This film shows the female and male staff of the Government Statisticians Office, all dressed in their Sunday best, posing for the camera on the roof of Routh’s Building. It also includes rare glimpses of two well known public figures from the time: Harry Holland, the leader of the Labour Party, who was at the Government Statisticians Office overseeing the ballot as press representative for the Maoriland Worker, and Wellington Mayor J. P. Luke, who also oversaw the ballot.
The film was shot on 16 November 1916, the day of the first World War One conscription ballot held under the Military Service Act of 1916, at Routh’s Building, Brandon Street, in Wellington. It seems that this was the Government Cameraman Sydney Taylor using up the last of his film after earlier taking a very professional sequence of the ballot itself (see F9351).
Pan of Government Statisticians Office female clerical staff, some sitting and some standing, on roof of Routh’s Building, much smiling and laughter. Pan of male staff members of the Military Service Branch of the Census and Statistics Office, all wearing jackets and ties. Pan of female and male staff gathered together on roof of Routh’s Building, smiling and laughing at camera; Malcolm Fraser, Government Statistician is amongst them. Pan female staff.
Posed shots of J. P. Luke, Wellington Mayor, and Malcolm Fraser, Government Statistician, standing next to each other inside Routh’s Building. Five newspaper press representatives walk into shot inside Routh’s Building, including Harry Holland, representing the Maoriland Worker. Pan of press representatives, Holland is third from left.
From notes by Chris Pugsley.