§ Order of the Day for the Second Reading read.
THE EARL OE CRAWFORDMy Lords, this Bill is rather less ambitious in its scope than the Census Bill for Britain, which passed your Lordships' House a few days ago. Under this measure the Irish census will be taken in the month of April of next year. The Bill is more or less in common form, authorising the Lord Lieutenant to appoint such persons as he may think proper to act as enumerators, and to superintend the work. The general object, of course, is to secure uniformity so far as possible between the British and Irish methods of form and assessment. As I say, this Bill only deals with the normal census to be held next year. It does not ask for any of the powers for periodical censuses which were authorised in the English Act, nor, of course, in consequence, does it suggest the establishment of a permanent Census Department. The Irish census, I have been told, has always been extremely good, and is based upon the method laid down by that distinguished statistician, Dr. Hancock. I believe that in Ireland they consider the census extremely good. Upon that I offer no pragmatic opinion to your Lordships, but I should like you to know that the Irish authorities consider that this Bill is drafted in such a way as to continue the census in a thoroughly efficient form.
§ Moved, That the Bill be now read 2a.—(The Earl of Crawford.)
§ On Question, Motion agreed to.