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Census Act [Cap 72]

LAWS OF FIJI

CHAPTER 72

CENSUS

Ordinance No. 6 of 1946

AN ACT TO MAKE PROVISION FOR THE TAKING FROM TIME TO
TIME OF A CENSUS OF THE POPULATION OF FIJI

[20th July, 1946.]

Short title

1. This Act may be cited as the Census Act.

Order directing taking of census and appointing Census Commissioner

*2. It shall be lawful for the Minister, whenever he may deem it expedient, by order, to direct that a census be taken of the inhabitants of Fiji, and to prescribe the time in relation to which the particulars required by the census shall be stated, and the date upon which the census is to be taken and for that purpose the Public Service Commission shall appoint a Census Commissioner.
* Amended by Order 7th October, 1970.

Powers and duties of Census Commissioner

3.-(1) The Census Commissioner shall make arrangements and do all such things as are necessary for the taking of a census in accordance with the provisions of this Act and for that purpose shall arrange for the preparation and issue of the necessary forms and instructions and for the collection of the forms when completed.

*(2) The Census Commissioner shall in the exercise of his powers and the performance of his duties under this Act be subject to the control of and comply with any directions given by the Minister.
* Amended by Order 7th October, 1970.

Expenses

*4. All expenses incurred in the taking of a census including such allowances, if any, as may be approved for payment to any of the persons employed in the taking of the census shall be paid out of the Consolidated Fund.
* Amended by Order 7th October, 1970.

Regulations for the taking of a census

5. For the purpose of enabling any order directing the taking of a census to be carried into effect the Census Commissioner may make regulations-

(a) providing for the division of Fiji into areas or districts for the purpose of the census;

(b) providing for the appointment or engagement of persons to assist in the taking of the census, whether as superintendents, supervisors, enumerators or otherwise and for the assignment to them of their duties;

(c) prescribing the persons by whom and in respect to whom the returns for the purpose of this Act are to be made;

(d) requiring the person in charge of any institution, whether public or private, to make returns in respect of the inmates thereof;

(e) requiring any persons employed for the purpose of the census to make a statutory declaration before a magistrate or before such officer appointed to supervise the taking of the census as the Census Commissioner may authorise to take such declaration;

(f) prescribing the particulars to be stated on the census returns;

(g) making provision in respect to any other matters with respect to which it is necessary to make provision for the purpose of carrying into effect the provisions of this Act:

Provided that-

(a) no particulars shall be required to be stated on any census return other than the particulars with respect to such matters as are specified in the Schedule; and

(b) no person shall be compelled to state particulars relating to his religion if he objects thereto.

Obtaining of information

6. It shall be lawful for a person who is employed in the taking of the census or who is required in pursuance of the provisions of this Act to fill in any return to ask of any other person such questions as may be necessary for obtaining any of the particulars required in pursuance of the provisions of this Act and such other person shall to the best of his ability give such information.

Report

7. Upon completion of the census the Commissioner shall make such reports of the census and abstracts of the returns as the Minister may direct, and every such report shall be laid before Parliament.
(Amended by Order 7th October, 1970 and Act 14 of 1975 s. 13.)

Penalties

8.-(1) If any person-

(a) refuses or neglects to comply with or acts in contravention of any of the provisions of this Act; or

(b) being a person required under this Act to make a statutory declaration with respect to the performance of his duties, makes a false declaration; or

(c) being a person required by this Act to make, sign or deliver any document, makes, signs or delivers, or causes to be made, signed or delivered a false document; or

(d) being a person required in pursuance of this Act to answer any question, refuses to answer or gives a false answer to that question; or

(e) being a person required in pursuance of the provisions of this Act to perform any duties in connexion with the taking of the census; refuses, without reasonable cause, to carry out his duties,

he shall be guilty of an offence and shall on conviction be liable to a fine not exceeding twenty dollars.

(2) If any person-

(a) being a person employed in taking a census without lawful authority publishes or communicates to any person otherwise than in the ordinary course of such employment any information acquired by him in the course of his employment; or

(b) having possession of any information which to his knowledge has been disclosed in contravention of this Act, publishes or communicates that information to any other person,

he shall be guilty of an offence and shall on conviction be liable to imprisonment for six months or to a fine of one hundred dollars.

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SCHEDULE
(Section 5)

MATTERS IN RESPECT OF WHICH PARTICULARS MAY BE REQUIRED

1. Names, sex, age.
2. Occupation, profession, trade, employment.
3. Nationality, birthplace, race, language, health.
4, Place of abode, character of dwelling and fittings.
5. Condition as to marriage, relation to head of family, issue born in marriage.
6. Religion.
7. Livestock.

8. Any other matters with respect to which it is desirable to obtain statistical information with a view to ascertaining the social or civil condition of the population.

Controlled by Ministry of Finance

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