Peter Brosnan

Maori Occupational Segregation

There are many schemata of occupational classification. One of the more satisfactory is the Smith scheme which classified white-collar occupations into six groups. This schema was adapted by Hill and Brosnan to include blue-collar occupations and used to compare the occupational distribution of New Zealands major ethnic groups as at the 1981 census. This article uses that revised schema to examine and compare changes in the Maori and non-Maori occupational distributions over 1956-1981. Males and females are treated separately. The article also presents median incomes for each group of the Smith data and draws the implications for policy of the uneven distribution of Maoris and non-Maoris between the occupation groups.

New Zealand Maori/Non-Maori Labour Force Income Differentials

The disadvantaged position of the New Zealand Maori population has been highlighted in several studies. This paper investigates the interrelationships of ethnic origin, industry, and income using data from the New Zealand census. Several specific hypotheses are tested, and it is found that much of the difference between Maori and non-Maori income levels can be accounted for by the occupational segregation of the Maori workforce into certain industries. Controlling for industry, however, it is still found that ethnic origin accounts for a significant proportion of the variation in the census income data.

Differentials in Australian interstate migration 1911-21 to 1961-66 by place of birth, sex and age.

SummaryWithout direct census data on migration prior to 1971, there is a deficit of information on Australian interstate migration this century. This paper uses the Census Enumeration Ratio technique to produce estimates of net interstate migration by birthplace, sex and age for the intercensal periods between 1911 and 1966. Contrasts in the propensity to migrate of different segments of the population are revealed. These correspond with overseas research and Australian findings for the subsequent period.

Religion and Income in New Zealand: An Examination of Data from the 1981 Census

There are substantial differences in the incomes received by mem bers of the major New Zealand religions. Protestants as a whole out-earn Catholics although Catholics have higher incomes than members of the smaller Protestant denominations. In general, the more adherents a religious denomination has the higher the income. The differences in male income can be accounted for largely by age and occupational differences while differences in female incomes can be attributed in part to differences in labour force participation. These findings suggest a research agenda which must account for the differences in participation and occupational choice between religions.

Australian Net Internal Migration 1881-1911

This note provides Census Enumeration Ratio estimates of net internal migration between the Australian States/Colonies over 1881-1891, 1891-1901 and 1901-1911. It is argued that the technique used is superior to alternative techniques, because it provides more accurate and more detailed estimates. The estimates indicate very high rates of net migration generally with the highest rates for (a) males, (b) for the cohorts aged 15-19 at the start of each period and (c) for migration to West Australia.

New Zealand Trade Union Data: A Comment

The authors wish to thank Bert Roth and Pat Walsh for helpful suggestions on an earlier draft. The temptation for academic researchers to concentrate on the formal system of industrial relations is easily understood; the subject of study is kept relatively neat and the data for analysis can be obtained in many cases from official reports. While this approach is sometimes adequate, it can also be seriously misleading; especially when the results of research based on official data are not presented with the appropriate caveats. To illustrate this, we take an article, published recently in this journal, which presents a somewhat misleading account of the size, structure, and concentration of