THE CENSUS.

Free Lance, Volume XV, Issue 816, 18 February 1916, Page 6

THE CENSUS.

Why Take it Next Year ? CONSIDERING that more than one .Minister of' the Crown has recently impressed upon the people the necessity for economy, it is passing strange that Cabinet has decided upon, the taking' of the census next . year. The numbering of the people will cost anything; between. £40,000 and £60,000, and it-seems to us that this large sum might "'be' -much better ' expended on shells or upon. any practically useful purpose connected with the war. The Prime Minister's excuse for this extravagance, for as such the expenditure of so large a sum on census-taking can only be properly considered, is that the "boundary commissioners must be given a sure basis for the adjustment of electoral boundaries "before next general election." Why so? As if it mattered two pins whether the North Island, has another member or two, and the South a member or two less* or whether Taumarunui mops up a bit of Rangitikei or Eden-loses a few miles of electoral area to Waitemata. Until the war is r over, and it is not likely to be over until next year is past and gone, what do these things matter ?. And why should good money be wasted on them.?