Census Regulations (Cth)

STATUTORY RULES.

1947. No. 3.

 

REGULATIONS UNDER THE CENSUS AND STATISTICS ACT 1905-1946.*

I, THE GOVERNOR-GENERAL in and over the Commonwealth of Australia, acting with the advice of the Federal Executive Council, hereby make the following Regulations under the Census and Statistics Act 1905-1946.

Dated this fifteenth day of January, 1947.

HENRY

Governor-General.

By His Royal Highness’s Command,

Treasurer.

 

Census Regulations.

Citation.

1. These Regulations may be cited as the Census Regulations.

Repeal.

2. The Census Regulations (being Statutory Rules 1932, No. 142) are repealed.

Census Day.

3. The Census which would, but for the Census and Statistics Act 1930, have been taken in the year One thousand nine hundred and forty-one, shall be taken in the year One thousand nine hundred and forty-seven.

Definitions.

4. In these Regulations, unless the contrary intention appears—

“Census Day” means the thirtieth day of June, 1947.

“Schedule” means the Householder’s Schedule referred to in the Act and includes any personal card or slip supplementary to that Schedule;

“Territory” means the Australian Capital Territory and the Northern Territory;

“the Act” means the Census and Statistics Act 1905-1946.

Delegation of Powers of Statistician.

5.—(1.) The Statistician may, by writing under his hand, delegate any of his powers or functions under these Regulations (except this power of delegation) in relation to any matters or class of matters or to any particular State or Territory, so that the delegated powers or functions may be exercised by the delegate with respect to the matters or class of matters, or the State or Territory, specified in the instrument of delegation.

(2.) Every delegation by the Statistician shall be revocable in writing at will, and no delegation shall prevent the exercise of any power or function by the Statistician.

* Notified in the Commonwealth Gazette on  , 1947.

8092.—Price 8d. 8/30.12.1946.

Chief Field Supervisor.

6.—(1.) There shall be an officer called the Chief Field Supervisor, who shall be appointed by the Statistician, and shall hold office from the date of appointment until the thirty-first day of December, 1947, or until the termination of the appointment by the Statisician, whichever first happens.

(2.) The following persons shall be eligible for appointment as Chief Field Supervisor, namely:—

(a) The Chief Electoral Officer for the Commonwealth; or

(b) Any other person approved by the Statistician.

Duties of Chief Field Supervisor.

7. Subject to the Act and to these Regulations and to any directions of the Statistician, it shall be the duty of the Chief Field Supervisor—

(a) to advise the Statistician generally in relation to matters affecting the distribution and collection of the Census schedules;

(b) to make advance plans for the recruitment of the necessary number of Collectors;

(c) to ensure that all Deputy Field Supervisors, Enumerators, Sub-enumerators and Collectors thoroughly understand their duties and responsibilities;

(d) to check the receipt before Census Day by all officers and employees of the field staff of sufficient supplies of Census schedules, Personal Cards or Slips, envelopes, maps and diagrams, compilation books, instruction manuals and other Census material; and

(e) to arrange, as agent for the Statistician, for the payment of Collectors, Sub-enumerators and Enumerators in accordance with these Regulations, and to deal with all correspondence and claims in relation thereto.

Remuneration of Chief Field Supervisor.

8. The Chief Field Supervisor shall, in addition to any emolument to which he is otherwise entitled, receive such payment as the Minister, on the recommendation of the Statistician, approves.

Undertaking by Chief Field Supervisor.

9. The Chief Field Supervisor shall, before entering upon his duties or exercising any power under the Act or these Regulations, sign, in the presence of a witness an undertaking in accordance with the following form:—

Commonwealth of Australia.

Census and Statistics Act 1905-1946.

UNDERTAKING OF CHIEF FIELD SUPERVISOR.

I, of undertake, in connexion with the taking of the Census in the year 1947, that I will faithfully and with due despatch perform the duties of Chief Field Supervisor of Census under the Census Regulations within the Commonwealth and I do solemnly and sincerely promise that I will carry out, in every particular, all instructions supplied to me by the Commonwealth Statistician, and that I will not desert from my duty, or will not refuse or neglect, without just excuse, to perform the duties of the office of Chief Field Supervisor or wilfully or without lawful authority alter any document or form under the above-named Act or the Regulations thereunder, or wilfully sign any untrue document or form, or, except as allowed by the said Act or Regulations, divulge the contents of any form filled up in pursuance of the said Act or any information furnished in pursuance of the said Act.

Signature

Date

Witness

Address of Witness

 

Deputy Field Supervisors.

