THE CENSUS.

Taranaki Daily News, 2 April 1921, Page 10

THE CENSUS.

ITS STORY AND ITS IMPORTANCE. TO BE TAKEN ON APRIL 17. On Sunday, April 17, what ia known as the “census” will be taken in New Zealand, and the object of these notes is to tell of its history, its purpose, and its value- A census is simply a means of obtaining information 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 certainly in use .in early Egypt before 2500 8.C., and also in China prior B.C. A Biblical instance of a census is that of the Hebrews, in 1940 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 verb censeo (I register, or enrol). It is 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 also 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 1851, and the present forms the seventeenth enumeration in the history of the Dominion. 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 April 4, m New Zealand on the 17th, and in the United Kingdom on the 24th, while South Africa will count her people on 3 t and Canada on June

In 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-enumerators.” 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 censustakers penetrate every inhabited part of the Dominion.

When the night of Sunday, April 17. arrives, the person in charge- of the house, after reading the instructions and examples on the census paper, must enter carefully the names and other particulars regarding 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, April 18, 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 been 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 checked, the Enumerator sends them to Wellington to the Government Statistician, whose duty it is to compile the information made available. This he does 'by means of cards —over a million of them—one for each person. All the particulars regarding any person are represented by small holes punched in a card. When all the cards are ready the schedules are carefully destroyed, so that everyth!.ig is kept as seeret as possible. The cards are sorted into groups and counted by machines specially built for th ; s, and thus the statistics are compiled. The success of the whole census depends chiefly upon the care taken in filling up each census paper. If each person undeiftaking this dutv makes only one error, that makes an’ error of hundreds of thousands in the total. Det us take the chief ite/ns 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 lias been omitted 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 us to tell the npm ber 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 over 16 years of age and one for those under 16. Those over 16 are asked whether they are married, widowed, divorced, or never married, while those under 16 are asked whether their parents are living or dead. So many people died sudden’ ly in the great epidemic of 1918 that it js now more necessary than ever that the number of orphans in the Dominion should be known.

One of the most important inquiries on the schedule is that which asks “Profession or Occupation,” yet it is one in which the Government Statistician finds most mistakes. Many people particularly in this instance, do not read the examples and 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 race we belong’ as the policy of the Dominion is for a ‘white New Zealand,” and the particulars of the alien and colored people must be 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 will make clear whether this be true or not. It always happens that a number of people are away from their homes 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 de facto,” and the latter “population de jure.” Other heads of inquiry include the religion and education of the people. Another seelks knowledge of the dwelling itself. for the houses of the people are often considered a test of the prosperity oi a nation. By a question as to the number of living children under 16 it is hoped to be able to gauge the average size of families. Bees and the number of domestic poultry are tire object of two more queries. One of the last asks the position of the dwelling, for it is desired to find the population of what are termed “localities”—that is, small centres not having definite boundaries as in the case of a City or borough, where the boundaries are fixed by law. It is clear from the foregoing that a great variety of information is available from the census papers. The description “national stock-taking” is often very aptly used. In New Zealand there is yet another use of the census, for the boundaries of the electoral districts are regularly altered as the population in that locality ebbs and flows. Yet the value of the result depends most wholly upon the care and accuracy with which each of the hundreds of thousands of householders performs his share of this national task.