§ MR. PULESTONasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department, Whether his attention has been called to the numerous complaints of the way the Census enumerators have performed their duty; and, if so, whether, in view of the importance of the subject, he will take steps to inquire into, and to I rectify such errors and omissions as are I reported?
§ MR. MONTAGUE GUESTalso asked the President of the Local Government Board, If his attention has been directed to several letters which have appeared in the daily papers, stating that in many instances Census papers have not been left, and that the enumerator had failed to call; and, whether, in view of the expense entailed, he will institute inquiries, to insure as accurate a return as possible?
§ MR. DODSONMany of the complaints which have appeared in the public papers or been otherwise made arise from an erroneous impression that it was imperative that the Schedules should be collected on one day—namely, on Monday last. To carry out the enumeration of 26,000,000 of people by the agency of some 35,000 enumerators without some omissions and some mistakes occurring is impossible. But I am informed by the Registrar General that most of them are by this time rectified. All possible expedition has been used in inquiring into and supplying any deficiencies; and I have no reason to doubt that the Census will prove, at any rate, as accurate as any previous Census. As far as the Question of the hon. Member for Wareham is concerned, I may say that an erroneous impression gained currency that all the Schedules must be collected on the same day—namely, Monday last.