NEW INDUSTRIAL CENSUS.

Dominion, Volume 3, Issue 808, 4 May 1910, Page 5

NEW INDUSTRIAL CENSUS.

WHY IT IS BEING TAKEN. | A MINISTERIAL EXPLANATION. j Some important remarks were made by i the Hon. J. A. Millar (Minister for La- i bour) to a Dominion reporter with re- j forence. to the industrial census which li now being taken. - • j Mr, Millar said that it was necessary ; to take the proposed census in order to j obtain some reliable data; in regard; to j the number of workers, the different rates of wages, otc., in New Zealand. The reporter: Then is it to be understood that the information on the point in the Year Book is inaccurate?" Mr. Millar: Well, there has. .been soma clashing between the Census .Department* and the Labour Department, and the ' forms sont out by them have not been the same. The result has been that you _ see statements in the Year Book ,at variance with tho records of the Labour . Department. The - idea now is to have ; a uniform form. It is very necessary , that a reliable record as to the movement as regards wages, etc., should be kept. "Will the new system supersede those at present in vogue, ,J Mr. Millar was • asked. ' Mr. Millar said that onco the necessary. : information was obtained it was not in- 1 tended to issue the forms every succeed- ; ing year—once overy five years would be ample. Tho Labour Department would continue to gather the returns required j under the factories Act annually. As 4 itsolt of tho inauguration of .the new ■ system as well, the Census Department would not require to gather any particulars relating to industrial matters; they would be able to get them from -he . Labour Department. ; ' Subsequently Mr. Millar said*that # ii ono wero formulating a superannuation scheme, for instance, reliable facts and figures as to the wages earned were ab- , solutely essential to its success. : "Has it any bearing on the Govern- ; ment's intention to bring down an unomploymont insurance scheme?" ; Mr. Millar: It goes in the direction of helping us to collate the very necessary ; information which has to be obtained ; before any such scheme could be put ; into shape.