CENSUS THIS YEAR.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 65, Issue 154, 12 April 1945, Page 4

CENSUS THIS YEAR.

FIXED FOR SEPTEMBER. (P.A.) WELLINGTON, April 11. The intention of the Government to hold a census this year was announced to-day by the Acting-Prime Minister’ (the Eton. W. Nash). “The last census was taken in March, 1936,” said Mr Nash, “and normally the next census- would have been held in 1941. However, because of the difficulties we were facing at the time, the taking of the census was postponed, and it was provided in the Finance Act, 1940, that a census should be taken not later than 194£>. “It is important that the census should be no longer delayed,” continued Mr Nash. “It is vital to the success of the reconstruction plans of the Dominion, and particularly to measures for rehabilitation and housing, that we have accurate knowledge of social and industrial trends over the last nine years, and a clear picture of the location and needs of the people to-day. This information can only be obtained by a full-scale statistical survey such as that provided by a census.

“Normally, a census in New Zealand is taken in the autumn, but it has been decided that the census on this occasion shall be taken in September. The only other occasion since IS7I on which a census was taken in a month other than March or April was during the last war, when a census was taken in October, 1916.” Mr Nash said that the census in September, 1945, would also give adequate time for the representation commissioners to perform their duties before the General Election of 1946.