H.—lB

LXI

allowance for this, your Commissioners are of opinion that there is distinctly discernible in the Dominion a tendency on the part of the people to shift from the essentially rural districts to the urban, and that this difference between the natural increase of population and the actual increase in rural districts (that is, the loss due to migration) may become a serious factor in determining the general efficiency of our people. That the movement may have considerable influence on the cost of living, should it assume large proportions, is suggested by a comparison of the percentage of the total number of breadwinners engaged at different times in the chief foodproducing rural industries. Through the courtesy of Mr. M. Fraser, Government Statistician, your Commissioners are able to present the following interesting tables : —

Table 53. —Comparison of Breadwinners in the chief Food - producing Rural Industries with the Breadwinners in the Total Population of the Dominion.

Class. 1901. 1906. 1911.* Total all classes 340,230 399,085 454,118 Agricultural and pastoral (including dairying) — number Percentage of total breadwinners 85,022 24-99 92,565 23-19 104,123 22-93 Agricultural and pastoral (including dairying, fish and rabbit catching) —number Percentage of total breadwinners 86,658 94,434 105,959 25-47 23-66 23-33 * 1911 igures ,re approximate. Year. Class. Employers. » Own Account. Wageearners. Wageearners | Relatives not in ' assisting, or Employ- - indefinite. ment. Total. 1901 Agriculture Pastoral Dairy-farming Dairy-factory working Fish, and rabbit catching 13.055 1,910 1,546 25 77 15,480 1,410 3,156 4 691 20,815 7,867 1,067 786 805 736 185 5 9 28 12,960 697 3,307 2 35 63,046 12,069 9,081 826 1,636 Totals, 1901 .. 16,613 20,741 31,340 963 17,001 86,658 1906 Agriculture Pastoral Dairy-farming Dairy-factory working Fish and rabbit catching 15,389 2,512 2,405 28 71 14,721 1,428 4,767 9 749 21,937 9,021 1,430 1,119 984 741 185 14 8 32 12,177 1,880 2,789 5 33 64,965 15,026 11,405 1,169 1,869 Totals, 1906 .. 20,405 21,674 34,491 980 16,884 94,434 *1911 Agriculture Pastoral Dairy-farming Dairy-factory working Fish and rabbit catching 9,027 5,666 4,538 46 60 12,185 5,197 9,909 19 882 19,028 12,994 4,845 1,456 811 668 229 51 16 22 7,986 3,246 7,005 12 61 48,894 27,332 26,348 1,549 1,836 Totals, 1911 19,337 28,192 39,134 986 18,310 105,959 Comparison of totals : — 1901 1906 1911 16,613 20,405 19,337 20,741 21,674 28,192 31,340 34,491 39,134 963 980 986 17,001 16,884 18,310 86,658 94,434 105,959 * 1911 ;ures are ai iroximate.