Census Regulations 1911

Legislation au C1911L00004 Regulations Not in force Legislative Instrument

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STATUTORY RULES.

1911. No. 4.

 

REGULATIONS UNDER THE CENSUS AND STATISTICS ACT 1905.

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

Dated the 16th day of January, One thousand nine hundred and eleven.

DUDLEY,

Governor-General.

By His Excellency’s Command,

KING O’MALLEY,

Minister of State for Home Affairs.

 

CENSUS REGULATIONS.

short title.

1. These Regulations may be cited as the Census Regulations 1911.

state supervisors.

2.—(1.) For each State there shall be an officer called the State Supervisor who shall, subject to the directions of the Commonwealth Statistician, be charged with the duty of taking all necessary steps for the taking and collection of the Census in the State in which he acts.

(2.) The State Supervisor shall be appointed by the Minister on the recommendation of the Commonwealth Statistician, and shall hold office during the pleasure of the Minister.

census districts.

3.—(1.) The Commonwealth Statistician shall divide each State into as many Census Districts as he thinks necessary.

(2.) It shall not be necessary to define specifically the boundaries of any Census District, but a general indication of the locality intended to be included in a Census District shall be sufficient.

enumerators.

4.—(1.) For each Census District there shall be an officer called an Enumerator who shall, in relation to that District, carry out such duties in connexion with the taking and collection of the Census as are imposed on him by the Census and Statistics Act 1905 or these regulations, or as are assigned to him by his instructions, or by the State Supervisor.

(2.) Each Enumerator shall be appointed by the State Supervisor for the State, but his appointment shall be subject to confirmation by the Minister.

C. 18876.—Price 3d.


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

(4.) Each Enumerator shall be paid such remuneration as the Minister approves.

undertaking by enumerator.

5. Each Enumerator shall, before his appointment, or before he commences duty, sign, in the presence of a witness, an undertaking In accordance with the following form:—

Commonwealth of Australia.

The Census and Statistics Act 1905.

undertaking by enumerator.

I, of , undertake, in connection with the taking of the Census in the year 1911, that I will faithfully perform the duties of Enumerator under the Census Regulations within the Census District              in the State of              , and will carry out, in every particular, all instructions supplied to me by the Commonwealth Statistician or by the State Supervisor for the said State, 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.*

Signature.................................................................

Date.........................................................................

Witness....................................................

Address of witness.......................................................................

……………………………………………

*Note.—Under section 22 of the Census and Statistics Act 1905, an officer who, after having taken the prescribed declaration, deserts from his duty or refuses or wilfully neglects, without just excuse, to perform the duties of his office, is liable to a penalty not exceeding Twenty pounds.

collectors.

6.—(1.) For each Census District there shall be so many Collectors as the Commonwealth Statistician thinks necessary.

(2.) Each Collector shall be appointed by the Enumerator for the Census District, subject to the approval of the Commonwealth Statistician.

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

(4.) Each Collector shall be paid such remuneration as the Minister approves.

(5.) If in an emergency an Enumerator appoints any person to act as a Collector, such person shall be deemed a Collector if the appointment is ratified by the Commonwealth Statistician.

(6.) Each Collector shall act under the directions of the Enumerator for the Census District, and shall carry out such duties as are imposed on him by the Census and Statistics Act 1905 and the Regulations thereunder, and shall obey all lawful directions and instructions given him by or through such Enumerator.


UNDERTAKING BY COLLECTOR.

7. Each Collector shall, before his appointment or before he commences duty, sign, in the presence of a witness, an undertaking in accordance with the following form:—

COMMONWEALTH OF AUSTRALIA,
The Census and Statistics Act 1905.
UNDERTAKING BY COLLECTOR.

I, of , undertake, in con-

nection with the taking of the Census in the year 1911, that I will faithfully perform the duties of Collector under the Census Regulations within the Census District                                                         in the State of                                          ,

and will carry out, in every particular, 01 instructions supplied to me by the Commonwealth Statistician, or by the State Supervisor for the said State, or by the Enumerator for the Census District, 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 Collector.*

Signature………………………………..

Date…………………………………..

Witness……………………………

Address of witness………………………………………..

*NOTE.—Under section 22 of the Census and Statistics Act 1905, an officer who, after having taken the prescribed declaration, deserts from his duty or refuses or wilfully neglects, without just excuse, to perform the duties of his office, is liable to a penalty not exceeding Twenty pounds.

