§ 24. Mr. David Adamsasked the Under-Secretary of State for the Colonies whether the census officer who has been appointed to take a census in Jamaica has arrived and commenced work; and whether it will be possible to take simultaneous censuses in other West Indian islands, as this would be an important statistical simplification for future use?
§ Mr. Harold MacmillanThis officer should by now have reached Jamaica. I am afraid a general census of all the islands must be postponed for the present.
§ Mr. AdamsWould the right hon. Gentleman reconsider the matter, as, obviously, if a general census could be taken, it would save a great deal of time and labour?
§ Mr. MacmillanNo, Sir. The decision to postpone the census right through the Colonial Empire applies to all Colonies, but in the case of Jamaica a special exception was made because of the census being prepared with a view to alteration in the franchise.