GROWTH OF SYDNEY.

Dominion, Volume 6, Issue 1856, 16 September 1913, Page 5

GROWTH OF SYDNEY.

CITY V. COUNTRY.

REMARKABLE INCREASES.

One of the most interesting questions arising out of the figures relating to the growth of population in Neiy South "Wales published a few days ago is the relative increase of population in the metropolis as compared with tho country districts of tho State.

As the "Sydney Morning Herald" points out, all tho available information points unmistakably 'to tho conclusion that Sydney has "grown at a more rapid rate, so far' as population is concerned, than the rest of the State. Tho figures indicate, too, that this tendency is a progressive one, and shows no signs of abatement. Before very long, unless there is a decided check to present conditions, Greater Sydney will comprise more than half the population of New South Wales; it already includes within its borders about 40 per cent'. The circumstances which have brought about this state of things aro in part common to all tho States of the Commonwealth. It was natural that population should gravitate towards tho chief city of tho country, which was the centre of its commerce, provided a considerable proportion of its employment, and furnished attractions in'the amenities of life which more isolated places could not afford. Various Causes. In recent years many factors havo contributed towards the increase of the population of Sydney, and have simultaneously deprived the country districts of inhabitants. Members of families reared in tho country have in a large number of instances come to reside in the capital of the State, and this is especially true of the younger people. Numerous cases could bo cited of the families of pastoralists who havo succeeded in life settling in Sydney, leaving perhaps one or two only of the sons on the station or farm. This is true of those who prospered greatly as Well as thoso of moderate means. Tho number of instances of this kind which have,occurred on the death of tho head of the family must be very largo." Where the whole family has not settled in Sydney, individual members, attracted by the prospects of professional or other employment, and more congenial surroundings, have done so. This process tends to rather than diminish. It would bo, interesting to ascertain in what proportion of cases the. children of parents in'rural occupations continue in employment on the land. Immigration. Another source of congestion in Sydney is tho unregulated character of some of the immigration which comes to New South Wales. No adequate machinery exists for-directing more than a small proportion of the immigrants to agricultural pursuits, : and the absence of this machinery has caused even immigrants who desired to take up work on the land to accept employment in- the city. Othors who have in tho first instance gone to the country', have returned to Sydney, but the first factor probably accounts for a larger number.

Progressive, Figures. But whatever the causes the facts.remain. ' Tho 'following table, which has been prepared by Mr. J. B. Trivett, tho Government Statistician, shows the increases of population in the metropolis and country respectively between 1901 and 1912. , It,should be. explained that part of the increase in the population of the metropolis in 1911 tvas duo to the inclusjon of Ku-ring-gai shire for .the first time. Previously it had been included in tho country districts., The population, of Ku-ring-gai Shire at tho census of 1911. was 9458, and at the end of 1912, 11,020.

I It will 1)0 seen that tlie proportionate ' per centage of tho population in the metropolis shows a progressive increase in tho 11 years, f,nd has grown by 3 per cent, in that period. The absolute, increases in Sydney, have been much lnrgor in recent years than previously. Thus, whilst thtf increase from 1901 to 1,902 was less than 20,000, and from 1902 to 1903 was less than .5000, the increase from 1910 to 1911 was no less than '34,570, and froiA .1911 to 1912 38,000. Tlie first figure was indeed larger than the increase for the'rest of the country, which was 25,940. Tho 1911-12 increase for Sydney was not far short of that recorded for the. rest of' the country, which was 42,226. A Million in 19217 The figures-for the first six months of this year indicate that the same process continues.

Mr. Trivett states that tho quotations for the metropolis are approximate only. •Indeed, a census would probably reveal the fact that'the population of Sydney at the present moment was in excess of 750,000. 1 The same caution must be observed in connection with the growth of Sydney as'with the total population and restricted' immigration 'and other oauses must bo taken into account in ■making estimates for the future. Assuming, however, that 35,000 people aTe added to the population of Sydney this year, and that only this number is added in subsequent years, the million mark should ho reached in eight years, or 1921.

Everything points, however, to the increase heiiig accelerated rather than retarded, so that the fifjure should bo reached at an even earlior period.

Other Capitals. No figures nro available showing how the increases of population in citio3 like Goulburn, Nowcastlo, and Hathurst compare with the growth of 'the surrounding areas. But New South Welshmen, tho "Herald" remarks, may perhaps be consoled b.v tho fact that the conditions relating to Sydney are found in greater or less degree in all the Australian capitals. According to tho census of 1911, Melbourne had 44.04 per cent, of tho population nf Victoria. Brisbane 23.07 of the population of Queensland, Adelaide 46.01 per cent, of South Australia's population; Perth 37.86 percent, of the population of Western' Australia, and Hobart 20.78 per cent, of the population of Tasmania. The average for tho six cities is 33.12 per cent.

None of tho capitals of Europe show similar figures.. Tho highest percentage is taken by Copenhagen with 20.29 per cent. The County of London has 12.54 per cent., Paris 7.20 per cent., Vienna 7.11 per cent., and Berlin 5.1G per cent, of the population of their respective countries.

Proportion Per Cent, of Year. Metropolis. Country. Population in . Metropolis. 1901 ... 496,990 879,209 36.1 1902 ... 516,540 881,318 37.0 1903 ... 621,380 895,499 36.8 1904 ... 530,770 910,149 36.8 1905 ... 541,890 927,263 36.9 1906 ... 659,800 938,809 37.4 1907 ... 577,180 954,800 37.7 1908 ... 592,100 967,926 38.0 , 1009 ... 605,900 990,785 37.9 > 1910 ... 622,230 1,015,990 38.0 1911 ... 656,800 1,041,936 38.7 1912 ... 694,800 1,084,162. ,39.1