ENG-1979 — Page 285

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POPULATION

period and the expiration of one year from the date of birth, a fee of $5 is charged. During the year, 82,157 live births and 26,179 deaths were registered, compared with 79,173 and 22,843, respectively, in 1978. The figures, when adjusted for under-registration, gave a natural increase in population for 1979 of approximately 56,862.

A birth which has not been registered within one year may be post-registered with the consent of the Registrar of Births and Deaths and on payment of a $30 fee. During the year, 1,609 births were post-registered. The principal reason given for non-registration at the time of birth was negligence, but a small number of applications for post-registration of adults continued to be lodged because registration facilities were not available until 1932. In addition, some cases related to births which occurred during the war years, when there was no registration. But, in most cases during the year, applications for post-registration related to minors.

In July, 1979, responsibility for the registration of births, deaths and marriages was trans- ferred from the Registrar General's Department to the Immigration Department.

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