CENSUS AND STATISTICS.

No. 33 of 1920.

An Act to amend the Census and Statistics Act 1905.

[Assented to 11th October, 1920.]

BE it enacted by the King’s Most Excellent Majesty, the Senate, and the House of Representatives of the Commonwealth of Australia, as follows:—

Short title and citation.

1.—(1.)   This Act may be cited as the Census and Statistics Act 1920.

(2.)  The Census and Statistics Act 1905 is in this Act referred to as the Principal Act.

(3.)  The Principal Act as amended by this Act may be cited as the Census and Statistics Act 1905–1920.

Definitions.

2.   Section three of the Principal Act is amended—

(a) by omitting the definition of “Commissioner for Affidavits”; and

(b) by omitting from the definition of “Dwelling” the words “registered in Australia”.

Undertaking of fidelity and secrecy.

3.   Section seven of .the Principal Act is amended by omitting therefrom the words “make before a Justice of the Peace or Commissioner for Affidavits a declaration “and inserting in their stead the words “sign, in the presence of a witness, an undertaking of fidelity and secrecy”.

Forms to be left at dwellings.

4.   Section ten of the Principal Act is amended—

(a) by omitting from sub-section (2.) thereof the word “dwelling” (first occurring) and inserting in its stead the word “building”; and

(b) by omitting from sub-section (2.) thereof the word “house”

Collectors to assist in filling up schedules.

5.   Section thirteen of the Principal Act is amended by omitting the word “dwelling-houses” and inserting in its stead the word “dwellings”.

Returns of persons not abiding in dwellings.

6.   Section fifteen of the Principal Act is amended by inserting therein, after the word “Penalty”, the words “for any offence against this sub-section”.

7.   After section fifteen of the Principal Act the. following section is inserted:—

Publication of returns.

“15a.—(1.)   The Statistician shall compile and tabulate the Census returns collected pursuant to this Act and shall publish the results so obtained or abstracts thereof, as the Minister directs, with observations thereon.

(2.)   All results or abstracts prepared for publication and the Statistician’s observations thereon (if any) shall be laid before both Houses of the Parliament.”.

Desertion by officers.

8.   Section twenty-two of the Principal Act is amended by omitting therefrom the words “taken the prescribed declaration” and inserting in their stead the words “signed the prescribed undertaking”.

Occupiers to observe secrecy.

9.   Section twenty-four of the Principal Act is amended by inserting therein, after the word “officer”, the words “or occupier of a dwelling”.

Regulations.

10.  Section twenty-seven of the Principal Act is amended by adding at the end thereof the words “and in particular for prescribing penalties not exceeding Fifty pounds for breaches of the regulations”.