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In fact , Hall was highly critical in this article o"f the
methods used by the authorities to collect, condense and elucidate the
materials for the study of vital statistics .
an
He considered they were
"age in arrears", especially in the obsolete and imperfect method of
taking the population census .
Previous to his own compilations , there
were no tables of the slightest value existing, nor did he see much
evidence of any desire for improvement.3
He appealed to Medical
Practitioners to adopt the habit of giving a death certificate in
accordance with the English form;
only by obtaining such satisfactory
data could sanitary science achieve easily the results desired.
Hall,
the statistician, who had spent so many hours in dedicated research and
compilation, concluded his long series of articles , rightly enough , with
a plea for understanding of the statist :
It is by the practical application of knowledge so required,
that science can promote the interests of humanity, and no
real philanthropist will throw obstacles in the way of the
statist or regard his labours with apathy, much less distrust,
or affected ·derision.
3
Changes in the method of making Census Returns were first
suggested to Colonial-Secretary, T. Gregson, by Hall on
March 18, 1857, just before the Census of March 31 of
that year, but nothing was done.
CSD 1/110/3489