STATISTICS.

Auckland Star, Volume LXVI, Issue 3000, 19 December 1935, Page 17

STATISTICS.

VALUE STRESSED.

HELP TO GOVERNMENT. MINISTER'S EXPLANATION. (By Telegraph.—rress Association.) • WELLINGTON, Wednesday. When emphasising the value of reliable statistics, in an address to the Institute of Secretaries, the Minister of Finance, the Hon. W. Nash, said exact facts were necessary to any true budget. New Zealand was faced with a housing problem, but before the Government could go ahead with its programme it must first of all find out the facta. That was why at present officers of the Government were engaged in the difficult initial task of framing a questionnaire which, when fully answered, would give them knowledge of the housing situation in New Zealand, and also a. basis oil which to build their plans. Similarly, before they could attempt to solve the problem of efficient land utilisation in New Zealand they must conduct soil researches, meteorological inquiries, topographical surveys, and so on.

Statistics showed that, owing to the age composition of the people and the rate of natural increase, the population of England would decline. From the point of view of numbers, unless the necessary changes were made, New Zealand was faced with a shrinking British market. Unless those changes were made one of the mainsprings of existing markets—that was, expanding markets — was gone. They also knew, however, that the British people were seriously, interested in the problem of malnutrition and had in train intensive surveys to determine the nature and extent of that evil.

Statistics would come to their aid, and the next problem would be to use the knowledge thus obtained to raise the standard of living of the mass of the people and to provide for a more equitable distribution. Under the economic system as they had known it the outlook would perhaps have been serious for New Zealand's products, but under a system which aimed at providing the maximum possible for every consumer there was unbounded hope. Secretaries and accountants, said Mr. Nash, handled statistics frequently, and realised their importance, but there was still a necessity for a greater appreciation of and training in their use. Correct statistics were one of their most vital and treasured possessions, and to omit the census, as one had been omitted in New Zealand, on the grounds of. economy, was a social crime. It meant that the Government was legislating in the dark. It could not hope to plan properly, and it did not really know the country it was administering.

Mr. Nash said he would welcome the co-operation of the institute and others in the improvement of the Official Year Book. He wondered how many lines of activity in New Zealand had uniform costing systems. He believed that, like third party insurance, uniform costing methods should be compulsory.