COMPARATIVE INCREASE OF POPULATION.
(From the Melbourne Argus.)
The statistics of Australasia have now been published for five years, and they have therefore become valuable for the purposes of comparative review, and ascertaining which of the colonies are coming to the front and which are lagging behind in material progress. By these means the scene can be surveyed as a ■whole. And half a decade is a distinct period in the history of any group of colonies. Before now we have contended for a general quinquennial census, and in the absence of that valuable record it is well that we should take stock by means of such results as are obtainable. Population is the most interesting item, for with the colonies population is for the moat part the measure of prosperity. The increases during the five years have been as follow :
The table shows the total gain, but the case has to be considered from another standpoint. A colony with 860,000 inhabitants, such as Victoria, will as a matter of course,- all other things being equal, have four times the total increase of a colony such as South Australia, with a population of a little over 200,000, inasmuch as the larger colony will contain four times as many married persona bringing families into the world as will its neighbor. We have therefore to consider the proportion each increase bears to the population of the colony. On this basis New Zealand heads the list. During the five years she has nearly doubled the people within her borders. The exact rate of increase is 42 per cent, Queensland is close -upon her heels with an increase of 38 per cent. South Australia claims a 20 per cent, increase, New South Wales 10 per cent., and Victoria 9 per cent. The enormous increase in New Zealand is, no doubt, in a great measure due to the Vogel policy of immigration and public works, maintained out of loan funds. In Queensland also a policy of assisted immigration has prevailed. In New South Wales, however, the assisted immigration has been but a small factor in the sum, a circumstance which makes more remarkable the contrast that colony presents to Victoria. She is increasing her population twice as rapidly as we are. If we double onr population In thirty years, she will doable hers in fifteen. Had wa increased only as much as the lowest of the other great colonies wo should have added 150,000 to our population in the five years under notice Instead of only 70,000, and there is no reason whatever why we should not keep pace with our neighbors, and retain the lead which we acquired years ago. They could receive additions of 20, 80, and <0 per cent, to their populations during the past five years with case. Their labor markets were not swamped, but, on tbe contrary, were and are so healthy that they attract men from Victoria to-day. Yet Victoria, as the richest and moat fertile of the colonies, and with the most varied resources and the most energetic and hard-working people of any, offers naturally the greatest attraction to immigrants, and can naturally absorb population with the greatest ease of all, A malign influence has been at work to thwart our efforts and to impede our progress. The policies of threatening capital and of taxing the community iu order to support unprofitable industries have gone hand in band, and this rebellion against corporate honesty and natural law has had its legitimate effect. That effect is shown in the table which has been already quoted, and which shows that our politicians have been driving out of Victoria not cattle and sheep, 'but men jmhJ woolen.
— Increase of Population. New Zealand 121,676 New South Wales.. .. .« 101,037 70.205 Queensland .. 56,304 fieuth Australia .. .. •• 38.780 Tasmania Western Australia 2,077
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New Zealand Times, Volume XXXIII, Issue 5523, 9 December 1878, Page 3
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636COMPARATIVE INCREASE OF POPULATION. New Zealand Times, Volume XXXIII, Issue 5523, 9 December 1878, Page 3
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