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In the case of the pink (Europeans) and red ("Others") cards the several races included in these groups had to be separately entered after Nationality on line 6.
Married, Single, Widowed or Divorced was denoted by abbreviations M. S. W. or D. one line 3.
Age, line 4, was of course entered in figures.
Birthplaces on line 5 had to be entered in full, but abbreviations could be used for the main Nationalities (Line 6). Length of Residence (Line 8) was again a matter of figures, and Educational Attainments (Lines 9, 10, and 11) were denoted by a cross (X) for possession and a zero (0) if absent.
Occupations and Industries (Lines 12 and 13) required to be coded. The classification recently approved for the United Kingdom was adopted with a few modifications to suit local conditions. The items were numbered from 1 to 535 in the case of Occupations and 1 to 413 in the case of Industries. It took some time before the posting clerks became familiar with the code and the copying out of the cards required a considerable period, not being completed until nearly the end of July. The use of the codes, however, greatly facilitated the sorting of the cards into the various Industries and Occupations.
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After reducing the information on the schedules to figures and letters coloured cards--a slow and painstaking process-the handling of the cards to obtain tabulated information is rapid and leaves comparatively little scope for error.
(4) STAFF EMPLOYED AND COST OF THE CENSUS.
Four clerks of the permanent Junior Clerical Service were seconded for duty in the Census Office from January, 1931. These clerks proved an excellent back- bone to the temporary clerks engaged for the period of the Census only.
Thirty-two posting clerks were engaged from the Census Date. They carried out their duties fairly satisfactorily; there were two dismissals, one discharge, and five resignations during the seven months for which they were engaged. There was, however, a great deal of absence through sickness and much time was lost on that An additional eight were engaged from the beginning of August to make for the time lost.
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The cost of the Census was as follows, exclusive of the cost of printing which was most excellently done at the Gaol, and of the salaries of the permanent officers seconded for the work:-
Cost of Enumeration
Rent of Office, Furniture and
Installation of Electric Light,
-$
38,510.44
Fans and Telephone
6,653.78
Stationery, Advertisements, Elec-
tric Light and Incidentals
2,288.60
Office Attendant and Messenger
369.63
Posting Clerks
9,145.69
Total
-$ 56,968.14
This works out at 6.7 cents per head of population enumerated.
Part of this expenditure, for example on furniture and on light and fan fix- tures, is however recoverable, as most of the furniture and fixtures will be of further use to other departments.