A WAR CENSUS

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume XLVIII, Issue XLVIII, 12 August 1915, Page 2

A WAR CENSUS

THE AUSTRALIAN PROPOSAL. Senator Pearce moved the suspension of the Standing Orders in the Federal Senate last week, s o as to carry the War Census Bill through all stages as a matter of urgency. The Bill provides a schedule ot questions to be filled in like a census paper, the idea being to obtain a comprehensive survey of the human and material resources of the Camtmonwealth. It was explained that in the framing of the Bill there was no idea of conscription. Recruits were rolling up well, and the Government preferred that the battles' of the Empire should be won by volunteers rather than by conscription. The undertaking was further given that thei-e was no intention on the part of the Government to deal in a harsh, unreasonable, or unprecedented manner with the wealth of the <Jorrmunity. The questions in the Bill are as follows :

THE FIRST SCHEDULE. To be filled in by all males aged 18 and under 60. 1. Name in full. 2. Full postal address. 3. Dat-e. of bivth. 4. State whether married (M-), widower (W.), or single (S.)5. State number and relation of dependent relatives (if any). ■ . ' 6. State whether your general health ' is good .bad,.or indifferent. 7. If health is not good, state cause. 8. If suffering from blindness, deafness, or loss of a limb, give particu- . 9. What is your present occupation? 9a. State grade of occupation. (If employing labour other than domestic, insert E.; if working on ! own account but not employing laI bour, insert O.; if assisting but not .receiving salary or wages, insert A. j if in receipt of salary or wages, insert W-; if out of work for. ir.ore than a week prior to June 30, insert N.) 9b. If you are an employee, what is the occupation of your employer? . , 10. What other occupation (if any); could you undertake. 11. What military training (if any) have you had. 12. State country or birth of — (1) Yourself. (2) Your father. (3) Your mother. 13. If born in a foreign country of foreign parentage, are you a naturalised I British subject? I 14. If so. when and where was natu- ! ralisation effected? i Date. Signature. I. 1 THE SECOND SCHEDULE.

To be filled in by all persons aged 18 and upwards possessed, of or holding of trust property, or in receipt of income. 1. Name in full. 2. Sex. 3. Full usual postal address. (4) If you possess motor car or motor cycles', state number and borse-power of each, also character and number -of any other vehicles possessed by you. 5. If you posses horses, mules, working bullocks, camels, cattle, sheep! and pigs, state number of each. 6. Property'-—What was the approximate value of real and personal property held by you at June 30, 1915, comprising:

(1) Capital value of land, together with the value "of all improvements including , houses and buildings, thereon. .. (2) "Machinery and plant,'■including implements, vehicles, and; tools of all kinds. ■ (3) live stock. (4) Debentures and other stocks and 'shares.. ' , •■ , (5) Bank deposit and cash m hand. (6) Money lent (secured and unsecured, outstanding on June 30, 1915. , (7) Stock iin trade. {B} Furniture and personal and household effects. (9) Other property, exclusive of life • V assurance ... Net value of all- property. 7. Income.—What was the amount of. income received by you during .the 12 months ended June 30, 1915 (a) On account and (b) on itrust account? (1) Stipend, salaryj or wages. ' (2) Profession, trade, or industry carrieddh by you; ■ (3) Fees, commission, or bonus. (4) Pension, : superannuation, xetirdng allowance. (5) Quarters, board ,etc., allowed by empioyerj. (6) Rent. 17) Interests and dividends. (8) Annuities, royalties, tributes, ,etc^ (9) Income'as beneficiary from, trust estate. . (10) All ©tlier sources. . (11) Add 5 per cent, bn capital value of your own land. and, improver ments used; by yourself for purpose of residence or enjoyment. .■Less— ■>' •'■■''."'.' (1) Amount actually paid by you for -fidelity guarantee on yourself. (2) Interest actually paid on borrow- . Ed money. (3) Repairs and maintenance of property actually paid for. v (4) Fire, life, or other insurance pre- '-: miutns paid. (5), Rent.' • (6) Rates and taxes paid. Net income. PaJ>e. . Signature. ■ WHAT IS AIMED AT.

In introducing the Bill in the Hou£» 'the -Attorney-General V (Mr W. ,M I Hughes) said .the measure did not con-' ! template conscription/ It must be regard - | ed as the means whereby we were to more ! effectually wage the conflict, as, it now ! existed. It was impossible to go on at the rate %ye were going without some attempt to organise our forces. At present we were -drawing from the vitals of society our best men, without -regard to their -usefulness, and putting them-into the firing line any regard to anything except the sublime spirit that haddled.them to offer ther services. The country was being deprived ■'■■■ of it s financial resources at a rate which made all preconceived methods of supply to-, tally inadequate." It was evident'that every additional man who went to the; front increased the expenditure by not much less than 25$ a day. '