RELIGION AND TEE CENSUS.
Sn;, —On Tuesday the census collector (a constable) called at my house for the paper. On giving it to him I was asked to open it that he might inspect it. I did so, and glancing only at the column headed “ Religious Denomination,” he ordered me to strike out the term “ Freethinker ” (attached to two of our names), on the ground that it was not the name of a religious denomination, and to insert the word “ Objects.” After some remonstrance I did so, but told him distinctly that I did not object to anyone knowing rny views. As lam given to understand that several others have suffered the same inconvenience, yon will oblige, sir, by giving a public opinion as to the right of the collector to alter the papers in that way. —You rs, Frektiiinkk n. Note. —Tho officer seems to have exceeded his duty in refusing to accept “Freethinker” as a proper description under the head of “ Religious Denomination.” To say a man “objects” is no description at all. It is important to know how many Freethinkers there are in the colony, whereas the constable’s mode of record would conceal that fact. How any authority could give such an instruction to collectors is indeed astonishing.— Ed.
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Patea Mail, 9 April 1881, Page 3
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212RELIGION AND TEE CENSUS. Patea Mail, 9 April 1881, Page 3
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