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Census Ordinance 1855

1. The Census Ordinance 1855.

Whereas an Ordinance was passed by the Governor-in- Chief and Legislative Council of the Islands of New Zealand, entituled " An Ordinance for taking a Census of the Colony of New Zealand, Session XI, No. 8:" And Whereas it is expedient that further provisions should be made for obtaining full statistical infornnation respecting the Province of Canterbury and the inhabitants thereof:

Be it therefore enacted by the Superintendent of the said Province, with the advice and consent of the Provincial Council thereof as follows:—

1. Census to be taken at certain times.

A Census of the number and condition of the Inhabitants of the Province of Canterbury shall be taken in the first, fourth, and seventh years of every decade of years, and in such other years as the Superintendent, with the advice of the Executive Council shall think fit, upon the days and in the manner hereinafter provided.

2. Superintendent to appoint Collectors of Census.

The Superintendent shall appoint fit and proper persons to collect the said Census, and may cause a reasonable allowance to be made to any such person, not exceeding Twenty Shillings a day for every day during which he shall be actually employed in collecting thc said Census.

3. Superintendent to publish notice of Census to be taken.

The Superintendent shall, on or before the First day in January in each year in which it is intended such Census shall be taken, cause a Notice to be published in all the Newspapers within the Province, and to be affixed in such conspicuous places as he shall think fit, calling upon every Householder to be prepared, on

the Fifteenth day of January, or so soon thereafter as he shall be required by any Collector duly authorised, to give all such information as is required by the Schedule hereunto annexed.

4. Schedules, when to be left at houses and filled in.

Every such Collector shall, on or before the Tenth day of January in each year in which it is intended such Census shall be taken, leave at every house within the district assigned to him a Schedule, being a blank copy of the Schedule hereunto annexed; and every Householder able to write, shall, on the Fifteenth day of January, furnish, in writing, the information required by the said Schedule, by filling up the same, and subscribing his name at the foot thereof, and shall deliver the same to any such Collector on demand.

5. If master of house absent, Schedule by whom to be filled in.

If the Master of any house shall have been absent therefrom on the Fifteenth day of January, it shall be lawful for any competent person resident therein, to fill up and sign the said Schedule on behalf of the said Householder.

6. Collector to call for Schedules, if not filled in, Collector to obtain necessary information.

Every such Collector shall, as soon after the Fifteenth day of January as possible, call at every house in his district to collect the Schedules; and is hereby authorised to put such questions as may be necessary to the complete filling up thereof to any Householder, who, from inability to write, may not have duly filled up the same; or, in case of the absence of such householder, to any other person who may be resident in such house; and the Collector shall thereupon himself fill up the Schedule with the information so supplied, and shall sign the same.

7. In certain cases Collectors may call only once at each house.

And whereas, by reason of the population being thinly scattered over some parts of the said Province, the said Collectors could not conveniently leave the Schedules and call for the same at each house as hereinbefore required without much unnecessary loss of time and expense be it enacted, it shall be lawful for the Superintendent to authorise the Collectors, in such parts as he shall think fit, to call only once at each house therein upon the Fifteenth day of January, or so soon after as possible, and to obtain, by enquiry, from the Master of such house, or, in his absence, from any other person resident therein, such information as may be necessary to enable him to fill up the said Schedule; and the Collector shall in such case fill up and sign the said Schedule.

8. Penalties for refusal or neglect in filling in Schedules or for making false

Returns.

Every Householder who shall wilfully refuse, or, without lawful excuse, neglect to fill up the said Schedule to the best of his knowledge and belief, or to sign and deliver the same, or shall make, sign or deliver, or shall cause to be made, signed, or delivered any false Return of any of the matters specified in the said Schedule, and any person whatever who shall refuse to answer, or wilfully give a false answer to any such questions as aforesaid, shall, for every such refusal, neglect, or wilful false answer, upon conviction before any two Justices of the Peace, forfeit a sum not exceeding Five Pounds, nor less than Twenty Shillings.

9. Penalty on Collector for neglect of duty.

Every such Collector who shall have been duly appointed, and shall have consented to act under the authority of this Ordinance, and who shall thereafter refuse, or shall wilfully neglect to fulfil the duties of such his office, not being hindered by illness or other sufficient cause, shall, upon conviction of such

refusal or neglect, before any two Justices of the Peace, be liable to a penalty not exceeding Ten Pounds.

10. Superintendent may issue instructions for collecting Native Census.

It shall be lawful for the Superintendent, any of the provisions herein contained notwithstanding, to issue such Instructions as he shall collecting think fit to the said Collectors, or any of them, for collecting the Census of the Native Inhabitants of the said Province, and such Instructions shall be taken and deemed to be a part of this Ordinance, and shall be received and complied with accordingly by any Collectors to whom the same shall have been addressed: Provided that no Native person shall be liable to any fine or penalty imposed under the provisions of this Ordinance.

11. Collectors to return Schedules within one month to Provincial

Secretary.

The several Collectors shall return the Schedules within one Collectors to return month after they shall have been filled up, into the Office of the Provincial Secretary, unless reasonable cause shall be shewn to the contrary.

12. Superintendent to publish totals of Returns in Gazette.

The Superintendent shall cause the totals of the Returns contained in the said Schedules for each District to be made up, so soon as conveniently may be, after they shall have been sent in to the Secretary, and shall publish the same in the Government Gazette of the Province.

13. Original Schedules to be deposited in Public Record Office.

So soon as the said Returns shall have been published, the original Schedules shall be deposited in the Office of Public Records, and shall be preserved therein.

14. Title.

This Ordinance shall be entituled and may be cited as the “Census Ordinance, Session V., No. 1.”

Schedule. Census Form.

Note.

This Ordinance was passed by the Canterbury Provincial Council on 17th October 1855, and assented by the Superintendent on 23rd October. It was annulled by the Census Act 1858.