THE CENSUS.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 21244, 27 January 1931, Page 10

THE CENSUS.

NO COUNT THIS YEAR. ELECTORAL BOUNDARIES UNCHANGED. * (Special to Daily Times.) WELLINGTON, January 26. 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 ie too great to allow of money being spent in that diection. 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 Cabinet in order to curtail national spend-* ing. Parliamentary sanction for , this course was necessai’y, and a Bill was introduced by the Minister of Internal Affairs (Mr 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. , This will mean that there will lie no revision of the electoral buondaries this year. It is usual for the boundaries to be revised after a census, but the general electio’n next .November will be fought Vnthin 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.