Interviewers conducting this year's census were reluctant to go into certain neighbourhoods to collect questionnaires, Premier Paula Cox told the House of Assembly yesterday.

She said the survey of the Island's population — the first in a decade — was not completed in the expected time frame because it was hit by certain problems, including "more concern than usual" from field interviewers about carrying out their duties.

There were also less people available to do the work than needed, with just 169 interviewers dispatched in May, when the census began.

Ms Cox said that figure rose to 236 after another round of recruitment but "this amount fell considerably short of the 350 interviewers that the Department [of Statistics] required to complete a timely census".

She said there was a higher rate of attrition than expected, with interviewers quitting due to fatigue, personal safety concerns, disheartenment after knocking on doors with no success or health reasons.

The collection of census data should have been done by the end of August but Ms Cox asked MPs to agree to a four-month extension by approving the Statistics Act (2010 Census) Amendment Order 2010.

The order was approved and another piece of legislation, the Statistics Amendment Bill 2010, which will allow for further extensions without the need for permission from the House, was tabled.

Ms Cox revealed that completed census questionnaires had been collected from about 51 percent of households, with an estimated 15,000 still to be visited.

She said the Department of Statistics wanted to get at least 90 percent coverage of the Island.

Finance Minister Ms Cox added that the budget for the census in 2010 was $3.1 million and about $990,000 — or 32 percent — had so far been spent.

"The census will be ultimately successful but we have some further work to do," admitted the Premier. "It's certainly critical that every household is interviewed — both Bermudian and non-Bermudian. We again solicit the continued support of households once the 2010 census resumes."

Opposition leader Kim Swan said his party appreciated the reasons given by the Premier for the extension and suggested that alternative methods of data collection be considered for future censuses.

"I'm appreciative to hear that the pilot programme has been introduced to allow telephone calling to take place in Smith's and it can be extended," he said, adding that other modern technology could be used.

The United Bermuda Party MP suggested there could be too many questions on the census questionnaire and said Bermuda ought to look at how other jurisdictions conduct their population surveys.

Bermuda Democratic Alliance MP Shawn Crockwell said his party appreciated the value of census information and supported looking at more modern methods for data collection.

Independent MP Darius Tucker said: "I would like to see that we do still go from door-to-door."

UBP MPs Bob Richards and Patricia Gordon-Pamplin suggested the Premier should make a direct appeal to the public to take part in the census.

Mrs Gordon-Pamplin also questioned whether canvassers should be paid more or whether citizens themselves should be given a nominal sum to properly complete their questionnaires.