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Hauraki Plains Gazette, Volume 50, Issue 3055, 28 March 1941, Page 5

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SOCIAL SECURITY CHARGE

LIABILITY OF EMPLOYERS

CASE BEFORE WAIHI COURT

Liability of employers to make sure that men engaged by them are not in arrear with their Social Security registration fee was emphasised in the Waihi Magistrate’s Court recently, when Lawrence William Ryan admitted being more than a month in arrear with payment of his quarterly registration fee, and his employer, Daniel Francis Murphy, a farmer, admitted having employed Ryan when he was in arrear.

The registrar* of Social Security at Paeroa, Mr G. C. Ching, who prosecuted, said Ryan had been in arrear from as far back as 1938, but had made certain payments. Several letters had been sent to defendant, but had not been acknowledged. In the circumstances the department was forced to take action.

Mr W. H. Freeman, S.M. (to Ryan): If everybody had to be chased to pay their registration fee it would be a very sad affair. Are you a single man ?

Defendant: No sir; I am married, with eight children. Mr Murphy said he was unaware of his liability. He had engaged Ryan only a few months ago. The magistrate told him it was his

duty, and the duty of every employer, to make sure levies had been paid before engaging men. Heavy penalties were provided for if this duty was neglected. However, as this was the first case of its kind that had come before him in Waihi he would order defendants to pay the costs, 10s.

“You see, Ryan,” said Mr Freeman, “that 10s would have paid two instalments of the levy.”