Cha and Miah discuss what a census is and a government decision to cancel the next count of the population.
Cha (Frank Duggan) and Miah (Michael Twomey) contemplate the government's decision to cancel the 1976 census of the Irish population.
The five yearly census of population was scheduled to be held in 1976. The government announced that due to the economic situation, the census would be postponed in an attempt to save £1.75 million. Miah describes this decision as,
A bloody disgrace.
Cha agrees before admitting he does not know what a census is. Miah is more than happy to explain, using the example of the census ordered by Caesar Augustus that required Mary and Joseph to travel from their home in Nazareth to Bethlehem. After such an illustrious history, Cha is shocked the Dublin government could do away with the census.
That's what we get for letting the reins of government slip out of Cork's hands.
The duo contemplate what the government could axe next. Miah decides they must be prepared for all eventualities.
A crowd that could do away with the census could do away with anything.
He puts a comforting arm around Cha and quotes from the hymn 'Faith of our Fathers' by Frederick William Faber,
Our fathers chained in prisons dark, were still in heart and conscience free.
This episode of 'Hall's Pictorial Weekly' was broadcast on 23 October 1975.
Frank Hall's amusing and satirical series began on 29 September 1971 with the full title "Hall's Pictorial Weekly Incorporating the Provincial Vindicator" which became known as "Hall's Pictorial Weekly".
The series allowed Frank Hall to follow his own interest in the lives of viewers throughout the country. Regarded as RTE's flagship comedy show, it featured satirical sketches on current news stories and popular culture, as well as parody songs, comedy sketches, re-edited videos, cartoons and spoof television formats. The show ran for 9 series until 1980.
