A GROWING RACE.

King Country Chronicle, Volume V, Issue 390, 26 August 1911, Page 6

A GROWING RACE.

MAORI CENSUS, HOW THE NATIVES ARE MAKING PROGRESS. Preliminary results of the census of the Maori population which was taken last March were laid before the House yesterday. They showed that the total Maori population was 49,350, an increase for the five years of 1617. These figures are liable to readjustment, being only the first rough results taken from the enumerators' summaries. They are also liable to error owing to the manner in which they had to be taken from the natives. though it is believed that the work was done as thoroughly as the circumstances permitted. The first native census was taken in 1874, when the population was returned as 45,470. By 1596 it had dropped to 3954, though it is doubted whether the decrease was real or merely due to the non-inclusion of a number of natives through various causes. Since that year the native population seems to have steadily grown. In 1901 it was 43,143, and in 1906 it was 47,731. It may be assumed that to arrive at a true census it is necessary to include under one enumeration all half-castes and intermediates between a half-caste and Maori, and if this were done the census for 1911 would give 52,429 persons as the total. It is shown that the number of children under the age of fifteen years has increased from 18,417 in 1906, to 19,866 in 1911. OLD HABITS DISCARDED.

The reports of the enumerators show that the Maoris, as well as the halfcastes, are departing from their old communistic habits and are striving to carve out home for themelves individually. During the past fiye years the number of half-castes has increased by 256. The report also states that the health of the natives has generally been good, that a considerable change for the better has come about in the observance of sanitary laws, that crime does not prevail to any marked degree, and that the natives as a whole are becoming more temperate every year. On this latter point it is stated that the drunken orgies that were once common are in a great measure things of the past. In several of the reports reference is made to their adoption of the European style of living. Some are sheep farmers, others cultivate their land, while others again engage in various forms of remunerative labour.

The diffusion of knowledge, says the report, must tend to uplift the Maori. The transforming powers of education and association are at work, and must in time have their effect. The village schools are steadily improving the standard of knowledge among the Maori people as a whole, while the higher school turn out a number of intelligent young fellows who want only the opportunity to show the value of the training they have received.

Of the total number of natives 24,078 are pure-blooded males and 21,078 are pure-blooded fema ; es, there are 2300 male and 1894 female half caste living as members of Maori tribes. LAND AND LIVE STOCK. The land held individually by natives is being utilised in the following manner:—Potatoes, S67G acres; wheat 1,699 acres; maize, 7974 acres; other crops, 12,131 acres; sown grasses,3l9,27s acre; tussock or unimproved, 912,603 acres. The total area occupied communaliy is 25,595 acres, of which 25,470 acres is returned as being in tussock or unimproved. The live stock owned individually comprises 338,592 sheep, 57,429 cattle, 47,769 horses, 31,967 pigs, and 17,154 dairy cows. THE CHATHAM ISLANDS. A supplementary report shows that the total native population of the Chatham Islands is 215, an increase of 13 since last census. Of these 89 are full-blooded Maori females, while there are 22 male and 19 female halfcastes living- as members of Maori tribes. It is reported that there is an increase in the Maori popualtion, but that the original inhabitants of the islands, the Morions are dying out. The Morioris have decreased 46.6 per cent., while the Maoris have increased 16 per cent., due largely to better care of the children in regard to housing, clothing and feeding.