10.—(1.) For each State and Territory there shall be an officer called the Deputy Field Supervisor, who shall be appointed by the Statistician, and shall hold office from the date of appointment until the thirty-first day of December, 1947, or until the termination of the appointment by the Statistician, whichever first happens.

(2.) The following persons shall be eligible for appointment as Deputy Field Supervisor for a State, namely:—

(a) The Commonwealth Electoral Officer for the State;

(b) An officer of the Bureau of Census and Statistics;

(c) The State Statistician; or

(d) Any other person approved by the Statistician.

(3.) The following persons shall be eligible for appointment as a Deputy Field Supervisor in a Territory, namely:—

(a) The Administrator; or

(b) Any other person approved by the Statistician.

Duties of Deputy Field Supervisors.

11. Subject to the Act and these Regulations, and to any directions of the Statistician, it shall be the duty of each Deputy Field Supervisor—

(a) to make all necessary arrangements for the distribution and collection of the census schedules in the State or Territory for which he is appointed;

(b) to obtain an accurate record of the population of that State or Territory; and

(c) to forward promptly to the Statistician all such schedules and records, together with such summaries or reports in relation to those schedules and records as the Statistician directs.

Remuneration of Deputy Field Supervisors.

12. Each Deputy Field Supervisor shall, in addition to any emolument to which he is otherwise entitled, receive such payment as the Minister, on the recommendation of the Statistician, approves.

Undertaking by Deputy Field Supervisors.

13. A Deputy Field Supervisor shall, before entering upon his duties or exercising any power under the Act or these Regulations, sign, in the presence of a witness an undertaking in accordance with the following form:—

Commonwealth of Australia.

Census and Statistics Act 1905-1946.

UNDERTAKING OF DEPUTY FIELD SUPERVISOR.

I, , of  undertake, in connexion with the taking of the Census in the year 1947, that I will faithfully and with due despatch perform the duties of Deputy Field Supervisor of Census under the Census Regulations within the State/Territory of   and I do solemnly and sincerely promise that I will carry out, in every particular, all instructions supplied to me by the Commonwealth Statistician, and that I will not desert from my duty, or will not refuse or neglect, without just excuse, to perform the duties of the office of Deputy Field Supervisor or wilfully or without lawful authority alter any document or form under the above-named Act or the Regulations thereunder, or wilfully sign any untrue document or form, or, except as allowed by the said Act or Regulations, divulge the contents of any form filled up in pursuance of the said Act or any information furnished in pursuance of the said Act.

Signature

Date

Witness

Address of Witness

Census Divisions.

14.—(1.) Each State shall, for the purposes of census collection, be divided into Census Divisions, which shall, where practicable and suitable, coincide with the Commonwealth Electoral Divisions.

(2.) Each Territory may, for the purposes of census collection, be divided into Census Divisions in such way as is approved by the Statistician.

Enumerators in charge of Census Divisions.

15.—(1.) For each Census Division there shall be an officer called the Enumerator, who, in relation to that division, shall carry out such duties in connexion with the taking and collection of the census as are prescribed, or as are assigned to him by the Statistician.

(2.) Where a Census Division coincides with a Commonwealth Electoral Division, the Commonwealth Divisional Returning Officer for that Electoral Division, or such other person as the Statistician approves, shall be the Enumerator for that division.

(3.) Where a Census Division does not coincide with a Commonwealth Electoral Division, such person as the Statistician approves shall be the Enumerator for that division.

Remuneration of Enumerators.

16. Each Enumerator shall, in addition to any emolument to which he is otherwise entitled, receive such payment as the Minister, on the recommendation of the Statistician, approves.

Term of appointment of Enumerators.

17. Each Enumerator shall hold office from the date of appointment until the thirtieth day of September, 1947, or until the termination of the appointment by the Statistician, whichever first happens.

Undertaking by Enumerators.

18. Each Enumerator shall, before entering upon his duties or exercising any power under the Act or these Regulations, sign, in the presence of a witness, an undertaking in accordance with the following form:—

Commonwealth of Australia.

Census and Statistics Act 1905-1946

UNDERTAKING BY ENUMERATOR.

I,  , of  undertake, in connexion with the taking of the Census in the year 1947, that I will faithfully and with due dispatch perform the duties of Enumerator under the Census Regulations within the Census Division of in the State/Territory of , and I do solemnly and sincerely promise that I will carry out, in every particular, all instructions supplied to me by the Commonwealth Statistician, or by the Deputy Field Supervisor of the said State/Territory, and that I will not desert from my duty, and will not refuse or neglect, without just excuse, to perform the duties of the office of Enumerator, or wilfully, or without lawful authority, alter any document or form under the above-named Act, or the Regulations thereunder, or wilfully sign any untrue document or form, or, except as allowed by the said Act or Regulations, divulge the contents of any form filled up in pursuance of the said Act, or any information furnished in pursuance of the said Act.

