Relative Growth of Indebtedness, Population and Production.

It is desirable that we should have a clear grasp of the relative growth of (1) the indebtedness, (2) the population, and (3) the production of Australasia, Although we have already largely pursued this subject through the two preceding articles, there yet remains much to be considered. The question of how far the increase of population has kept pace with the growth of indebtedness is one of importance, but it is by no means so important as the question of how far the increase of population has kept pace with that of indebtedness. We fear the result of the inquiry will not be as satisfactory as could be wished, either under the head of population or of production. As regards popu- page 20 lation, the increase by immigration, rather than by excess of births over deaths is the point to which attention may be first directed.