DELICATE QUESTIONS.

Auckland Star, Volume LVII, Issue 45, 23 February 1926, Page 7

DELICATE QUESTIONS.

ON THE CENSUS SCHEDULE. ASKING FOR INCOMES. (By Telegraph.— Special to "Star.") WELLINGTON, this day. One of the questions to be answered in the next census schedule will relate to the incomes of all per.sons enumerated on it. This class of information is, of course, regarded usually as one which the individual will not show a readiness to impart, excepting under seal of confidence, to the Income Tax Department. The Government Statistician recognises that his officers are now embarking on a somewhat difficult and delicate mission, though they are well reinforced by statutory authority to demand the facts they want. To meet a natural disposition to regard income facts a-s confidential, the census schedule will not aim at showing the actual amount earned per annum. It will ask tlie wage and salary-earners, male anel female, to mark with a cross tlie section of earners in which they should appear. The range of sections runs from "No Income, - ' by stages of £1 per week, up to a final category of £304 per. annum, the Government being apparently not interested in any further graelations. There may be objections to showing even within £o0 of a person's income, and this lias been anticipated by the personal schedule which may be useel by indiviiluals desiring to keep their personal facts secret from the sub-enumerator whose duty it is to collect the papers. They have the right to enclose their personal schedule in a foolscap envelope, stating outside their name and the census district. and also carrying a declaration that the information contained therein is to the best of their knowledge, accurate. This envelope goes to the district enumerator, sealed, and as this official will be one of the Post and Telegraph staff, already working under a pledge of secrecy, there shdultl be no Jeakage. In any case, the mass of information to be handleel shoulel reeluce the possibility of individual affairs heing the suhject of interest. When the schedules reach Wellington, the information they contain is transferred to punched cards. The identity of the schedule elisappears. and the actual schedule is burned under supervision. What doe.s the Government want with this class of information? Tlie decision to seek it follows from the promise of the Coatcs Government to the electors that it will endeavour to introduce some form of general contributory pension. There must be some basis of estiimatin? the probnlble cost to the consolidated fund of subsidising any general pension system, and if tlie public respond willingly and intelligently to the of tlie cpnsus paper, tlio Minister in Charge of Pensions will l>e able, with the as-istancp of actuaries, to find out tlio cost of pensions for various cla.==e.= of people, whose contributions would be subsidised by the State. The census =chedn]p alrea.lv suzeests that a limit is being placed at the £7 a week income. The information desired regarding unemployment, either through sickness or lack of emnloyment due to cantos other than strikes or locks out. also afford* another interesting - plimpsp into nossible plan* of the Government regard. mo - insurance; against unemployment.