§ MR. STANLEY LEIGHTON (Shropshire, Oswestry)I beg to ask the President of the Local Government Board whether he is aware that immediately before the Census was taken at Machynlleth, in the County of Montgomery, a proclamation was made by the town crier urging the inhabitants to declare themselves Welshmen, that is to say, to return themselves as understanding the Celtic language only; whether he can inform the House who were the parties responsible for this proclamation; and if he can state in how many schedules, including how many individuals, the enumerators were obliged to correct the Census papers, on account of persons having, through ignorance or design, wrongly described themselves as monoglot Celts?
§ THE PRESIDENT OF THE LOCAL GOVERNMENT BOARD (Mr. Ritchie, Tower Hamlets, St. George's)I learn from the Registrar General that the Superintendent Registrar of Machynlleth reports that immediately before the Census day the town crier at Machynlleth made a proclamation in Welsh, of which the following is a translation of the material part:—
Take notice.—The Census. Inasmuch as the Government permits all persons to have the schedules in Welsh, and there being a special opportunity in connection with the matter on the present occasion for every Welshman and every Welshwoman through the town, who can fill up the paper in Welsh to do so. Another similar opportunity will 1744 not he offered for ten years. Remember our country, our language, our nation.I have no information as to the person responsible for the notice. The Registrar General has had the number of schedules counted which the enumerators in the township found it necessary, under the provisions of Section 6 of the Census Act, and in accordance with the Regulations to alter, at the time of collection, on account of persons having described themselves as monoglot Celts, whereas it was within the knowledge of the enumerators that they could speak both Welsh and English. The Registrar General finds that the number of schedules altered by substituting the word " both " for " Welsh " was 57, including 284 persons.
§ MR. ARTHUR WILLIAMS (Glamorgan, S.)I beg to ask the President of the Local Government Board whether he is aware that only 200 Welsh schedules were supplied for distribution in the parishes of Barry, Cadoxton, Merthyr, Dovan, Sully, St. Andrew, Wenvoe, St. Nicholas, Porthkerry, Llancarfan, Peterstone super Ely, Penmark, Bonvilstone, St. Lythans, and other adjoining parishes in the County of Glamorgan, though the population of these parishes is at least 50,000, of which fully 20 per cent. are monoglot Welsh people; whether he is aware that not a single Welsh schedule was given to several enumerators for distribution, and that, when Welsh schedules were asked for by heads of families, the reply which the enumerators in many cases were instructed to give was that the entries could be given in Welsh in the English Census Paper; and whether he can take any steps to remedy the omissions complained of?
§ MR. RITCHIEI have communicated with the Registrar General, and he states as follows:—The parishes mentioned in the question appear to be within the district of Cardiff, which is sub-divided into three sub-districts. Each of the three Registrars was called upon to estimate how many schedules printed in the Welsh language he would require for the use of householders, and to each Registrar was sent some 25 per cent. more than the number asked for. For the whole district some 500 schedules in the Welsh language were sent, and the Registrars assure me that the supply 1745 was more than ample to meet the legitimate requirements of those who could only fill up the schedules in Welsh, for whom alone it must be borne in mind the Welsh schedules were printed. A very much larger number of Welsh schedules were issued in 1891 than in 1881. But it having been recommended by certain societies, by ministers and others, that all Welshmen and Welshwomen should demand Welsh schedules, the supply naturally fell short, and schedules in English had to be issued, as they had always been used in previous Censuses. But no omissions were made on that account—the people in the places referred to were closely enumerated, and no action is necessary. Of this, I have satisfied myself by careful inquiry; and wherever in Wales any omission has been proved I have insisted on a re-enumeration. The books and papers are now sent in, and I cannot institute further inquiry. I may mention that the extraordinary desire this time amongst the Welsh people to fill up their schedules in Welsh has given an enormous amount of trouble to this Department, as every schedule filled up in Welsh has to be translated into English. And the filling up the schedule in Welsh has really no bearing on the great question of the number of Welsh-speaking people, as that can be as easily ascertained by a schedule in English with a language column.
§ MR. ARTHUR WILLIAMSMay I ask the right hon. Gentleman how it is that the Registrar General considered it of no importance that Welsh schedules should be delivered, and that those who claimed to be monoglot Welsh people should not have been afforded the opportunity of filling up a Welsh schedule?
§ MR. RITCHIEThere can be no doubt of the fact that an enormous number of the schedules issued were filled up in Welsh by people who speak and know both languages. In many instances the Welsh schedule was demanded by persons who understood both languages. For the purposes of the Census, the great object was to give to each person a schedule in which he or she was able to fill up the questions; and the way in which the schedules have been filled up shows that no injustice has been done.
§ MR. ARTHUR WILLIAMSIs the right hon. Gentleman aware that a large number of Welsh people who can colloquially make themselves understood in English are utterly unable to read it, and are only so imperfectly acquainted with that language when written or printed that they have been greatly embarrassed by the English Census paper?
§ MR. RITCHIEI am not able to answer that question; but the information I have received does not bear out the suggestion conveyed by the hon. Member. All the householders filled up their schedules, and stated whether they speak one language or two. It is, therefore, quite immaterial whether they filled up a Welsh or an English schedule.