SOCIAL SECURITY

Dominion, Volume 32, Issue 154, 25 March 1939, Page 13

SOCIAL SECURITY

Opening Of Building On Monday OFFICIAL CEREMONY Inspection By Guests And General Public Arrangements for the official opening on Monday of the new building in Aotea Quay, Wellington, for the Social Security Department were completed yesterday. The ceremony will begin at 3 p.m., when the Prime Minister will turn the key in the front door and briefly declare the building open. The Ministerial party and guests will then inspect the building and go to the cafeteria, where afternoon tea will be served. Addresses will then be delivered by the Prime Minister and other speakers. These addresses will be broadcast throughout New Zealand, beginning at approximately 3.50 p.m. Before the general public are admitted to the building, the various staffs occupying the building will be admitted by the two end doors, after which the public will be admitted by the front entrance only. To facilitate their own inspection and avoid crowding and confusion, members of the public are requested to follow directions given by 'orderlies l stationed on all floors. Loudspeakers inside ttnd outside the building will allow all visitors to hear die various speeches. Traffic Arrangements. The new ramp, and, by special permission, the harbour board road adjoining Aotea Quay, will be open for cars to approach the Social Security Building. Cars from the city are to travel along Thorndon Quay and the Hutt Road to the new ramp. Immediately after crossing the ramp, they will be directed to the harbour board’s outer road. Cars containing official guests will pass the Social Security Building and then turn in to their right and approach the building from the southern end. Other cars will park as directed by tfie traffic control officers on duty. There will be no approach for cars by way of Waterloo Quay, and the ramp will not be available for through traffic to the city. DUTIES OF PUBLIC Explanatory Pamphlet For Householders The obligations imposed on the public by the Social Security Act, which will come into operation on April 1, are explained in a pamphlet now being issued to householders through the Post Office. The Minister of Social Security, Mr. Nash, said yesterday that these pamphlets dealt principally with the obligations of all persons over the age of 16 years, and that further pamphlets dealing particularly with the duties of business men and of farmers would be issued later. “ISvery effort is being made,” said Mr. Nash, “to indicate clearly to each person exactly what are his or her obligations under the Act. The pamphlets now being issued deal with the problems likely to be met by members of the public generally, and set out. in some detail duties concerning registration, coupon books, deduction of? the social security charge, exemptions from liability to pay the registration fee or the social security charge, and other matters of a like nature. The particulars set out are of special interest to those who have not been previously required to register, that is to say, women and also youths 16 years of age or over.

Important Changes.

“Though it will be seen that the procedure now to he followed is closely akin to that followed under the Employment Promotion Act, 1936, certain important changes have been made. For example, those who employ domestic servants should note that as from April 1, social security charge at the rate of 1/- in the pound (Id. for every 1/8) is payable upon the wages of all domestic servants, and this irrespective of whether the employment is casual or permanent. “Again, persons who previously enjoyed exemption from liability to pay the registration levy or the employment charge upon income should read the pamphlet carefully, as in some cases these exemptions have not been continued. Needless to say, it is the duty of every person to make himself familiar with the obligations imposed upon him by the Act; failure to do so will result in inconvenience both to the departments administering the Act and to the individual himself, and may even result in that individual being deprived of the benefits to which he would otherwise be entitled.”