BURNING CENSUS PAPERS

Hawera & Normanby Star, Volume LXXI, Issue LXII, 16 May 1912, Page 5

BURNING CENSUS PAPERS

[By Telegbaph.—Special to Stab.] AA rELLINGTON, May 15. Householders' schedules and other census documents are being burned in AVellington by the ton this week, the clerical work having been almost completed. The prompt destruction of these papers is in accordance with the policy of the Registrar-General's Department -, that absolute secrecy must be observed regarding the particulars supplied by individuals. If this were not the case, there would be worse trouble than is now experienced in obtaining correct particulars of ages. Even under present conditions it is well known that, on this point, the census cannot bo regarded as reliable to the last degree, owing to the very human failing of forgetfuiness on the part of ladies who fill up the schedules. However, if there are any who feel that they have confided any dreadful secrets of this sort to the schedule they will be relieved to know that five tons of these confessions have already disappeared in smoke up the chimney of the AA Tellington destructor, precautions being taken against the documents being overlooked by unauthorised persons. The census staff itself is under a statutory pledge of secrecy.