 

HOUSEHOLDER’S SCHEDULE.

     …………………………………………

8.—(1.) The Householder's Schedule shall consist of a Householder’s Card, and a Personal Card for each person of the household.

(2.) The Householder's Card and the Personal Card shall be in accordance with such forms as the Commonwealth Statistician thinks fit.

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

(a) in relation to buildings—the nature of the building, whether the occupier is the owner, tenant, or rent purchaser, the amount of weekly rent payable or rental value per week;

(b) in relation to persons—the race to which they belong, the num­ber of their children living or dead from any existing or previous marriage, the date of their arrivals in Australia.

LEAVING OF HOUSEHOLDER’S SCHEDULE.

9.—(1.) Each Collector shall, in accordance with his instructions, leave a Householder’s Schedule at each dwelling-house within the portion of the Census District for which he acts,

(2.) The Householder’s Schedule shall be left not earlier than seven days (except when in the discretion of the Enumerator for the Census District a longer period is required) and not later than two days before Census Day.

(3.) The Householder’s Schedule should be left with the occupier of the dwelling-house, but, if he or she is not in, with the person apparently in charge of the house. If no person is in, the Householder’s Schedule may be placed in a letter box, put under the door, or put in some other place where it is likely to come to the notice of the occupier.


duty of person (other than occupier) receiving householder’s schedule.

10. It shall be the duty of every person (other than the occupier) who receives a Householder’s Schedule, or to whose hands or notice a Householder’s Schedule has come, to deliver it or bring it to the notice of the occupier for whom it is intended.

Penalty: Five pounds.

dwelling-house let in separate parts.

11. Where a dwelling-house is let, sub-let, or held in different apartments, and occupied by different persons or families, a Householder’s Schedule shall be left for each occupier.

duty to fill in required particulars in the householder’s schedule.

12.—(1.) Under section 12 of the Act, it is the duty of the occupier of every dwelling to fill in the Householder’s Schedule, and to sign it, and deliver it to the Collector, and if he fails to carry out this duty he is liable to a penalty of Ten pounds.

(2.) It shall be the duty of each person who abides in a dwelling-house on the night of Census Day to fill in the particulars required on the Personal Card so far as relates to himself or herself, or to supply to the occupier all information necessary to enable him to fill in such particulars.

Penalty: Ten pounds.

householder’s schedules for ships.

13.—(1.) Householder’s Schedules in the case of ships shall be delivered to the Captain of the ship, who shall be deemed the occupier.

(2.) Where a ship is on a passage between any two Australian ports on Census Day, and no Householder’s Schedule was left with the Captain before Census Day, a Householder’s Schedule shall be left with the Captain forthwith after the arrival of the ship at a port.

(3.) The Captain shall, to the best of his knowledge, fill in the particulars required to be filled in in the Householder’s Schedule, and return it so filled in to the Collector or other person from whom he received it.

Penalty for breach of paragraph (3): Ten pounds.

(4.) It shall be the duty of each person who abides in a ship on the night of Census Day to fill in the particulars required on the Personal Card so far as relates to himself or herself, or to supply to the Captain of the ship all information necessary to enable him to fill in such particulars.

Penalty for breach of paragraph (4): Ten pounds.

householder’s schedules for persons not abiding in dwelling-houses.

14.—(1.) The Householder’s Schedule shall be left with each person who does not on the night of Census Day abide in any dwelling-house.

(2.) Every such person shall thereupon fill in in the Schedule such particulars as are applicable to him, and shall sign the Schedule, and deliver it to the Collector or other person from whom he received it.

Penalty for breach of paragraph (2): Ten pounds.


duty of persons not receiving a householder’s schedule to apply for it.

15. (1.) Every person, who does not abide in a dwelling-house on the night of Census Day, and who does not receive a Householder’s Schedule before that day, shall, within five days after Census Day, apply to the nearest Postmaster for a Householder’s Schedule.

(2.) If the Postmaster has a Householder’s Schedule, he shall deliver one to the applicant, and, if he has not, he shall take the name and postal address of the applicant, and forward it to the Enumerator for the District.

(3.) Every person who receives a Householder’s Schedule in pursuance of this regulation shall fill in in the Schedule such particulars as are applicable to him, and shall sign it and return it to the Postmaster or Enumerator, as the case requires.

Penalty: Five pounds.

collector to call for householder’s schedules.

