SERVICE PRAISED

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume LIX, Issue 17871, 30 August 1932, Page 2

SERVICE PRAISED

GOVERNMENT STATISTICS CAPABLE OFFICER To mark its long association with him as Government Statistician, the staff of the 'Census and Statistics Office, Wellington, made a presentation on Thursday to Mr Malcolm Fraser, who was recently appointed Under-Secre-tary of Internal Affairs. On behalf of the departmental staff, the Minister of Internal Affairs, the Hon. A. Hamilton, presented Mr Fraser with a framed photograph of the staff, and Mrs Fraser, who was present, with two leather upholstered fire-stools. Mr Hamilton said it was generally conceded that Mi> Fraser was one of the many capable iofficers of the Public Service, and that his work and that of the staff he had for so long controlled was very satisfactorily ami efficiently carried out. The collection of accurate statistics was a necessary function in a country’s affairs.

COURAGE AND DETERMINATION Mr Fraser was appointed Governjment Statistician in March, 1911, only j three weeks before tire night on which 1 the census was to be taken, the Minis- | ter added. He had had no previous f statistical or census experience, but he possessed courage, and determination, ; which he displayed to the full in coping with a difficult’and entirely new task. Mr Fraser had carried the- census to a successful conclusion when, following the outbreak of tlie war, he was asked by the Government to undertake the. preparation of a national register of men between 18 and GO years of age. It was welh known that this, was done successfully as well. A year later the Government again called on him, not only to compile and keep up to date a military service register, but also to frame and conduct a system of ballo 1 .- ing for the supply of men to the expeditionary forces. So well was this service carried out. that Mr Fraser earned -the commendation of the Government of the day, and His Majesty awarded him the honor of 0.8. E. One of the most, important, of Mr Fraser’s achievements-concern-ed the initiation of the present scheme ’of unemployment relief. These special and additional duties might be expected to interfere with the administration of the (Statistics Office, but, in spite of 'all handicaps, Mr Fraser had built up from small foundations an excellent statistical service. GROWTH OF WORK

Mr Fraser, in reply, recalled the time when he had been requested on three days’ notice ,to assume the office of Government Statistician, and he had taken over that responsibility without having any great knowledge of the ! compilation of intricate .statistics. The staff of the department at that period numbered only 10, as against 7(5 today, and it produced only otic volume of statistics and a year book. To-day nine volumes of statistics were issued by the office, in addition to the official year book and the local authoiitics handbook. The preparation and issue ( of statistics were of great value in the development of a country, arul he thought the statistical matter whic-i the office .presented in an understandable form, well deserved the -commendation, particularly from overseas, paid to it for the work done. The main aim of the Statistics Office was accuracy, and he was pleased that that aim had been achieved.