THE CENSUS.

Franklin Times, Volume 9, Issue 621, 5 April 1921, Page 5

THE CENSUS.

ITS STORY AND ITS IMPORTANCE On Sunday* April 17, what is known as the “census” will be taken in New Zealand, and the object of these notes is to tell a little of its history, its purpose, and its value. A census is simply a means of obtaining infoxmation about the people of a country. It is nearly six thousand years since the first known census was taken in ancient Babylonia. Something of the kind was cei'tainly in use in eai’ly Egypt before 2500 8.C., and also in China prior to 3000 B.C. A Biblical instance of a census is that of the Hebrews, in 1490 8.C., when Moses took a count of his people, as related in the Book of Numbers. In ancient Roman times a very systematic form of census was taken; indeed, (the very name of “census” is derived from the Latin vei’b censeo (I register, or enrol). It was the duty of certain high officers called “Censors” to make a register of the citizens and their property. This register determined a man s position in the State, and afso the taxation due from him as a citizen.

Far different in purpose are the modern census-takings, which date back to those of Sweden in 1749-. America in 1790 and England in 1801. New Zealand's first general census was that of ISSI, and tne present forms the seventeenth enumeration in the history of the Dom'nkn. At first the census was taken every three years ; now it is a five-yearly

one. The census of 1921 has a very special interest, as it forms a part of the great Empire post-war survey. In all parts of the British Empire a census will be taken in 1921—in Australia on the 4th April, in New Zealand on the 17th, and in the United Kingdom on the 24th, while South Africa will count her people on the 3rd May, and Canada on the Ist June. Ir. order to carry out the census the Dominion is divided into districts, each in charge of an officer called an “Enumerator,” who employs assistants called “Sub-enum-'erators.” Over a thousand men will be engaged in distributing and collecting census papers. Each carries a map of his district, and must leave a census schedule at every inhabited building and on board every ship within that area. On horseback, on bicycle, on foot, by boat, the takers penetrate every inhabited part of the Dominion. ‘

When the night of Sunday, the 17th April arrives, the person in charge of the house, after reading the instructions and examples on the census paper, must enter carefully the names p.r.dother particulars regai'ding each person who sleeps in the house that night. Sunday night is chosen because more people are at home that night than on any other night in the week.

On Monday, the 18th April, or as soon afterwards as may be, the census papers are called for. If the collector finds that any of the questions have not been answered or have not beer, answered correctly, he may require the correct information to be given. Heavy penalties are provided should any one wilfully enter wrong or misleading particulars. , When all the papers in a district are collected and the enumerator sends them to Wellington to the Government Statistician, whose duty it is to compile the information thus made available. This he does by means of cards—over a million of them—one for each person. All the particulars x’egarding each person are represented by smalt holes punched in a cai-d. When all the cai’ds are ready the schedules are carefully destroyed, so that everything is kept as secret as possible. The cards are sorted into groups, and counted by machines specially built for this, and thus the statistics ai*e compiled.

The success of the whole census depends chiefly upon the care taken in filling up each census paper. If each person undertaking this duty makes only one error, that makes an error of hundreds of thousands in the total. Let us take the chief items of inquiry one by one. First we have the names; if these are not entered’’correctly it may be impossible to tell whether any person has been emitted, or perhaps counted twice. The second column, “Relationship,” gives us an idea of the composition of the average household. Then the next item is “Sex”; this enables ps to tell the number ..of men. and women in any town or district. Of course, each column .may be- read together with any other, column? for example, the columns for sex and occupations allow us to find out the number of men and women following any particular trade or occupation. Questions as to age follow, and here it is found that many people are not careful to state their age last birthday, as should be done. The fifth column has two parts,one for those under 16 years of age and one for those under 16. Those over 16 are asked whether they are married, widowed, divorced, or

never manned while those under 16 are asked whether their parents are living or dead. So many people died suddenly in the great epidemic of 1918 that it is now more necessai'y than ever that the number of orphans should be known.

One of the most important inquiries on the schedule is that which asks “Profession or occupation” yet it is the one in which the Government Statistician finds most mistakes. Many people, pai’ticularly in this instance, do not read the examples ar„d instructions which are .printed on the back of the census paper. Questions as to birthplace and allegiance are asked for a country must know what strangers are within its gates. The birthplace of the father is added to complete this inquiry. Again, we are asked to what lace we belong, as the policy of the Dominion is for a “white New Zealand,” jmd the particulars of the alien and coloured people must he carefully watched.

One item which is new to the census paper is that concerning life insurance. It is often stated that New Zealand is one of the most heavily insured countries in the world. The census mill make clear whether this be true or not. It always happens that a number of people are away from their hemes when the census is taken. The census would not, therefore, while giving a true count of the population of any district, give absolutely accurately the number actually belonging to and ordinarily living at that place. To provide for this every person who is away from home is asked to state his ordinary place of residence. The former system is called “population tie facto” and the latter “population de jure.” Other heads of inquiry include the religion and education of the people. Another seeks knowledge of the dwelling itself, for the houses of the people are often considered a test of the prosperity of a nation. By a question as to the number of living children under 16 it is hoped to be able to guage* the average size of families. Bees and the number, of the domestic poultry are the object of two more queries. One of the last asks the position of the dwelling, ferit is desired to find the population of what are termed “localities” that is, small centres not Laving definite boundaries as in the case of a citv or borough, where the. boundaries are fixed by law. It is clear from the following that d great variety of information is

available from the census papers. The description “national stocktaking” is often very aptly used. In New Zealand there is yet another use of the census, for the boundaries of the electoral districts arc regulaxly altered as the population in that locality ebbs and flows. Yet the value of the result depends almost wholly upon the care and accuracy with which each of the hundreds of thousands of householders perform-; his share of this national task.