CENSUS PUT OFF

Dominion, Volume 24, Issue 104, 27 January 1931, Page 8

CENSUS PUT OFF

Definite Decision CABINET’S POSITION Financial Stringency Although it was stated at the time the Census Postponement Bill was before Parliament last session that every effort would be made to take a census this year if the national finances permitted, the Government has decided that the demand for economy is too great to allow of money being spent in that direction. This means that no census will be taken next April as was originally intended, and in view of the efforts being made by Cabinet to reduce expenditure to the minimum, it appears that the date of the next census will remain indefinite. The postponement of the census was one of the earliest suggestions made by Cabinet in order to curtail national spending. Parliamentary sanction for this course was necessary and a Bill was introduced by the Minister of Internal Affairs, Hon. P. A. de la Perrelle, who estimated that a total of £31,000 would be saved by doing away with the census in the meantime. A certain amount of opposition met the measure in the House, the chief criticism being that a postponement of such an important national “count” would throw out the quinquennial records of the Dominion and so leave a gap that would destroy the comparative value of past and future censuses.

The Minister gave an assurance at the time that every effort would be made to see that this year’s census was taken. He pointed out that it was the wish of the Government that it should be taken, and he said that if the necessary finance could be arranged, the- postponement would only be temporary. It is understood, however, that Cabinet'has been unable to see its way clear to grant the money for the purpose in view of subsequent developments. This will mean that there will be no revision of electoral boundaries this year. It is usual for the boundaries to be revised after a census, but the general election next November will be fought within the boundaries obtaining in 1928. The Electoral Department will also compile the rolls on the basis of the present boundaries. This will have the effect of simplifying to a certain extent the detail work connected with the election,, although it will not do away with the necessity of a careful revision of the rolls.