UPWARD TREND

Hawke's Bay Herald-Tribune, Issue 65, 3 April 1937, Page 10

UPWARD TREND

Improvement in Birthrate Noted POPULATION FIGURES Both in the extent of tlie Increase and in the percentage rate, the European population in New Zealand showed an improvement in the past year, aceording to the Government Statistician 's estimates at December 31 last, compared with the four previous years. Although neither the numerieal nor the percentage increase last year was very large, being 12,789 and 0.84 rospectively, thcy possess significance because the trend in the previous 10 years had been downward, record low figures being reached in 1934 and 1935. The population of New Zealand proper ou December 31 last was 3,584,653, of which number 1,500,994 were Europeans and 83,959 Maoris. The population increascd by 14,964, compared with 11,145 in 1934 and 12,388 in 1933. Including dependencies and mandated territory, the latest figures showed the gross population of New Zealand to be 1,658,119, an increase of 18,163 over the previous year, mado up as follows: — New Zealand proper 1,584,653 Cook Islands 16,350 Tokelau Islands .1,170 Western Samoa _ 65,946 Gross total . ^ 1,658,119 . The Cook Islands showed a decline of 35, and the Tokelau Islands a drop of 28, but for Western Samoa thero was a gain of 1793. European Population. While the Maori population showed a gain of 2175, the percentage increase was mnch greater than the European, being 2.60. Figures showing the relatively low increases in the European population in the past five years are as follows: —

In th© Europoan population thero were wero 700,654 males at the end of 1936 and 740,040 females. ,With the exception of oue year thero has alwaya oeen a preponderance of. males in the number of children born in New Zealand. Curiously enough the greatest percentage of mascjilinity rules among lirst-born children. Position of Live Birth Rate , The live birth rate in 1936 revealed •x slight improvement, the follcwing figures, with those of th© previous fourK years showing the position : —

For 11 years prior to 1936 the birthrate among Europeans was the lowest >n record, aud, while the rate of deoline was decreasing, the 1936 position, showing the higlxest rate attained since 1932, i-eveals a check to the decline. The infant mortality rate lias been moving stcadily upward, while still maintaining annually the position of fche lowest in the world. In 1936, however, an appreciable drop was recorded, reducing the rate to the lowest figure ever experienced. Tlxe death-rate for 1936 . over all ages, while the highest since 1923, was nevertheless lower than in any year prior to 1921, maintaining the low level that has been in evidence in New Zeaiand for many years past, in spite of the steady ageing of the population. Figures over five years showing the total deaths and infant deaths are as follows : —

Tho rate in respecfc of tolal deaths ia assessed on 1000 of lnean population, and that for infant deatliB on 1000 of live births.^ . Mounting Total of Marriages. The mounting annual total of marriages has not been without its effect. on the birth-rate. The number of marriages in 1936 was tlie highest ever recorded in New Zealand, while the rate per 1000 of mean population was the highest with the exception of the post-war year, 1920. The 13,740 marriages recorded in 1936 represents an increase of 13 per cent over 1935. The situation. in respect of marriages over the past five years is as follows : —

The Qovernment Statistician'" s figures of external migration ara not given for" calendar years. Hjs last figures are for the ten months ended Jauuary 31, the summary of arrivals and departures, excluding tourists, other visitors and crews of slups, showing a slight gain to the population figures. A total of 2283 ■ immigrants intending pex-xnan-ent resideuce arrived, while -11,948 permanent residents returned. Permanenb x-esidents who departod in the period comprised 3152 who left permanently, and 10,584 who left temporarily.

Increase Numerical percentage 1932 1,463,030 10,283 0.71 ]933 3,470,008 10,002 0.68 1934 1,478,989 8,981 0.60 1935 1,487,905 8,916 0.57 1936 1,500,694 . 12,7S9 0.84

Rate per 1000 of Number mean population 1932 24,884 17.12 1933 24,334 16.63 1934 24,322 16.17 1935 23,965 16.17 1936 24,836 16.64

Total deaths Infant deaths No. Rate No Rate 1932 11,683 8.04 777 31.32 1933 11,701 7.99 770 31.64 1934 s 12,527 8.50 781 32.11 1935 12,217 8.25 773 32-26 1936 13,056 8.75 774 31.15

Marriages Number Rate 1932 9,896 6.81 1933 10.510 7.18 1931 11,256 7.64 1935 12,137 8.23 1936 13.740 9.21