POPULATION GROWTH

Dominion, Volume 20, Issue 41, 12 November 1926, Page 5

POPULATION GROWTH

CENSUS SHOWS DECLINE FEMALES GAINING ON MALES Commenting on the increase in population indicated by the last census a report from the Census Office remarks that Governmentally assisted immigration since the war has risen greatly—the average during 1920-25 was 7,670 per annum, compared with au annual average of 3,479 persons during 1909-13 but despite this revival of State efforts the ratio (*’ increase of population has fallen. Au estimate based on the experience of the past four decades gives a prediction of a European population of 2,000,000 in 1943. A comparison of the rate of growth of New Zealand with that of the principal countries of the Empire is not wholly favourable to the former. A statement showing the relative percentage increase in population, latest available censuses, is as follows :— New Zealand (1921-26) (five years) 10.68 New Zealand (1911-21) 20.87 Australia (1911-21) 22.0* Canafia/ (1911-21) •, 2L9a South Africa (1921-26) (five years) 22.32 South Africa (1911-21) 19.06 Wales (1911-21) ?.00 England (1911-21) Scotland (1911-21) 2 - 50 A survey of the past history of pap-ulation-movement suggests that this steadying-down of the rate of growth was inevitable and that unless same striking economic change were possible which would entail an occupational redistribution of the population the relative decline would continue. From 1875 commences the second great stage of population development, iu which tbe principal source of recruitment has been the natural increase ot the population—i.e., the excess of births over deaths. In the period from 18<5 to date natural increase has amounted to almost three-fourths of the total increase. Formerly the rate of natural increase in Now Zealand was remarkably high, exceeding, indeed, that of all other countries. Now, however, by the almost continual decline of the birthrate which could not be, counterbalanced by an equivalent fall in the already low death-rate, tlie rate of natural increase is little more than half that of former days. Nevertheless, by virtue of the Dominion experiencing the lowest deatlirate in the world the rate of natural increase is exceeded by that of but few countries. The rate of natural increase in 1925 (12.88) was the lowest yet recorded, which emphasizes the fact that in latter years a steady decline in the rate of natural increase is becoming evident. The birth-rate for 1925 (21. 17) is also the lowest yet on record. As an immigrant country New Zealand has almost invariably experienced 'a continual gain in population from migration. To this there has been Only three exceptions—-viz., in 1888, 1890 and 1891—which marked a period of depres sion. One feature of importance cannot be passed over, and that ,is the important change in the sex-distribution of immigrants. Formerly the experience in this respect was tbe normal one of a pronounced male numerical superiority, but during the last decade females have, on too whole, outnumbered the males. This has an important bearing on the aspect next referred to. In 1925. however, the migration surplus contained 2.193 more males than females, which was more than enough to counteract the female excess of 425 resulting from the natural increase of the population. The Dominion has passed through the normal stage of a pronounced masculine dominance in numbers and has now reached a stage where t|ie males in the population, inclusive of Maoris, predominate in the proportion of 1,000 to 955. It seems probable that a feminine preponderance will be asserted within a comparatively short period of years unless changes take place in the sex-com position of new immigrants. Females outnumber males in all the larger towns and in the older and more set-, tied districts generally.