■ 2,857 Maroh ... 3,382 3,347:''.- 3,998 4,785 April ... 3,022 2,372 _ 3,313 4,015 May ,„. 2,659 2,424 „ 3,031 3,556 Juno ... 2,700 1,929 ... 2,758 2,671 July ... 2,941 2,232 _ 2,204 2,839 Totals ...24,234 22,207 ... 20,72-1 22,950 Summarised, the situation revealed for tho seven months ending July of each year works out as under: Do- Net.. Net' Arrivals, parturcs gam Loss 1903 .„ 24,234 20,724 3,510 - 1909 ... 22,267 22,956 - 689 Compared, then, with the seven months of 1308 we aro actually this year 4199 to tho bad. The figures themselves are not strikingly large, but their seriousness lies in tho fact that instead of increasing our population from outside wo havo actually gone back. Morcovor, tho proportion of adults who have left appears from a casual glance at tho official returns to be larger than usual. This is easily understood, as it is the married man with a family who, as a rule, cannot afford to loave a country when times are bad. Our object in directing attention to this matter is to again urge upon tho Government and Parliament vital necessity for opening up with all the speed possible the remaining waste lands of tho country, including the vast area of unproductive Native lands. Mr. Miuae, who seems to realise the seriousness of the loss of population disclosed, has stated that tho immigration policy is to 1 bo renewed again shortly, and presumably this means that families will be assisted to come out here from tho Old Country. But what are they to como to? Wo are told that the right class of settlers and laira hands will bo brought oufc.i What is tho uso of bringing out settlers if they cannot get suitablo land to sottle on 1 Tho figures wo havo published above will, we hopo, quicken interest in the question of land settlement and stimulate members of Parliament to' see that the policy of Taihoa must stop.