SURVEYING OPINION

Wairarapa Times-Age, 2 August 1940, Page 6

SURVEYING OPINION

THE WORK OF “COOPER’S SNOOPERS.” DEFENDED BY MINISTER OF INFORMATION. (By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright) LONDON, August 1. Canvassers of public opinion in wartime, who have been nicknamed “Cooper's Snoopers," were defended in the House of Commons by the Minister of Information, Mr Duff Cooper, who declared that the difficulty of ascertaining public opinion was greater in wartime than in peacetime. Scientific methods had been used by the newspapers and commercial firms and the Minister of Information decided months ago to utilise a method whereby, under the auspices of the National Institute of Economic and Scientific Research, about 60 persons were now employed at salaries commensurate with the importance of the task. The information was circulated to the departments to which it was likely to be useful. The system started before his arrival in the Ministry. “Cooper's Snooper” call at on an average of eight houses daily. It is revealed that only two per cent of householders object. Recent questions have related to the effects of air raids and rationing. The answers are confidential. The Ministry established the organisation after the success of similar surA v veys in recent years, particularly in America.