LEADING FEATURES OF THE WHEAT INDUSTRY 199 
Further, it may indicate that ‘‘labour and directive 
ability are being set free by the progress of agricultural 
art and science for application to other spheres.’’ If 
such were the results of the population movement in 
New Zealand its beneficial effect would not be questioned. 
But when we come to study the movements in the rural 
population itself, such results are not in evidence, and 
it is unquestionable that the continuation of such move- 
ments would be detrimental to the interests of agriculture. 
(b) Movements in Rural Population— 
TABLE XXXI. 
The following table shows a comparison of the total numbers 
occupied in the three leading rural industries in the census years 1901, 
1906, 1911.* 
Industry Total Numbers Occupied 
1901 1906 1911 
Agriculture 63,046 64,965 48,894 
Pastoral 12,069 15,026 27,332 
Dairying 9,081 11,405 26,348 
An analysis of the numbers occupied in these industries 
in the same period is interesting. 
The following table gives such an analysis :-— 
TABLE XXXII. 
Relatives 
YEAR CLASS Employers perce Bik ae eee 
account Indefinite 
1901 Agriculture ... 13,055 15,480 20,815 12,960 
Pastoral eu 1,910 1,410 7,867 697 
Dairying ae 1,546 8,156 1,067 3,307 
1906 | Agriculture ... 15,389 14,721 21,937 12,177 
Pastoral eas 2,512 1,428 9,021 1,880 
Dairying we 2,405 4,767 1,430 2,789 
1911 | Agriculture ... 9,027 12,185 19,028 7,986 
Pastoral ee 5,466 5,197 12,994 3,246 
Dairying ee 4,538 9,909 4,845 7,005 
*A census is now overdue. One was taken late in 1916, but 
the returns are not yet available. 
