The Social Security Act

Dominion, Volume 32, Issue 259, 31 July 1939, Page 11

The Social Security Act

Sir,—I would like to draw your attention to the fact that there are some anomalies in this Act that should be amended, as Parliament has evidentlyoverlooked the principle involved. All persons earning wages or salary, or receiving income, are obliged to pay tax at the rate of 1/- in the £, even drunks and persons not of good moral character. This money is received by the Social Security Department on behalf of the Government. But in five cases in. the Act it is expressly provided in connexion with age-benefits, widows benefits, family benefits, invalids’ benefits and miners’ benefits respectively that, unless applicants can satisfy the, condition (among others) that they are of “good moral character and sober habits,” none of them shall be entitled to any of such benefits under the Act. As regards widows, the Act expressly provides that, “No woman shall be entitled to receive a widow’s benefit under this part of this Act unless the. Commissioner is satisfied that she is of good moral character and sober habits.” It does not sound good moral principle to take money from drunks and persons not of good moral character who pay in the expectation of receiving benefits that others shall receive, but when the time comes for obtaining such benefits to turn round and tell them that they are not entitled to such benefits, for which they paid, because they are not of “good moral character and sober habits.” This deserves correcting.—l am, etc., T. F. SIMPSON. Wellington, July 28.