STATISTICIANS’ CONFERENCE

Press, Volume XCIX, Issue 29342, 22 October 1960, Page 11

STATISTICIANS’ CONFERENCE

‘ N.Z. To Be Host To Commonwealth

Several of the new Commonwealth countries, ineluding Singapore and the Federation of the West Indies, will have independent representatives for the first time at the conference of British Commonwalth statisticians, when the fifth gathering is held from November 7 to November 18. in Wellington, with New Zealand as the host country. New Zealand has taken an active part in the previous conferences held In 1920 at London. 1935 at Ottawa, 1951 at Canberra, and 1956 at London. The purpose of the conferences is to pool ideas on the handling of difficult technical problems, to achieve a greater degree of comparability between the statistics of the Commonwealth countries and to ensure that there is adequate statistical information as a basis for economic, financial and other deliberations on Commonwealth affairs. During recent years considerable developments have been made in the statistical services of many countries and in the techniques employed. A steering committee, consisting of representatives of Canada, India, New Zealand and the United Kingdom, appointed by the fourth conference, has prepared an agenda which is the basis for submission of papers tor discussion at the conference. Diacussion will be focused on intricate statistical aspects of external trade and overseas investment, national accounting, finance, unemployment and underemployment, buildini and construction, production and productivity, family budget inquiries, seasonal corrections, sampling and administrative questions affecting statistical offices. Australia. Britain, Canada, Singapore, the Federation of the West Indies, the Federation of Rhodesia and Nyasaland, Fiji. Mauritius, Ceylon and India will all have delegations at the conference, and there may be representatives from other countries. In addition, observers will attend from the Commonwealth Economic Committee (London), the Statistical Office of the United Nations, and the Republic of Ireland.