TARANAKI’S POPULATION.

Taranaki Daily News, 9 July 1921, Page 4

TARANAKI’S POPULATION.

That the population of the Taranaki Provincial District should have only increased by 4684 in the last five years—less than a thousand a year—cannot fail to come as a surprise to all who are acquainted with the great strides taken in other directions. The recent census given the population as 62,885, which must be considered as much below the number that might reasonably have been expected. The district is remarkable for its prosperity, its attractiveness, and favorable climatic conditions, while the longevity Of a considerable portion of the population attests to the healthy conditions that exist. Why, then, has the growth of the population not been at a greater rate! The question is one that might well result in the putting forward of a number of reasons, inasmuch as it is probable there are several factors which have a bearing on the matter. Whatever may be the dominant factor, there can be no question that taking all the advantages of the district into consideration, the growth of the population is not what it should have been, and during the ensuing five years there should be a satisfactory improvement in this direction. Much less has been done to make known the attractiveness of Taranaki, and the progressive spirit in evidence throughout the province should have a marked effect in furthering an influx of new residents. Allowance has to be made for the peculiar circumstances of the transition period, so that it i» only reasonable to expeet that the next census will disclose that Taranaki’s population is far nearer what it ought to be.