PLANS FOR CENSUS

Press, Volume CX, Issue 32395, 7 September 1970, Page 12

PLANS FOR CENSUS

More Questions To Be Asked

The twenty-fifth census of population and dwellings of New Zealand will be taken on Tuesday, March 23, 1971, says the Government Statistician, Mr J. P. Lewin.

The range of information sought in the 1971 Census will be basically similar to that requested in the 1966 Census but there are some additions to the Census personal schedule for 1971 to cater for more information on population and dwellings and other high priority requirements.

These relate to internal mig. ration, geographical distribution of the day-time working force, usual means of transport to work, and travel time taken. To assist in improving population and age projections used for a large number of national and regional planning purposes, a question on the number of children born to married women is to be included, and, to aid medical research, information is sought on the incidence of sugar diabetes. A previous question on the number of dependent children under 16 has been eliminated, as this information can now be derived through the use of larger capacity computers when processing household composition data from the Census.- Some other questions have been reduced in scope and the lay-out improved to promote ease in answering. The redesigned form should reduce the time taken to complete it and particularly so for children under 15. For the dwelling or household schedule the usual basic questions are again included. There are a few minor changes in the kinds of amenities listed. Information will be sought on the availability to households of motor cars, pleasure boats and holiday residences.

A question last asked in the 1956 Census has been included again in 1971. It relates to the estimated proportions of household requirements of vegetables and potatoes available from home gardens. The design of the dwelling questionnaire has also been improved to make it easier for people to complete. Mr Lewin says that the range of questions asked in the schedules to produce information on the country’s social, economic and population characteristics is less extensive than has been asked in Censuses in countries such as the United Kingdom and the United States.