NEW ZEALAND CENSUS.

Poverty Bay Standard, Volume IX, Issue 958, 6 July 1881, Page 2 (Supplement)

NEW ZEALAND CENSUS.

On this subject the Australasian thus remarks:—• “ The New Zealand census returns are, it must be admitted, a powerful vindication of the policy of enterprise promoted by Mr. (now Sir Julius) Vogel. That policy of borrowing for the construction of works to render available the resources of the Colony, depended for its ultimate success on the increase of population more than on any other condition. And this object has been attained to a degree which even the hope of the daring projector of the policy could hardly regard as unsatisfactory. In 1871 New’ Zealand had a population of 256,260. In 1881 it has one of 489,000, being an increase of 233,000, or about 91 per cent. In other words, the Colony has nearly doubled her numbers in ten years. That this result has been bought at a great price must be admitted. The policy of borrowing

and of pouring in immigrants has, perhaps, at times been pushed too far. The credit of the Colony has been somewhat impaired by its excessive demands- on the money markets. And at times immigrants came faster than work could be found for them, and many went, away to other Colonies. The state of depression from which all business communities have suffered was from these causes intensified in New- Zealand, and a period of great financial difficulty was the result. Still the net issue of it all is, as we said before, that the Colony has nearly twice as many people at the end of the decade as at ihe beginning. With the rich and varied resources of those wonderfully endowed islands there is no cause to doubt her capacity to retain the population she possesses, and to find prosperous homes for many more. With the good sense that all English communities are able to show in times of emergency, the people of New Zealand took care when things were at their worst to put their affairs into the hands of able and cautious administrators. Matters are now steadily progressing, and though for a time the late rate of progress may be checked, the Colony may point with triumph to the ground she has gained, and look on w'ith certainty to the prospect of soon rapidly making more.