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THE BRITISH EMPIRE: — TASMANIA

Chief Justice. — Hon. Sir H. Nicholls, Kt.

The Governor is aided in the exercise of the executive by a Cabinet of responsible ministers, as follows (came into office in April, 1916) : —

Premier, Chief Secretary and Minister for Education. — Hon. Sir W. H. Lee, Kt., M.H.A.

Attorney General and Minister for Railways. — Hon. W. B. Propsting, C.M.G , M.L.C.

Minister for Works. — Hon. J. B. Hayes, C.M.G., M.H.A.

Minister for Lands. — Hon. A. Haan, C.M.G. , M.H.A.

Treasurer and Minister for Mines. — Hon. Sir Neil E. Lewit, K. C.M.G., M.H.A.

Honorary Ministers. — Hon. H. Hays, M.H.A., and Hon. T. Shields, M.H.A.

Each of the ministers has a salary of 950Z. per annum. The Premier has 200Z. a year. A minister must have a seat in one of the two Houses.

Agent-General in London. — A. H. Ashbolt.

Secretary. — Herbert W. Ely.

Offices. — Australia House, Strand, W.C. 2.

Area and Population.

Area, with Macquaiie (170 square miles), 26,215 square miles or about 16,778,000 acres, of which 15,571,500 acres form the area of Tasmania Proper, the rest constituting that of a number of small islands, in two main groups, the north-east and north-west.

The population has increased as follows (census returns) : —

Year

Population

Increase per Ct. per Annum

Year

Population

146,667 172,475 191,211

Increase per Ct. per Annum

1861 1871 1881

89,977

99,328

115,705

2-44 1-13 1-38

1891 1901 1911

2 36 I'M

i-04

in 1911 there were 97,591 males and 93,620 females. The average density is 7 '38 persons to a square mile. Of the total population in 1911, 79'2 per cent, were natives of Tasmania, 11 '5 per cent, natives of the United Kingdom, and 7 '3 per cent, natives of other Australasian colonies. There were 676 Chinese and other coloured aliens, and 227 half-caste aboriginals. The pure aboriginal is extinct.

Estimated population, June 30, 1920, 216,643.

The population shows the usual Australian excess of males, fairly steady before tho war, vanishing during the war, and since recovered, by June 1920, to an excess of four males in every 100 of population.

The births, deaths, and marriages tor live years were as follows : —

— Births

Marriages

Deaths

Excess of Birtlis

r.'ll 6,017

1916 5,642

1917 5,376

1918 6,280 I'll 9 5,310

1,543 1,433 1,138 1,181 1,513

1,918 2,056 1,768 1,802 2,192

4,099 3,586 3,608 3,478 3,118