SYDNEY CENSUS

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 3, Issue 268, 7 February 1941, Page 6

SYDNEY CENSUS

SHELTERS FOR PUBLIC ALII RAID PRECAUTIONS A census of Sydney's population to ascertain the areas in which air raid shelters should be built, and their capacity, is being taken by the Sydney City Council.

In a report the city engineer, Mr Garnsey, states that the number of shelters require:! in the congested areas will be so costly that the Government will have to provide the funds. Trendies in parks and vacant land seem to be the best Avay of providing public shelters at reasonable cost, and borings were „being made to find whether the ground in city parks was suitable.

Spmc foreign tenants of houses in the city area have strenuously objected to giving particulars of the number of occupants in their homes, as they fear that the census will be used for legal action to prevent overcrowding.

"Local residents gladly supply the City Council officials with the information, but foreigners are loath to supply it, even to the point oi abuse," Mr Garnsey states.

He mentions an instance Avhere the number of occupants was given as eight when it was thought the inquiry was about overcrowding, but was increased to 28 when it was explained that the information was wanted for the provision of air raid shelters.

A census of tlie normal floating population in tire city was discontinued during the Christmas shopping period because the crowds were abnormal.