COUNTING THE PEOPLE.

Dominion, Volume 5, Issue 1247, 2 October 1911, Page 6

COUNTING THE PEOPLE.

OFFICERS COMMENDED. Tho gonoral census occupicd only a fetf minutes when tho Monro of Representatives was considering statistical matters on Saturday morning. Mr. A. B. Malcolm (Clutlia) moved that tho Horn of .£27,500 for tho census (including agricultural statistics) should bo reduced by .£!), as an iudication that tho coiisub should bo taken at intervals of ten yoars, instead of fivo years. Tho Leader of tho Opposition (Mr. W. F. Massov) said that a vote on the question would bo of 110 value, unless it was followed by legislation. Under tho provisions of the existing law, tho proposed chango in tho census system would extend the intervals between tho revisions, of electoral boundaries to decennial periods. Ten members supported tho proposition, and thirly-threo voted against it. Tho Hon. D. Buddo explained that the cost of tho last census was creator than that of tho census of 1006, because thero had been a largo increase in tho population, consequently tho remuneration of tho census officers had been considerably incrcnscd, and also becauso tho work had to bo pressed forward, as was tho case fifteen years ago, when tho ccnsus was taken in an election year. Tho Minister commended tho officers of tho RegistrarGeneral's staff for tho dispatch with which tho census had been completed, explaining that tho results were ascertained ten days earlier than in 189G, though tho population was much greater.