Signature

Date

Witness

Address of Witness

Census Subdivisions.

19.—(1.) Each Census Division within a State shall be divided into Census Subdivisions, which shall, wherever practicable and suitable, coincide with the Commonwealth Electoral Subdivisions in the Census Division, but the Statistician may group two or more Commonwealth

 

Electoral Subdivisions to form a Census Subdivision, or he may divide a Commonwealth Electoral Subdivision into two or more Census Subdivisions.

(2.) The Statistician may divide Census Divisions within Territories into Census Subdivisions.

Sub-enumerators in charge of Census Subdivisions.

20.—(1.) For each Census Subdivision there shall be an officer called a Sub-enumerator who, in relation to that subdivision, shall carry out such duties in connexion with the taking and collection of the Census as are prescribed or as are assigned to him by the Statistician.

(2.) Where a Census Subdivision coincides with a Commonwealth Electoral Subdivision, a person who holds the position of Commonwealth Electoral Registrar or who has acted as Assistant Returning Officer for that subdivision, or such other person as the Deputy Field Supervisor in charge, on the recommendation of the Enumerator in charge, approves, shall be appointed Sub-enumerator of that subdivision.

(3.) Where a Census Subdivision does not coincide with a Commonwealth Electoral Subdivision, such person as the Deputy Field Supervisor in charge, on the recommendation of the Enumerator in charge, approves, shall be appointed Sub-enumerator of that subdivision.

Remuneration of Sub-enumerators.

21. Each Sub-enumerator shall, in addition to any emolument to which he is otherwise entitled, receive such payment as the Minister, on the recommendation of the Statistician, approves.

Term of appointments of Sub-enumerators.

22. Each Sub-enumerator shall hold office from the date of appointment until the thirtieth day of September, 1947, or until the termination of the appointment by the Deputy Field Supervisor in charge, whichever first happens.

Undertaking by Sub-enumerators.

23. Each Sub-enumerator shall, before entering upon his duties or exercising any power under the Act or these Regulations, sign in the presence of a witness an undertaking in accordance with the following form:—

Commonwealth of Australia.

Census and Statistics Act 1905-1946.

UNDERTAKING OF SUB-ENUMERATOR.

I, , of  , undertake, in connexion with the taking of the Census in the year 1947, that I will faithfully and with due dispatch perform the duties of Sub-enumerator under the Census Regulations within the Census Subdivision of , in the State/Territory of , and I do solemnly and sincerely promise that I will carry out, in every particular, all instructions supplied to me by the Commonwealth Statistician, or by the Deputy Field Supervisor of the said State/Territory, or by the Enumerator for the said Census Subdivision, and that I will not desert from my duty, or will not refuse or neglect, without just excuse, to perform the duties of the office of Sub-enumerator, or wilfully or without lawful authority alter any document or form under the above-named Act or the Regulations thereunder, or wilfully sign any untrue document or form, or, except as allowed by the said Act or Regulations, divulge the contents of any form filled up in pursuance of the said Act, or any information furnished in pursuance of the said Act.

Signature

Date

Witness

Address of Witness

 

Collectors’ districts.

24.—(1.) Each Census Subdivision within a State, and each Census Division or Subdivision within a Territory, shall be divided into as many Collectors’ Districts as the Statistician deems necessary.

(2.) The division into Collectors’ Districts of a Census Subdivision within a State, or a Census Division or Subdivision within a Territory, shall, as far as practicable, be so effected that no Collectors’ District shall lie partly in one and partly in another local government area.

(3.) The Statistician may group two or more Collectors’ Districts for the purposes of collection, and place them in charge of the same collector.

Collectors.

25.—(1.) For each Collector’s District, or for each group of Collectors’ Districts formed in accordance with the last preceding regulation, there shall be an officer called a Collector, who shall, in relation to that district or group, carry out such duties in connexion with the taking and collection of the Census as are prescribed or as are assigned to him by the Statistician.

(2.) Each Collector shall be appointed by the Enumerator in charge of the Collector’s District, after consultation, where possible, with the Sub-enumerator in charge, and subject to such special instructions as he receives from the Statistician or the Deputy Field Supervisor in charge.

