DOUBTFUL5 RETURNS

Dominion, Volume 33, Issue 189, 7 May 1940, Page 8

DOUBTFUL 5 RETURNS

List Of Centenarians In New Zealand

There were eight centenarians in New Zealand according to the population census taken in 1936. Since 1574, the number of centenarians at each census lias been: 1874, 2: 1878, 2: 1881, nil: 1886, 1 : 1891, 1 ; 1896, 4 ; 1901, nil: 1996, I; 1911, 7; 1916, 12; 1921, 8; 1926, 12; 1936, 8.

The greatest age on record was that of 116 years. It. was recorded in 1874 by an aged Tahitian native resident in Dunedin, and is believed to have been reasonably authentic. The next highest was one of 109 years, noted in 1911.

“It has been noted in many countries that it is a common and natural failing to overstate tlie ages of persons of extreme age or even of advanced age,” says the report of the Census and Statistics Department. “Thus, of the 12 centenarians recorded in 1926, the ages of nine could be definitely identified from 1921 census returns. In five of these nine instances the 1926 ages (assuming 1921. returns were correct) were overstated by two. three, live, five, and seven years respectively, while one was understated by one year, the remaining three were consistent with the 1921 returns.

"A similar comparison of the eight centenarians of .1936 shows that (assuming 1926 returns were correct), three were correct or within a few months, one was overstated by one year, one overstated by seven years, one overstated by 11-12 years (the identification in this ease, though reasonably confident, is not entirely free from doubt), and one understated by 11 months. The eighth case was not identified, possibly through a . considerable overstatement.

“These figures offer support (as strong as limited numbers may) to the suggestion that the numbers . really reaching the 100-year. mark are much less than the census statements show.”