NEXT YEAR'S CENSUS

Dominion, Volume 14, Issue 45, 17 November 1920, Page 8

NEXT YEAR'S CENSUS

SOME NEW QUESTIONS. The nexil census is to be taken on April 17, 1921. . The form of household schedule to bo ndopted has just been npprowd by Cabinet. It follows exactly the lines of previous schedlilos, but one or two new questions arc introduced, (1) New questions are asked as to orphanhood and- a 8 to dependant's. These questions seek at obtaining fairly comprehensive information as to the number 1 of orphans under sixteen years of age with either one or both parents dead, and from the" point of view of the parent to ascertain the number of children under sixteen years of age dependent on each married man, widower, and widow. I'rovision is also made for ascertaining the sexes of tho dependent children, so tliat ttho character and tho distribution of tha families in conjunction with such ••natters as the grade and class of occupation of the parent may he ascertained. Similar questions are being included in tho census schedule of iflie United Kingdom. Frequent requests have been made as to the number of families with the number of children under various ages, and such factors enterinto the consideration of practically stfl proposals aiming at lisrlrfening the burden of those bringing up large families. (2) A question is aßkc<l >as to the amount of life insurance carried in each case. The information obtained here is closely allied to the two questions as to dependency, and will serve to show to whn.'l extent provision for dependants at death is being made. > New Zealandors are said to be the most insured people in the world, and this will show whether tho life insurance is spread over 'the great majority of the people or carrid in large sums by the few.. It will also servo tlo show whether those with children dependent on them are the people who arc carrying life insurance, and the extent of such provision in convpari•son ■with that of the less burdened. Similarly, the reply .will show whether insurance is common to all occupations, or whether certain grades or classes are neglectful of life insurance. (3) The usual questions as to birthplace and nationality are slightly altered. while the birthplace of the father of each person on the' schedule is now to be asked for also. Previously, tJic census schedule showed only whether each person was a British or a foreign subject, in addition to stating the birthplace, while the new.question will bring out' not only the birthplace but. alSo the nationality, and how acquired, whether by naturtilisatiori or otherwise, and then the birthplace of the father will serve 't> indicate the nationality of origin. The war has accentuatcd the importance of knowing as much as possible about the alientfl constitutes portion of the population. The questions were recommended by thp British Empire Statistical Conference, and- a somewhat similar question w being included, in the ctyisus schedule for the United Kingdom, while in Australia the birthplace of both the father and the mother is being tusked for. (i) Provision is made for the first lime for showing the usual place of residence of any visitors enumerated with the household. This is in order to cer'lain to what extent the population 'ote.ls for counties or boroughs, are affectcd by the temporary presence, and conversely, the temporary absence of persons awav from home, And in regard to the Bominion the number of outsiders with the ooun'/ries to which they belong, who ma.y bo in tho country o'n census night'.