UNEMPLOYMENT ACT

Hokitika Guardian, 1 November 1930, Page 3

UNEMPLOYMENT ACT

| REGISTER NOW

Now that the Unemployment Act is ill operation, certain of its provisions are, for the time being, the practical concern of every male New Zealander 20 years of age and upward: . Registration is the first obligation the Act imposes. Thi,s duty, which must ibo completed by November H, can now be carried out by fifling in the necessary form, and presenting it at any post office.

The Chief Post Office at Wellington will be this? Dominion’s base record office for registration. All registrations are forwarded there, and as they come to hand they are being sorted up into alphabetical order with tlie object of making a roll of those who have registered. Every registered person? willUreceive f a booklet or receipt coupons each coupon of a different colour. There is a coupon for each quarter of the year and when payment is made the receipt book will be stamped by the receiving post office anduthe duplicate coupon torn out and retained by the Postal Department.

The printing of these booklets is now almost complete, and the issue of them will be commenced durine the next' few days. The receipt hook will enable a man to have in readiness evidence that he has paid his levy—evidencp;. that will no doubt he demanded when men are .seeking employment. The amount of the levy is 30s per annum,- and the first quarterly instalment of 7s fid is due and payable on December 1. The net proceeds of the levy are to he paid into an unemployment fund. Authority is provided for an initial advance to the fund of £IOO.OOO, free of interest, from the Consolidated Fund. PENALTY FOR DEFAULT. Any person liable to the levy who makea default for more than one month , will be liable to a fine" of £5 ancLLtP.i.a'sperialty of sixpence a month forjp&piocl during which 1 he is -inarrelifsiLLEpi: .failure <to register <or for" supplying false infomation a person is liable to a fine of £SO. On and after December 7 it will also be an ofFence to employ an unregistered person or a person whose payment of levy is in arrears. The penalty is a fine of £2O. All fines will form part of the Unemployment Fund. .

‘.Certain exemptions from the levy are made. Persons wholly exempt comprise those in receipt of war nons:oU,s. iii respect of total disablement, or of .pensions under the Pensions Act,' 192 G. Members of the Native race; have the option of paying the levy and making themselves eligible for Benefits under the Act:”

Inmates of public hospitals* charitable institutions, mental hospitals, or prisons will be exempt.while they are in those institutions and for at least -oi\b' : month thereafter. Exemption -is ' also extended to students-bit university colleges who are not in recrpt of salary or wag'is. Exemption from tile payment of the levy, however,' does not absolve; a person from his obligation to register.