THE CENSUS.

Otago Witness, Issue 3763, 27 April 1926, Page 32

THE CENSUS.

STATISTICIAN SATISFIED. SOME INTERESTING FEATURES. (Fbom Our Own Oorrbn jdknt.l WELLINGTON. April 21. So far there is not..ing but favourable comment in regard to this years census schedule. The procedure is simplified and there are fewer questions There is thus less irritation on account ot the inquisitiveness of the authorities, and there will be no need for such returns as that once given by a Hawke’s Bay farmer who. in reference to stock, reported one Jersey cow and one hydraulie ram/ The Government Statistician (Mr Malcolm Fraser) expressed appreciation this morning of the pains most people seemed to have taken i- lling in their schedules correctly. After all, he remarked, the Statistics Office was in the nature of a research laboratory, and there was no intention in asking the personal questions which appeared on the papers of prying into private affairs. It was a very commendable sign of the development of democracy when people realised that information must be given in order to direct the destiny of the country. Census papers should he held until the sub-enumerator calls for them. Householders are requested not to post or deliver their papers to the Census Office, as the organisation may be upset by doing so. All papers will be called for, for the sub-enumerator has to account for every paper distributed. There is little fear, therefore, of houses being missed by the sub-enumera-tor in his rounds. Some people no doubt hesitated before filling in that section of the dwelling schedule which asked for the rental value of the house unfurnished. The paper con--tained no suggestion as to the basis of calculation. Those who are familiar with the provisions of the Rent Restriction Act probably made a computation at the rate of 8 per cent, on the capital value of the dwelling. Some people have felt that in order to ensure uniformity in the replies to this query some explanation should have been given on the schedule as to the means of assessing the rental value. The Government Statistician explained this morning tha- it was intended to leave the matter at the discretion of the householder. The question was put in order to ascertain how people’s ideas of the rental worth of their houses compared with the actual rentals being paid. It was noticeable that the columns dealing with religion in the householder's family schedule did not give the same latitude in respect to replies which was afforded in previous census schedules. Formerly it was possible for a person to state that he was a Christian of no particular denomination. This time he had to state definitely to what church he belonged, his only alternative being to write the word “object” in reply to the question. It is gathered that it would have been sufficient for the purpose of the Statistics Office if the person filling in the form had merely specified that he was a Christian.