CENSUS OF WORK

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXV, Issue 23026, 2 May 1938, Page 10

CENSUS OF WORK

- RETURN THIS MONTH / DECLARATION TO BE MADE DETAILED QUESTIONNAIRE SCOPE OF THE INQUIRIES With the declaration of income, other than salary or wages, which has to be made this month by all males over tho ago of 20 years and by all women over that age whose annual incomes are in, excess of £SO, a declaration of industrial and occupational status must also be made. This is to take the form of a census of employment to be used by the Government in developing its social security proposals. The form for both declarations has been printed and circulated to the various post offices at which employment tax is paid. The inclusion of the second declaration doubles the size of the form and represents a further addition to the information which the taxpayer must annually provide for the Government. The census of employment is being taken in accordance with amended regulations made by the Government under the Employment Promotion Act. Occupational Status Part 11. of the form requires the taxpayer to give particulars of his or hei sex, age and occupational status, .The form is really designed as-a questionnaire and the section dealing with occupational status requires information whether the taxpayer is an employer of labour, whether he is working on his own account and not eraploying labour, whether he is working for salary or wages or whether he is unemployed. Persons who are unemployed are required to state whether they are in receipt of sustenance or whether they are working under Schemo Five. i Other questions deal with the personal occupation, calling or craft of the taxpayer and the branch of industry in which the taxpayer is engaged. The number of persons wholly or mainly dependent on the taxpayer, both under and over the age of 20 years must be given and particulars are also demanded of income received from salary or wages and from other sources. Strangely enough, there is no provision for the taxpayer's signature to the second part of the declaration. Superannuation Not Covered I In vilw of the statement by the Minister of Labour, the Hon. H. T. Armstrong, that the declaration has been designed to provide information calculated to assist the Government in drawing up its social security proposals, the questionnaire is really notable for the points on which it does not seek information. It was fully expected that declarations would be sought concerning the extent to which individual taxpayers have made private provision for superannuation and health services. Payments for life insurance, to a superannuation fund, to the National Provident Fund and to the insurance funds of Friendly Societies are listed in the returns of income for income tax purposes, but it is considered that this month's census of employment would have provided the Government witir a much better opportunitj* of disco\ eriflg how far private superannuation schemes cover wage-earners in the Dominion.