IN OWN NET!

Auckland Star, Volume LXX, Issue 99, 29 April 1939, Page 10

IN OWN NET!

MR. NASH CAUGHT. HAS PAID HIS TAXES. CLEARANCE IS GRANTED. ONE OF 430 PASSENGERS. Unexpectedly, the Minister of Finn nee. the Hon. W. Nash, is one of the first travellers from New Zealand to he caught in the net of the new social security regulation Wliicli requires all passengers to obtain tax clearance certificates before they step on board ship. Since his decision on Wednesday to visit England to discuss with the British Government questions of trade, defence and finance, the Minister, assisted, of course, by his officials, has been deeply immersed in the details of his trip, nnd like the ordinary traveller lie has had to go through the procedure of passports and other formalities. As Minister in Charge of the Social Security Department he has had the rather intriguing experience of being compelled to comply with his own regulations. "Yes, the Minister has got his clearance,'' said a passenger representative with a smile this morning. With commendable dispatch the Department had passed the application of its Ministerial liead. On the first leg of his journey Mr. Nash, will travel to San Francisco in the Monterey. From there he will cross the continent to New York and it is expected he will reach London during the last week in May. Departmental Delays. Bookings by the Monterey from New Zealand totaf 2-~><) and bv the Niagara IcSO, making a total of 4.'H) passengers who will leave Auckland on Monday and Tuesday with the new clearance certificates in their pockets or travelling eases. "The Department lia« been a little flow in some instances in forwarding the clearances, and a number of people have had to send telegrams to Wellington," said the passenger representative, "but generally the new machinery has worked fairly smoothly." The certificate* are required by all intending passengers lfi year.* of age and over to show that their social security payments are up-to-date, and in etiiies of extended absence from the Dominion it is necessary to inform the <iovernmont of the name of an agent or attorney who will receive anv income and pay any taxes 011 behalf of the iliilh idiiiil. Arrangements for Tourists. Special arrangement* have been made by the Social Security Department to deal with late bookings by vessels leaving -Auckland, and a local official of the Department will have authority to grant last-minute certificates without reference to Wellington. Tourists visiting New Zealand are in a different position from resident*, in complying with the provisions of the Act. Generally the position is that those who hold return orders for passagea are exempt, provided they have not been in the Dominion more than 12 months and have not been engaged in business here. Tourists who have not obtained return orders are required to fill in a visitor'* form, stating the purpose of their visit and whether they have engaged in any business since their arrival.