PROCEEDINGS OF SECTION F. 579 
during the existence of every person now living; and with the 
benefit of irrigation and the saving of surplus herbage by means 
of ensilage in seasons when feed is plentiful, it is impossible to 
place any limit on the quantity of live stock this great continent 
mmay ultimately be able to carry. 
Where Mr. Coghlan seems to me to be in error is, first, that he 
has very much over-estimated the rate at which the population of 
Australia is likely to increase ; and, secondly, that he has only 
taken what he considers to have been the acfua/ rate of increase 
of stock in the past as a guide to the future, and has left out 
of consideration what might be the josszb/e increase if the 
slaughtering of young stock, the unsexing of heifers, and the 
exportation of meat were abandoned, which any rise in prices 
would inevitably cause them to be. 
2.—THE COMING CENSUS. 
By H. H. Hayter, C.M.G. 
THe officers charged with the collection and compilation of 
statistics throughout her Majesty’s dominions have no doubt for 
some time past had under consideration the necessity of making 
early provision for taking the census of 1891, and some have 
probably already commenced their preparations for that important 
national undertaking. 
Having been connected officially with four censuses of this 
colony, the last two of which have been entirely under my own 
management, I can confidently say that upon the intelligence and 
forethought exercised in devising and planning the preliminary 
arrangements, the success of a census mainly depends. It is 
impossible that these arrangements can be made satifactorily unless 
sufficient time is allowed for them to be perfected, and experience 
has shown they ought to be commenced at least twelve months 
before the period for taking the census arrives. 
It must be remembered that the preparations involve, in 
the first instance, the passing of an Act giving the requisite 
power to take the census. This Act will no doubt be based upon 
former Census Acts, but it is the duty and will certainly be to 
the advantage of the superintending officer to weigh well all the 
provisions of the proposed measure prior to its becoming law, so 
that he may be in the position to recommend the addition of any 
which his experience and judgment tell him are wanting, and the 
exclusion of any which he has reason to believe are likely to 
operate prejudicially. If this is done thoughtfully and with due 
consideration for the requirements of the undertaking, much 
after trouble will be saved. Nothing is more vexatious than for 
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