(3.) A Deputy Field Supervisor may appoint a person to be a Collector in respect of any train or aeroplane specified in the instrument of appointment.

(4.) Each Collector shall hold office during the pleasure of the Statistician, but not longer than is necessary to finish the work for which he is appointed.

(5.) In an emergency an Enumerator or Sub-enumerator may appoint any person to act as a Collector, and that person shall be deemed to be a Collector until such time as he is notified of the termination of his appointment.

Remuneration of Collectors.

26. Each Collector shall, in addition to any emolument to which he is otherwise entitled, receive such payment as the Minister, on the recommendation of the Statistician, approves.

Undertaking by Collectors.

27. Each Collector shall, before entering upon his duties or exercising any power under the Act or these Regulations, sign, in the presence of a witness, an undertaking in accordance with the following form:—

Commonwealth of Australia.

Census and Statistics Act 1905-1946.

UNDERTAKING BY COLLECTOR.

I, , of  , undertake in connexion with the taking of the Census in the year 1947, that I will faithfully and with due despatch perform the duties of Collector under the Census Regulations [within the Census Sub-division of [or, in the case of a Collector in respect of a train or aeroplane, in respect of the train or aeroplane (here specify the particular train or aeroplane) ]  , in the State/Territory of   and I do solemnly and sincerely promise that I will carry out, in every particular, all instructions supplied to me by the Commonwealth Statistician, or by the Deputy Field Supervisor of the said State/Territory [or by the Enumerator or Sub-enumerator in charge of my collector’s district]*, and that I will not desert from my duty, or will not refuse or neglect, without just excuse, to perform the duties of the office of Collector, or wilfully, or without lawful authority, alter any document or form under the above-named Act, or the Regulations

* The words in brackets to be omitted in the case of Collector in respect of a train or aeroplane.

 

thereunder, or wilfully sign any untrue document or form, or, except as allowed by the said Act or Regulations, divulge the contents of any form filled up in pursuance of the said Act, or any information furnished in pursuance of the said Act.

Signature

Date

Witness

Address of Witness

Householder’s Schedule.

28.—(1.) The Householder’s Schedule shall consist of a questionnaire in relation to—

(a) the dwelling;

(b)each person resident in the dwelling or employed or travelling on a ship or vessel,

but the questionnaire may, if the Statistician thinks fit, be supplemented by Personal Cards or Slips.

(2.) The Householder’s Schedule and the Personal Card or Slip shall be in such form as the Statistician deems appropriate.

(3.) In addition to the particulars specified in section 12 of the Act, the Householder’s Schedule shall include the following:—

(a) In relation to the dwelling—

(i) Class of dwelling (i.e., whether private house, hotel, institution or other class of habitation);

(ii) Method of occupation (i.e., whether by owner, tenant, rent-purchaser, caretaker or otherwise);

(iii) Weekly rent payable;

(iv) Number of persons sleeping on verandahs;

(v) Gas, electricity and water services (i.e., whether supplied with gas, electricity or running water);

(vi) Toilet, washing and cooking facilities (i.e., whether supplied with bathroom, flush toilet, laundry, and cooking facilities and if the last-named the means mostly used); and

(vii) Date of construction of building.

(b) In relation to each person—

(i) Issue of existing marriages;

(ii) Dependent children;

(iii) Race;

(iv) Grade of occupation (i.e., whether employer, wage earner or as the case may be);

(v) Industry, trade or service in which employed; and

(vi) Unemployment, with duration and cause of unemployment.

Distribution of Schedules.

29.—(1.) Before Census Day each Collector shall, in accordance with his instructions, leave a Householder’s Schedule at each occupied dwelling within the Collector’s District or Districts allotted to him.

(2.) Except under special instructions from his Enumerator or Sub-enumerator, a Collector shall not leave a Householder’s Schedule at any dwelling earlier than seven days before Census Day, nor later than Census Day.

(3.) The Householder’s Schedule shall be left with the occupier of the dwelling, or, in the absence of the occupier, with the person apparently in charge of the dwelling. If no person is in the dwelling

 

when the Collector calls, a Schedule may be placed in a letter-box, put under the door, or put in some other place where it is likely to come under the notice of the occupier.

(4.) Every person (other than the occupier) who receives a Householder’s Schedule, or into whose hands or to whose notice a Schedule comes, shall deliver it or bring it to the notice of the occupier for whom it is intended.

Penalty: Five pounds.

(5.) Where a house is let, sub-let, or held in different apartments, and occupied by different persons or families, a Schedule shall be left for each part so let, sub-let, or held as a separate apartment.

