Population
p. 141 · Read in the full issue
Males Increasing
Ster In Fiji
[?]dians Make Up 49% of Population
}PULATION figures in Fiji always make news. But the news from the 1956 census res is a little different: lales are increasing more idly than the males, owever, women in Fiji need not t to worry yet. It will be a years before the leeway is le up. he latest Census showed that veen 1946 and 1956 the male ulation increased by 30.5 per t., while the female increase was per cent, rends of the last 35 years show t the disparity between the ss will diminish each year, until stage is reached when the ales start to draw away, he present disproportion stems q the manner in which the ulation of the Colony has sloped in the last century
grants from overseas).
here were always more males i females among the immi its, and by the end of the First •Id War the males held a com iding lead. he immigrant excess of males is falling because of deaths.
Racial Percentage
Increases
he 1956 Census showed that nese and part-Chinese increased a greater rate than any other ; in the previous 10 years—3.7s cent, a year. hey were followed closely by her” Pacific Islanders, at 3.64 cent, a year. This latter figure largely built up by the settle it of Kioa Island by Ellice nders, and continued migration Banabans to Rabi Island, idian population increases still tinue to lead that of the genous race. etween 1921-36 the Indian in ise was 2.27 per cent, a year, the next decade it rose to 3.55 cent, a year, but dropped htly to 3.46 a year between 1946 1956. The Fijian increases in same period were 0.98 per t., 1.92 per cent, and 2.29 per he European population in ised at a greater rate each year 1946-56 than in the previous 10 rs (3.38 per cent, against 1.32 cent.), but the part-European •eases dropped slightly (from per cent, in 1936-46 to 2.44 per t. in the next 10 years). he Rotuman increases in 1946-56 raged 2.93 per cent, a year,
against 1.53 per cent, each year between 1936 and 1946.
The total population of Fiji is 345,737; Fijians make up 43 per cent.; and Indians 49 per cent. t The Fiji Government does not propose to introduce the pay-as you-earn system of income tax.
The subject was raised when it was announced that NZ was to have the P-A-Y-E system in 1958. Aus tralia has had P-A-Y-E since World War 11, and it has been a boon to wage earners. The Fiscal Review Committee in Fiji recommended the system more than three years ago but it was not adopted. Suva Chamber of Commerce was opposed to it.