CENSUS FIGURES

Dominion, Volume 10, Issue 2976, 13 January 1917, Page 8

CENSUS FIGURES

BIG. DRIFT NORTHWARDS POSSIBLE TRANSFER OF SEATS ' The completed census returns were made available yesterday by The..Minister of Internal Affairs (the Hon. G. W. Russell). The striking- fact de- ' > inonstrated by tho figures is the rapid growth of population in the North Island as compared with the Soutli • Island. Following is an abstract of the.returns :— .... North Island (Including Camps). Males. • Females. Total. 331,274 . 319,957 651,231 .. North Island (Excluding Camps). : 322,608 - 319,957 642,553 South Island, (Including Stewart Island and Chatham Islands.) . 220,811 . 227,253 448,064 Dominion Total. 552,085 547,210 1,099.295 Tho following comparison with the figures obtained in 1911 census show* the increases in population in the two Islands and in the Dominion. 1911.. . 1916. North Island (excluding camps) 563.729 642,553 Increase, 78,824. North Island (111- !' eluding camps) 563.729 ■: 651,231' Increase, 87,502. South Island 441.735 448,064 Increase, 3,329. Totals for' Dominion, excluding Maoris and troops ' abroad 1,008:464 ' 1,099,295 Increase, 90,831. Some comment was made 011 the figures by the Minister to a reporter "The most striking fact in the returns," said Mr. llussell, "is the enormous increase shown in the population, of the North Island as compared witTi the South. This increase has" been swing 011 for a number of years. . Afc the census of 1906, ilie-population of tho North Island was 476,732. This is now increased to 642,553. excluding military camps. On the other hand, the South Island population, which was 411,310 in 1906, rose tp 444.735 in 1911, and lias now increased by 3329 .duririsr.the five and a half years since the 1911 census was. taken. These figures' would seem ■ to. indicate ..thai the South Island has not even retained its normal increase, but the position of tho whole Dominion is largely affected by the absence from New Zealand of over 50,000 men wilh the Expeditionary Force. ,' "The most interesting question that' arises out of the census figures is as . to how they may affect the future representation of tho people in Parliament. Kouglily speaking, the present Parliament shows a representation of one member for ..every 13,000 of the population in the North Island, which has 44 members, while in the South Islaud, which has 32, tho representation is approximately one member for every 14,000 of tho population. The North Island has this advantage because of tho 28 per cent, handicap which is given to rural districts as against the cities and towns. Aroughcalculation, which may require to be modified when the 28 per cent, is taken into full account, suggests to me that probably four, or possibly five,, scats may be transferred • from the South Island to the North as tiic result of tho huge drift of population that has taken place. The law was altered during last session to provide that absent soldiers shall bo credited to the various electoral districts to which they belong, as nearly as can bei ascertained from figures that will be supplied by the' Defence Department, and the Department of Census and Statistics, in order that, as Accurate an adjustment . a£ .possible. ..of 'the .-representation a tnay be.made. •. ' It' would be .idle _>,t to ..speculate as.'to u;hat districts .are. likely-tc be affected by.the readjustment of the representation which will have be made by the Boundary Commissioners, prion to npx.t election. In view, of tha fact that the duration, of the present Parliament has been extended by nna vear. it is not at all probable that, thn Boundary Commissioners will be asked to delimit constituencies prior to next session'. . •-