Population Control

Alarm Over Census

"Urgent Ne ed" For Population Control In The Gilberts

Results and projections from a population census held in the Gilbert and Ellice Islands Colony on April 30, 1693, have emphasised the urgent need for large-scale and effective palliative measures, such as emigra tion and birth control, according to the Census Commissioner, Mr. J. B.

MacCaig.

A REPORT on the census, which has just been published, shows a 38.55 per cent, increase in the population since the last census was taken in 1947, and projections indicate that the 1963 population could double within another 23 i years. , .

The 1963 census population was 48,780, made up of 23,927 males and 24,853 females. If Colony citizens temporarily living on Nauru are included, the total census population is 49,879 (24,809 males and 25,070 females).

The report says that the population increased at an annual rate of 2.07 per cent in the 16 years since the last census, and that this figure could rise to 3 per cent, annually over the next 15 years, assuming no migration takes place.

These figures compare with an annual rate of increase of only 0.41 per cent, between the 1931 and 1947 censuses.

Projections

Projections of the indigenous population at five-yearly intervals to 1978 are:

By 1978, therefore, the indigenous population enumerated in 1963 may have increased by 53.4 per cent, if no migration takes place; and further projections show that the 1963 population will have doubled within 23i years.

For the next 10 years, the report says, it seems that there will be an annual increase of between 500 and 550 of all ages to the total school going population. Meanwhile, the number of males of employable age —l5 to 59—will also be increasing steadily.

The number of employable males

is expected to rise from 12,000 in 1963 to 19,500 by 1978, and assum ing employment opportunities in other industries do not expand, probably 16,000 males will be dependent on coconut production for their livelihood in 1978 compared with 8,000 in 1963.

The Census Commissioner says: “The census report shows a projected increase in population which may not be as dramatic as in some other Pacific territories, but which is sufficiently alarming when the limited land, economic and employment re sources of the Colony are taken into consideration.”

FOOTNOTE : The Gilbert and

Ellice Islands Colony has a total land area of only 376 square miles spread over an enormous expanse of ocean. It has only two important industries, copra and phosphate. The value of copra exports for 1962 was about £450,000; the value of phosphate exports has not been pub lished since before the war. • New Caledonia’s Conseil du Gouvernement has granted permission to the Compagnie Francaise du Petrole to search for oil on the marine plateau surrounding the Chesterfield Islands, between New Caledonia and Australia. The permit is subject to French Government approval.

Year Males Females Total 1968 28.194 28,414 56,608 1973 32,581 32,672 65,253 1978 37,858 37,817 75,675