DOMINION CENSUS.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XLVIII, Issue 3020, 8 April 1926, Page 3

DOMINION CENSUS.

PREPARATIONS IN TRAIN.

THE NEW REQUIREMENTS

The enumerators are preparing for the quinquennial census, which is to be taken on the night of Tuesday, April 20. The work will be carried out by a large staff of sub-enumerators, who will have the duty of distributing schedules to all householders two or three days before the census, and of collecting them as soon ns possible afterwards. The obligation of having the papers .properly filled in rests upon the householder, who is entitled to the advice and help of the subenumerator in clearing up any point that is not understood. Formerly each householder was supplied with a single large sheet, upon which all particulars had to be entered. This has now been replaced by separate sheets, one for. particulars of the dwelling, a second for particulars of the householder and his family, and one or more others for particulars of persons who, live on the premises but are not members of the householder’s family. PROVISION FOR PRIVACY.

This subdivision allows the task to be earned out more conveniently and also makes it seem less formidable. Under certain circumstances, it is stated, personal shedules will be provided for return under sealed cover, for the use of persons not belonging to the householder’s family. These schedules will not be open to inspection either by the householder or the sub-enumera-tor. Presumably they are intended mainly for guests in hotels and boarding houses, who naturally desire personal information to remain secret.

Some new facts are required in this year’s census. They, include the number of working days lost during the preceding twelve months through accident, sickness, injury or unemployment not due to strikes or lock-outs. All persons of 16 years and over are required to place themselves in one of a number of categories being set out in the schedule. As heretofore, the householder is required to state the number of his dependent children under 16 year's of age. This information is being collected with a view to finding out whether it is practicable for the Government to help people with large families and small earnings, as it wishes to do.

NO ULTERIOR PURPOSE.

As a further aid in the investigation, the householder is required to give the number, sex and age of members of his or her family, related by blood, marriage or adoption, who ordinarily live in the dwelling but are absent on the night of the census. The number and sex of other persons temporarily absent must also be given. It is worthy of note that no person is required to state his or her actual income. Moreover, in this, as in previous censuses, an undertaking is given that the facts recorded on the schedules will not be used for any purpose other than that of the census itself. As a matter of fact, the schedules upon beng received at Wellington, are cut up and the respective sections grouped for purposes of enumeration, so that they cease to exist as individual returns.