THE RESTLESS SEX.

Hauraki Plains Gazette, Volume XXXX, Issue 5378, 23 January 1929, Page 3

THE RESTLESS SEX.

CITY’S BRIGHT LIGHTS. PURSUED BY WOMEN. New Zealand girls display a tendency earlier in life than boys to drift from rural districts to the cities. In thq main, rural-born men remain in the country until they reach about the age of 39, but women start, the move to urban climes when they are about 15 years of age. This Dominion, according to recent investigations, is an ageing community, which means that the medium or middle ag,e is becoming higher at each succeeding census. The declining birth-rate; is, partially responsible for the increased ratio of adults.

The lure of the c,ity for country people is but one interesting phrase of age analysis of the New Zealand population, but it comprises an ab-, sorbing sidelight upon the geographical effect of internal migration. It is shown, for instance, that the average age of rural dwellers is less than that of. the town folk. Up to certain ages, the country residents predominate numerically.

The male swing from outback to the town does not show itself ip. any degree until the age of 25 or 30 ;s reached, except among boys from 10 io 14 years of age. who are more numerous in the cities, chiefly because of the educational facilities offered, and the accommodation provided at modern secondary schools and colleges.

Of the male population of New Zealand 401,485, or 57.1 per cent., live in the cities, and 276,574, or 12.9 per cent., dwell in the country. With the fe|jnale population, 428,510, or 57.2 per c.ent., spend their lives in the country.

Women are more ready than men, however, to respond to the call the bright lights, and as soon as the age of 15 is reached it is noticeable that they begin to desert their, cottage homes and sepk adventure in city offices and shops. It does not imbue the New Zealander with any degree of. enthusiasm to know that .the average male; is Slightly older than the average female ; nor does, he lose sleep worrying as to how this c.ame about. Suffice it to that there is a distinct tendency towards equalisation. It doesnot concern the individual to reflect that, broadly speaking, the population of the South Island is older than that of the North Island!, or that ton, along with most cities, accommodates fewer children and old) people than do the country districts. But it affects the general welfare that the steadily declining birth rate has left its mark upon the census figures in respect of age analysis. Between 1921 andi 1926 the Dominion re-, corded an increase of 10.30 per cent, in population. The gain among those up to four years of age was less than half the normal increase rate, while children from four to ten years of age disclosed a rise of under 1 per c,erit. ■ ’ . • OVER THE CENTURY. . The: total increase in population between the census of 1921 and that of 1926 was 125,5'56, which, omitting 2199 who's,e ages were unaccounted for, are broadly divided here: — Under 20 years 25,629 20-39 26,877 401-39 4(6,789 60 years and upwards .. 14,053 An interesting aspect of our population is the number of centenarians whose ages are recorded in the turns. It falls to the lot of veiy few people to reach, the advanced age of 100 though the attainment of this landmark in life has been a feature of the New Zealand statistics since 1874. In the main the centenarians have ranged about two, three, and four in number, although in recent years more people have been found to have crossed the century of life. In 1.916 there were 12, in 1921 there were eight, and in 1926 the number rose again to 12. OUR OLDEST MAN.

The greatest age on record in New Zealand was 116 years. It was attained by a Tahitian native resident in Dunedin, and is described by the Statistician as being “ reasonably authentic.” The next highest was- 109, recorded in 1911.

Thq natural inclination of people of great age to overstate their actual years is not confined, to proud family discussions, but sometimes figures in the compilation ’of. State documents, and frequent comparsons with previous returns are nec.e's.sary to restrain this (harmless exaggeration. In the 1926 census it was £c;und that some were overstated by two, three, ‘five, and in one case seven years.

As an indication of tendencies the age .statistcX are useful. For a solution of the problems they raise tone must direct attention to the scientists and medic,al men in whose hands largely lies the future of the race.