Occupiers and others to supply particulars.

30.—(1.) The occupier of a dwelling shall supply, to the best of his knowledge and belief, the particulars asked for in the Householder’s Schedule, sign the Schedule, and deliver it to the Collector.

(2.) Any person in respect of whom particulars are required to be furnished to the Statistician, who is not a member of the family of the occupier or person in charge of the dwelling in which he resides, shall either furnish the required particulars to the occupier or person in charge for inclusion in the Householder’s Schedule, or shall enter them on a Personal Card or Slip and hand it under cover to the occupier or person in charge.

Penalty: Ten pounds.

(3.) Every person who spent the night before Census Day in a dwelling, or who, being absent on that night, returned to the dwelling on Census Day without being counted elsewhere, shall supply to the occupier the particulars relating to himself asked for on the Schedule.

Penalty: Ten pounds.

Householder’s Schedules for ships and vessels.

31.—(1.) In the case of a ship or vessel in any port of the Commonwealth or in any inland waters thereof, the Schedule shall be delivered to the master of the ship or vessel, who shall be deemed to be the occupier for the purposes of these Regulations.

(2.) Where a ship or vessel is on a passage between any two ports in the Commonwealth on Census Day, and a Schedule for the ship or vessel was not left with the master before Census Day, a Schedule shall be left with him immediately on arrival of the ship or vessel at the first port of call on or after Census Day.

(3.) The master of a ship or vessel with whom a Schedule is left, in pursuance of either of the last two preceding sub-regulations, shall, to the best of his knowledge and belief, fill up and supply therein, in accordance with the instructions contained in or accompanying the Schedule, all the particulars specified in the Schedule, and shall sign his name to the Schedule, and shall deliver it so filled up and signed to the Collector authorized to receive it.

Penalty: Ten pounds.

(4.) Every person who spent the night before Census Day on a ship or vessel, or who, being absent on that night, returned to the ship or vessel on Census Day without being counted elsewhere, shall fill in the particulars asked for on the Personal Card or Slip relating to himself,

 

and hand the completed Card or Slip to the master of the ship or vessel, or shall furnish to the master all information necessary to enable him to fill in those particulars.

Penalty: Ten pounds.

Persons on trains and aeroplanes.

32. A person who spends the night before Census Day on any train or aeroplane and who is not otherwise counted shall, upon being required by a Collector appointed in respect of the train or aeroplane, furnish to the best of his knowledge and belief the particulars asked for in the Schedule.

Penalty: Ten pounds.

Persons not in any dwelling or ship, vessel, train or aeroplane.

33. Every person who spent the night before Census Day elsewhere than in a dwelling or on a ship, vessel, train or aeroplane, and who did not return to a dwelling or a ship, vessel, train or aeroplane on Census day, and who was not otherwise counted, shall report to the nearest post office or police station at the first opportunity on or after Census Day, and shall there furnish the particulars asked for in the Schedule.

Penalty: Ten pounds.

Persons camping out.

34.—(1.) If a Collector comes in contact with any person camping out in his district on the night before Census Day, or meets on or after Census Day any person who camped out on that night, and who at the time of meeting had not been recorded, he shall require that person to fill in forthwith a Schedule, or to furnish the Collector forthwith with all information necessary to enable the Collector to fill in the Schedule.

(2.) Any person who refuses or fails to comply with any requirement of the Collector under this regulation shall be guilty of an offence.

Penalty: Ten pounds.

Collection of Schedules.

35. On or after Census Day each Collector shall, in accordance with his instructions, call at each dwelling within the Collector’s District or Districts allotted to him, and shall obtain therefrom the appropriate Schedule duly filled in.

Houses “Uninhabited” and “Under construction”.

36.—(1.) Where a building or part of a building ordinarily used for human habitation is uninhabited on Census Day, the Collector shall supply on a Schedule such of the particulars as are required to be filled in on the Schedule as he can ascertain by observation and inquiry, and shall sign the Schedule, writing the word “unoccupied” across the face of it.

(2.) Where a house intended for human habitation is in the course of construction on Census Day, the Collector shall supply on a Schedule such of the particulars as are required to be filled in on the Schedule as he can ascertain by observation and inquiry, together with an estimate of the probable date of completion, and shall himself sign the Schedule, writing the words “under construction” across the face of it.

Penalties for offences.

37. Any breach of these Regulations for which no other penalty is provided shall be punishable on summary conviction by a fine not exceeding Ten pounds.

 

By Authority: L. F. Johnston, Commonwealth Government Printer, Canberra.