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Hokitika Guardian, 14 August 1931, Page 4

The population of New Zealand has now climbed beyondi the million and a half mark. Incuding Maoris, it was 1,500,000 at the end of 1930, and six months later it has grown to 1,512 000. ’ Our growth may be summarised in this way, that it took 'New Zealand about seventy years from the actual founding of the colony to reach the million, but it has taken only twenty years to add the other halfmillion. Mainly owing to the cutting off of immigration, the yearly increase has been very small of late; in. 1930 it was only 16,617, or a little over 1 per cent. The latest figures re-emphasise the greater development of the North Island. It was about the beginning of the century that the North Island drew level with the SoSth; in 1921 the totals were 741,000 and 477,000; to-day they are 975, C00 and 536,000. The North Island, however, should not go into transports of joy over this transference of . economic and political power. In tne national interests an even development .is required, and if the South Island falls short of what might he done with it, that will he a national and not merely a local misfortune Climate probably has a good deal to do with the drift north, but of late there has not been much choice about the climate in either Island. There is room in both Islands for greater development, hut with borrowing at prohibitive rates, there is not likely to be much expansion in regard to development, unless something in connection with the natural resources develop. A new gold rush, for instance, to the South. Island . would help mnterialv to restore the balance somewhat, and that is always a possibility.