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Archiver > ENG-HAMPSHIRE > 2007-01 > 1168124407


From: Sandra J Smith <>
Subject: Re: [ENG-HANTS] E-petition - Census Information
Date: Sat, 06 Jan 2007 23:00:07 +0000
References: <459FD73F.9020301@ntlworld.com><459FDBA4.2090507@family-hunter.co.uk>
In-Reply-To: <459FDBA4.2090507@family-hunter.co.uk>


Hi List,
I personally think 70 years is too short a time for closure. However,
just to emphasise one point... There was NO guaranteed closure period
for the 1911 census, so people completed the forms without any
guarantees. The 100 year rule was brought in retrospectively at a much
later date.

...and as for waiting for the 1951 to be published.....I should imagine
I will have been pushing up daisies for a long time by then.

But I can remember waiting patiently for January 1st 1972, when the 1871
census was published and rushing up to London to view my ancestors
then....seems a long time ago now!
Sandra

Charani wrote:

>Sandra J Smith wrote:
>
>
>
>>Thought some might be willing to support this e-petition to the Prime
>>Minister, asking for census info to be released after 70 years. Open to
>>UK residents and ex-pats.
>>
>>
>
>I don't agree that it should be released after 70 years. It should
>stay at 100.
>
>When the enumeration forms were sent out, householders were promised
>that the information would be confidential. There's an excellent
>chance that a good many people on the censuses would still be alive.
>Some may not mind, but others could be very upset about the breach of
>promise which in turn would leave the government open to being sued
>for breach of promise.
>
>The census was done by the government for the government, not for
>family history and genealogical hobbyists.
>
>All this agitation by McCready and his ilk, is far more likely to have
>the reverse effect of the one desired: access to the census will be
>completely withdrawn and access to the BMDs will be restricted,
>something that is already being discussed.
>
>Unfortunately, this seems to be another example of the negative side
>of the net: the demand for instant gratification. We should be
>thankful for the access we are allowed to these documents. Without
>it, we'd all have to have some other way of spending our leisure time.
>
>
>

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