NEXT CENSUS

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXIII, Issue 22319, 17 January 1936, Page 11

NEXT CENSUS

PLANS WELL IN HAND QUESTIONS TO THE PUBLIC COUNTING HEADS ON MARCH 24 Preparations are well in hand for taking the census in New Zealand on March 24, states the Dominion, Wellington. Although the actual distribution and collection of the census returns is completed within a few days, the preliminary work entailed in arranging for the official count of the Dominion's population requires" as many months and longer. Close attention to detail in the initial preparations is essential to the success of the census. Even the date upon which it is to be takexi needs very careful consideration, for it is desirable to take the census when the population is as stationary as possible. Holidays,'week-ends, and other periods when there is anything in the nature of a definite movement of .population must, therefore, be avoided. For the purpose of the census the country is divided into 82 districts, each under the control of an enumerator. Each district contains one or more complete counties with interior boroughs and town districts. For the actual distribution and collection of the schedules some 1250 sub-enumerators will be employed. The distribution will commence about a fortnight before the census date, and the collection on the day following the census. Information Required Questions will be asked under the following heads in respect of each individual in a household: Name, relationship to head of household, sex, age, marital status, orphanhood, dependent children, industry, occupation, occupational status (employer, • wageearner, etc.), unemployment, religion, ■ birthplace, duration of residence, race, war service, income, and domicile. In addition to these questions an ocrupier will be required to give particulars relating to his dwelling much on r,he same lines of that asked for at the last census, which was taken in 1926. These particulars will include information as to rent, tenure, number of rooms, and material of which the dwelling is constructed. In the case of hospitals, hotels and similar institutions a personal schedule will be provided for each individual, as well as for boarders and visitors, in private families. In the North Island a special schedule will be provided for the Maori popplation with the questions set out in the Maori and English languages. The European schedule will be used for the Maoris in the South Island, for in the south there are very few members of the native race, most of whom are Europeanised. First Census for 10 Years This will be the first census since 1926, the one due to be held in 1931 being dispensed with on account of the financial difficulties of the country at that time. On' account of the lapse of time since the last one the forthcoming census results will probably be the most eagerly awaited in the history of the Dominion. The Government Statistician's estimates of population of divisions of the country have been found in the main accurate, but the liability to error after a lapse of 10 years is not merely twice that expected in a five-year period, but is more likely to be four times as great. The movement of population as a result of the depression has made it more difficult for the Government Statistician to secure information from which to compile his estimates. At the same time, however, special efforts have been made by officers of the Census and Statistics Office to keep track of these people, and they are confident that their estimates of population of divisions of the country will be found to be not very wide, of the mark.