ANOTHER CENSUS

Hokitika Guardian, 24 January 1930, Page 8

ANOTHER CENSUS

COUNTING THE PEOPLE. TWELVE MONTHS’ PLANNING. PRECAUTIONS FOR SECRECY. Preparations have begun already in connection with the regular fiveyearly census which is to be taken early in 1931. Although the actual distribution and (of the penstfs returns is/ completed 1 within a few' days, the initial spade work occupies tlie best part of a year or even longer. Indeed, success of the whole census depends Upon close attention to detail in the preliminary wprk. Even the date upon .which to take the census requires very careful thought. It cannot be decided upon haphazardly. For one thing it is do. sirable to take the census when the population is as stationary as possible. Holidays and week-ends must therefore be avoided, and attractions both in New Zealand and elsewhere must be given careful consideration. This facilitates subsequent statistical computations, and leads to greater accuracy and uniformity in the returns. Although there are several wellknown dates that satisfy these conditions, in the case of the British Empire, it has been agreed to count the people within a month or two of April. In this manner it has been found possible to give the Empire as a whole a common basis from which comparisons may be made, and through which an idea of the total population of the entire Empire may be estimated. New Zealand has fallen into line in this respect, and her coping census will take plape on a day yet to be decided in April, 1931. It will take place after the Easter holiday rush is over, when the population has more or less settled down before the arrival of the winter months.

DIVISION OF THE WORK. At present work is proceeding on the necessary large-scale maps, upon which the division of the work will be based. These maps divide up the country into census districts. The districts are then subdivided into four or five sub-districts each, arranged as far as possible to include some 200 to 300 houses. Obviously this work requires great care and a good knowledge of the districts concerned. In towns the area involved will be small. In country districts the area may coyer many miles. Enumerators are selected for each district and sub-enumerators for cadi sub-division. As far as possible these are supplied by the postal authorities and have a good knowledge of their own areas.

All boundaries, not only census but county, borough, town, road boards, drainage and [others, are shown clearly on these maps in coloured lines and care is taken to see that overlapping is impossible. New parish or country boundaries are usually arranged to fit into one district. Jn this connection April is particularly suitable for census purposes as any new boundaries generally; come into use at the beginning of that month. At the moment tire problem of the questions to be asked in the schedules distributed to househoders, is under ' discussion. There is, however, every reason to believe that these questions will be much the same as last time. The schedules are printed on special paper and this work of printing in itself is a work of no little magnitude. At least one and a half million schedules will have to be printed for 1931, or nearly a quarter of a million more than last time. In addition to schedules at least two million statistical cards will be printed, not to mention other incidentals in the stationery line such as five or six thousand Field Books and daily diaries for the use of sub-enumerators. THE MAORIS. Arrangements are being made to count all Maoris. A certain number of schedules will be printed in their language. For the most part, however, returns will lie made by them on the ordinary schedules used by Europeans. In this connection, judging by the returns from last census, the Maoris have shown as good as, if not greater accuracy in their returns than, many Europeans. Every care will be taken to make the census absolutely confidential. Even a criminal might tell the truth in his census returns and not find his trust misplaced. There is no collaboration with either the police auth- 1 willies or for that matter any other Department. The enumerators and ‘ their subordinates are under oath not to disclose any facts that may come 1 to their notice in the course of their work. Both “household” and “per- r sonal” schedules will be available. The * latter may be used where persons may c wish to make a return to the census s . authorities without being included on !’ the less private household return. s This defeats gossip. Personal schedules why even be handed in under ® the cover of a sealed envelope if so t desired. c

I EXTRACTION OF FACTS FROM I SCHEDULES. I I As quickly as possible the facts o | tained from the completed schedule ' are dissociated from names and ai j drosses, and transferred to statistic cards and punched dockets that mei . tion no names at all. The individui | so far as a census is concerned is r< garded as a mere unit. So many d gits and so many noughts, with u address or soul. Considering son

300 schedules, not in alphabetical order, are digested in this manner in an hour, it is clear that those doing it w'ould have to be quick to extract from them any facts in the course of their work. Moreover, the census authorities make it an absolute point of honour not to disclose any facts whatsoever to outside sources, no matter how important the matter. As soon as. all the facts have been extracted from these schedules they are all burnt in order to ensure secrecy. The statistical work after each census takes nearly all the intervening period between it and the next census. Thus the census schedules of 1926 are due to go up in flames any time between now and 1931, when their pigeon holes will be required for another five years’ statistical work connected with counting the people.