BOYCOTT OF CENSUS

Otago Daily Times, Issue 25866, 9 June 1945, Page 6

BOYCOTT OF CENSUS

FARMERS - SUGGESTION I GOVERNMENT’S ILL-TIMED PROPOSAL (P.A.) NEW PLYMOUTH, June 8. Postponement of the taking of the census till at least one year after the end of the war was advocated at the North Taranaki annual conference of the Farmers’ Union to-day. The reasons given were the unsettled state of the country, the absence of so many men overseas, the changes in the distribution of the population under the manpower regulations, and the shortage of labour. Failing such postponement, the conference decided that “ the farmers must draw their own conclusions and take the necessary action to defeat this insidious attack on their liberties.” “ The time has come when we have to face up to the fact that we must consider taking direct action,” said Mr H. Denne, referring to a suggestion that the farmers should consider the advisability of boycotting the census. ‘‘This is a chance for us to take direct action without causing any hardship to anyone.” “ There can be no reason for the census other than party politics,” said the president, Mr H. E. Blyde. “We should protest and. if our protests fail, we should take other action. A census at present would prevent certain districts from having proper representation in the House of Representatives. If no real explanation can be made for taking the census we would be justified in not being a party to what is an unjustifiable action.” The confidence entered a protest against any interference with the country quota.