450 Transactions. — Miscellaneous. 



there would be about equal numbers under and over thirty- 

 two years of age. More extended tables might be given and 

 further comparisons made, but we shall let it suffice to state 

 that these would only bear out the statement that, compared 

 with most other populations, that of New Zealand is" very 

 young. This fact will be found to have a very important 

 bearing on many points connected with New Zealand popu- 

 lation statistics. 



The populations of the other Australasian Colonies are 

 largely similar in this respect to that of New Zealand, but 

 there are substantial differences, nevertheless, in the age-dis- 

 tributions of these populations. Thus the proportion of 

 males sixty-five years and over to the total male population 

 varies from 1-63 per cent, in Queensland to 5-55 per cent, in 

 Tasmania, while the proportion at the ages under fifteen 

 years varies from 28-73 per cent, in Western Australia to 

 38-01 per cent, in New Zealand, and 38-37 per cent, in South 

 Australia. The differences are due chiefly to the histories of 

 the several colonies and the date, character, and extent of 

 immigration. 



The Small Death-bate of New Zealand. 



Further, the death-rate of New Zealand is exceptionally 

 small. This fact is almost invariably quoted as being due to 

 our climate and the conditions of life of our people. These 

 factors must have some influence on the death-rate, no doubt, 

 but before any conclusions can be drawn from the actual 

 death-rate the distribution of the population according to age 

 must be taken into account. The rates of mortality vary 

 exceedingly according to age. According to data given by 

 Mr. C. E. Adams, B.Sc, A.I. A., in the "Transactions of 

 the New Zealand Institute," the death-rate per thou- 

 sand for males in New Zealand is 102 in the first year, 21 

 in the second year, 7-5 in the third year, and continues to 

 diminish until it becomes as small as 2-2 for the ages 10-15. 

 From then onwards, however, the rate increases, though it 

 does not become considerable again until the ages 55-60, 

 when it is 22 ; but after that it increases verv rapidly, reach- 

 ing as high as 95-8 for the ages 75-80. The course of the 

 death-rates for females is much the same. 



If, then, we had a population either of young babies only 

 or old people only our general death-rate would be excessively 

 high ; and it must be obvious that the distribution of popula- 

 tion according to age must have a great influence in deter- 

 mining the general death-rate. If one nation has a greater 

 proportion of population at the ages for which the death-rate 

 is small and a smaller proportion at the ages for which the 

 death-rate is large than another, Ave must expect the first to 



