BOYCOTTING THE CENSUS.

Wanganui Herald, Volume XXXXVI, Issue 13337, 28 March 1911, Page 3

BOYCOTTING THE CENSUS.

Considerable interest has tieen aroused ;in the Old Country by the declared intention of the Women’s Freedom League to boycott the census, which is to bo taken next Sunday. The Women’s Social and Political Union have decided to join in the protest. It is proposed that women householders all over the country should refuse to fill up the census returns. It ia. suggested by Mr Laurence Housman that women should put their houses, ,on the uight of April 3, “into the temporary" .occupation of a fighting .line,, of ! other women who are not householders, iand on' whom the authorities would find ■it very 1 difficult or even impossible to levy, ■a distraint for any fine incurred; These ■women might be fined/ or, failing the exaction of the fine,, might be imprisoned.” It is the occupier, Mr ITonsman points out, who alone will be responsible ,for making the returns to the census officials. The owner or tenant cannot, if absent, be called upon to fill in the particulars, nor can the Government compel the owner or permanent tenant to be in occupation to see that the returns are made. “You would get, therefore, ' he says, “in on? scale the voluntary suffering of a. small' body of stalwarts, and in the other the breakdown of a piece of Government machinery which could not be repaired without a fresh Act of Parliament.”