I—l 7

Table No. 27. —Table showing Proportion of Different Classes comprising the Maori Population at 1926 and 1936 Censuses

Although the Maori population increased by 18,656 during the period, the proportion of Maoris of full blood decreased from 71-35 per cent, to 67-92 per cent. It is generally felt, however, that the census returns overstate the proportion of full Maori blood. A more correct estimate would be in the region of 50 per cent. Earlier details on this question are not available. In addition to the above, there were in 1936, 11,508 quarter-caste Maoris and 322 others with some Maori blood. These are all counted in the European population. The following table shows over a period the relative importance of the Maori race :

Table No. 28. —Table showing Percentage of Maoris to other Races from 1874 to 1945

Up till the end of last century it was feared that the Maori was dying out. In the past forty years the Maori population has doubled and is still increasing fast. As between 1926 and 1936, for instance, the total Maori population increased approximately 29-30 per cent., while between 1936 and 1945 it increased 19-94 per cent. This increase was different, however, in different districts, as the following table will show :

Table No. 29.—Table showing Percentage Increase of Maori Population in various Districts as between 1926 and 1936

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— 1926 Census. 1936 Census. Per Cent. Per Cent. Full Maori 71-35 67-92 Three-quarter Maori 10-42 13-84 Half-Maori 17-76 18-09 Maori-European n.o.d. 0-47 0-15 Total 100-00 100-00

Census. Proportion Percentage Maoris to other Races. Census. Proportion Percentage Maoris to other Races. 1874 15-90 1906 5-68 1878 11-04 1911 5-24 1881 9-46 1916 4-83 1886 7-61 1921 4-69 1891 7-07 1926 4-74 1896 6-01 1936 5-52 1901 5-91 1945 6-16

Percentage Increase, 1926-1936. Provincial District. Males. Females. Total. Auckland 31-69 31-93 31-80 Hawke's Bay 39-81 40-50 40-14 Taranaki 15-89 16-36 16-12 Wellington 16-66 22-21 19-27 Total, North Island 29-47 30-48 29-95 Marlborough 21-37 25-23 23-11 Nelson 25-23 18-89 22-39 Westland 6-33 15-38 9-92 Canterbury 20-78 15-91 18-33 Otago— Otago portion 7-54 -0-50 3-51 Southland portion 5-04 7-65 6-13 Total, South Island 16-14 14-06 15-16 Total, Dominion 28-88 29-76 29-30