16. A Collector shall, forthwith after Census Day, call at each dwelling-house in the portion of the Census District for which he acts, and ask for and obtain the Householder’s Schedule.

particulars under section 15 of the act.

17. The particulars required under section 15 of the Act shall be such of the particulars specified in the Householder’s Schedule (other than the particulars relating to the dwelling-house) as are applicable to the person from whom the information is required.

penalties.

18. The penalty at the foot of any regulation or paragraph indicates that any contravention of the regulation or paragraph is punishable upon conviction by a penalty not exceeding the penalty mentioned.

Repeal.

19. The Provisional Regulations known as Statutory Rules 1910, No. 96, are repealed.

 

Printed and Published for the Government of the Commonwealth of Australia by J. Kemp, Government Printer for the State of Victoria.

Overview

The Census Regulations 1911 were enacted to provide detailed guidelines for the implementation of the Census and Statistics Act 1905. These regulations, made under the authority of the Governor-General in accordance with the advice of the Federal Executive Council, address the need for a structured and systematic approach to the national census. They were designed to ensure the accurate and efficient collection of census data across Australia, facilitating informed decision-making by the government. The regulations outline the roles and responsibilities of various officers involved in the census process, including State Supervisors, Enumerators, and Collectors, and specify the procedures for distributing and collecting census forms. The overarching policy objective of these regulations is to support the effective administration of the census, ensuring that it meets the needs of the Commonwealth for statistical and demographic purposes.

Scope and Application

The Census Regulations 1911 apply to the process of conducting a census across all states of Australia, establishing roles such as State Supervisors, Enumerators, and Collectors to oversee and execute the census activities within designated Census Districts. These roles are appointed by the Minister or the Commonwealth Statistician, subject to certain conditions and duties outlined in the regulations. The geographic reach of these regulations extends across the entire Commonwealth, ensuring a standardised approach to census collection. The regulations detail the duties of these appointed officials, including the procedures for distributing and collecting the Householder's Schedule, a document that captures essential details about households and individuals. These duties are not limited to those physically present in a dwelling-house on Census Day; persons on ships and those not residing in a dwelling-house are also required to complete the necessary schedules. The regulations impose penalties for non-compliance, reinforcing the mandatory nature of the census process. The scope of these regulations is further defined by the specific exclusions, such as the general indication of Census District boundaries, and by the penalties for failing to comply with the stipulated duties.

Key Provisions

The Census Regulations 1911, made under the Census and Statistics Act 1905, establish the framework for conducting the census in each state. Under these regulations, a State Supervisor is designated for each state to oversee the census process (section 2). The Commonwealth Statistician is responsible for dividing each state into census districts and appointing Enumerators for each district, with the State Supervisor’s involvement and ministerial confirmation (section 3 and 4). Enumerators, in turn, appoint Collectors to assist with the census within their districts (section 6). All these officials must sign an undertaking to faithfully perform their duties and not neglect their responsibilities (sections 5 and 7). The regulations mandate specific obligations for the officials involved in the census process. State Supervisors are to ensure all necessary steps are taken for the census within their respective states, following the directions of the Commonwealth Statistician (section 2). Enumerators must distribute Householder’s Schedules, which include the Householder’s Card and Personal Cards for each household member, to every dwelling within their districts (section 8 and 9). Householders are required to fill in and sign these schedules and return them to the Collector by Census Day (section 12). Collectors are responsible for collecting the completed schedules and ensuring they are returned to the appropriate authority (section 16). Additionally, Collectors must distribute Householder’s Schedules to individuals not residing in a dwelling and collect completed schedules from them as well (sections 14 and 15). Violations of the regulations carry financial penalties. Householders who fail to fill in or return their schedules are subject to a penalty of Ten pounds (section 12). Similarly, individuals who receive a Householder’s Schedule but do not deliver it to the occupier or who fail to return a completed schedule to the Collector are liable to a penalty of Five pounds (section 10). Furthermore, any person who neglects to complete and return their Personal Card on a ship or in a dwelling is subject to a Ten pounds penalty (sections 13 and 14). The regulations also specify that any contravention of the provisions carries a penalty not exceeding the amount mentioned at the foot of the relevant regulation or paragraph (section 18).

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Sourced from the Federal Register of Legislation at 26 August 2026. For the latest information on Australian Government law please go to https://www.legislation.gov.au.