TO SAVE £30,000

Dominion, Volume 24, Issue 19, 17 October 1930, Page 10

TO SAVE £30,000

Postponing Census ECONOMY PROPOSAL Wisdom of Step Questioned The saving of £30,000 is the principal motive for the introduction of the Census Postponement Bill, which was read a second time in the House of Representatives yesterday. Briefly the measure seeks to empower the Government, to postpone the quinquennial census which would in the ordinary course ot events be taken in April, 1931, although provision is made whereby it may be taken upon the authority of an Order-in-Council. ’ In moving the second reading the Minister of Internal Affairs, Hon. I. A. de la Perrelle, said the Bill was one ot the Government’s economy measures promoted to curtail expenditure during the present period of financial difficulty. As a result of the excellent work of the Government Statistician, estimates of Population had been almost perfect, so that in this respect no great inconvenience would arise from the postponement of the census. Should the financial position improve early next year it would be possible to take the census by (Jrder-in-Council. Need for Economy. It would be admitted that the country was crying out for economy at present, and the Bill would provide a means of curtailing expenditure. Some objection had been raised to postponing the census on the ground that the Empires statistical continuity would be destroyed, but Australia had already decided to postpone its own census so that continuity would not be as widely affected as would otherwise be the case. If the Bill were carried there would be no alteration in electoral boundaries next year, but on the other hand these alterations would have to be made if the census were taken, with the result that there would be a large expenditure in this respect. The/Hon. W. Downie Stewart (Ref.. Dunedin West) said it was very regrettable that the Government considered it should postpone the census. Mr. E. J. Howard (Lab., Christchurch South) : Hear. hear. Mr. Stewart said the Minister had no doubt received a letter from various economists in the country pointing out the consequences that would follow the dropping of next year’s census. In their letter the economists pointed out that the census had been taken periodically from 1861, and that while many people might not attribute great importance to the results obtained, it would ■ be impossible without the taking of the census to give reliable information upon many questions of public importance such as the debt per head of the population, the birth and death rates and other vital questions. „„„ The Minister considered that £30.000 would be saved by postponing the census, but it appeared that the burden of the census cost would not fall within the present year but rather in following years. No great importance could be attached to the decision of Australia not to take a census next; year, for the Commonwealth was in a much more difficult position than New Zealand. While he appreciated the difficulties of the Minister of Finance, Mr. Stewart said, the postponement of the census would certainly have an effect upon the continuity of statistical records, and he hoped the Government would reconsider its decision.

Mr. W. Nash (Lab.. Hutt) also expressed the hope that the Government would reconsider its decision to postpone the census. He said that many other countries took their census every five years, and 1931 would be a very favourable year for comparison, especially with Great Britain and the United States. In addition the 1931 census would be taken fo.Ufi.wing upon one of the most serious depressions which New Zealand had experienced, and it would serve to give a picture of the economic state of the country following upon the depression. Mr. H. G. Dickie (Ref., Batea) expressed hearty agreement with the Bill.

“Retrograde Step.” ' ‘•This is a most retrograde and illconsidered proposal,” declared Mr. J. McCombs (Lab., Lyttelton). “It will vitiate the . records built up over a considerable number of years. .If the census is taken at the end of six years the Government Statistician will feel compelled to make computations to bring his figures into line with those of other years, and that will mean that on nearly every page we will have footnotes, explaining that New Zealand, like Australia, was in financial straits in 1931. Mr. de la Perrelle: Australia has postponed its census. Mr. McCombs: Exactly. New Zealand will be put before the world as being in precisely the same unfortunate position as Australia confesses itself to be in. Unfortunately, the Minister has no comprehension of the seriousness of this step in relation to the statistics of New Zealand. I hope some responsible member of Cabinet will take a hand in this business. The value of the information obtained by the census was also stressed by Mr. C. 11. Chapman (Lab.. Wellington North). He said it should not be overlooked that the taking of the census would give employment. Expressing his entire agreement with the Bill, Mr. W. J. Polson (Ind., Stratford) said the Labour Party seemed to be in favour of spending money on anything provided it gave employment, even although that employment might be uneconomic. The Leader of the Labour Party, Mr. 11. E. Holland, said the money involved in taking the census would not be saved, as some members thought, because the expenditure was only being postponed. Some members seem to be concerned lest the electoral boundaries would be changed if a census were taken next year. Mr. Holland thought it would not be humanly possible to change the boundaries before the next election; in any case, the difficulty could be overcome by a short amendment to the Legislature Act. Personally, he thought it would be quite sufficient to change the boundaries once in ten years. Mr. 11. G. R. Mason (Lab., Auckland Suburbs) : This time three, successive elections will be contested on different boundaries. Replying, the Minister said it was estimated £2500 of the expenditure would fall this year and the balance would have to be provided for in next year’s estimates. Cabinet had decided last June to seek the postponement of the census, and if there were justification then sureiy there was more justification now when conditions were worse. The Bill was read a second time on the voices. , Bill to Proceed. When the House went into committee in the evening to discuss the clauses ill the Bill the Minister intimated that since the second-reading debate he had consulted with the Acting-Prime Mmister and it had been decided that the Bill should proceed. The Lender of the Labour Party, Mi. II E Holland : I should have thought we would have got more information from the Minister. A member: It was what you call a curt reply. • , „ , Mr. Holland said the Labour Party felt that the amount that would be saved by the postponement of the census would not justify letting the opportunity go by to get the five-year returns for the period ending next year. “This is an extraordinary period, and statistics will be of particular value,” said Mr. Holland. The Minister said no provision had been made in the Estimates for taking tiie Census, nor would any be made in the Supplementary Estimates which were now before Cabinet. The amount required had not been budgeted for. and to go ahead witli the Census would probably mean increased taxation if the accounts were to be balanced. Falling Off in Revenue. “Preliminary figures for the first six months of the present financial year receal a vml a falling off in revtmiM,” said Mx.

de la Perrelle, “and (he taking of the Census in face of that will mean increasing the danger of a deficiency, which we are all anxious to avoid, at the end of the year. I realise as much as anyone the value of statistics and regret very much I hat it has been necessary to dispense with the Census next year. There are big claims on the public purse just now to help people in distress, and I think it only right to make this announcement in view of the opposition to the proposal in the Bill.” Mr. McCombs suggested that the amount might be made up by taking the fractions on totnlisator investments. “Why not pocket the fractions of racing clubs for a year,” said Mr. McCombs. "It amounts to £35.000. Why could the racing clubs not tfo slow instead of- an important State department?”

The Leader of the Opposition. Right Don. J. G. Coates, said every member regretted that the census should be postponed. but realised the Government hud difficulties, and that its action was in the way of a retrenchment. The Leader of the Labour Party: I wonder if we could have an undertaking that if the finances improve substantially the census will be taken, although that is not provided for in the measure. The Minister: Yes. If the financial position of the country improves, and we all sincerely hope it does, the census will be taken.

Mr. H. Holland (Ref.. Christchurch North) congratulated the Government on its action in postponing the census. Xh« Bill was passed.