SOCIAL SECURITY

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 83, Issue 97, 27 April 1939, Page 6

SOCIAL SECURITY

RUSH TO REGISTER WANGANUI ACTIVITY AUGMENTED STAFF HANDLES 1000 APPLICANTS An augmented staff was busily engaged for several hours yesterday in handling the large number of applicants for registration under the Social Security Act regulations. From the time when the offices, situated in the old gas office building, Ridgway Street, were opened for business at 9 a.m., there was a constant stream of applicants through the swinging doors and at times the crowd in front of the counters was twa or three deep. A staff of eight clerks, at times “flat out.” as one of them expressed it, expeditiously handled the situation, and when a tally was made shortly after 4 p.m., when the room was cleared, it was 1 that, over 1000 applications had been dealt with. In the majority of instances applicants appreciated the heavy task confronting the P. and T. Department’s officers and refrained from showing impatience, but a small number of the general public grumbled at a delay of only a few minutes. How ill-founded any complaint would be may be gathered from the fact that the applications were handled at the rate of 150 an hour, and at times they were being passed through at the rate of three a minute. As registration could have teen made during the past four weeks, theft who have left their applications until the final days have only tnemselves to blame. In order to enable applicants to register before Monday, May 1. stated the Chief Postmaster, Mr. A. Fellow, arrangements have been made for the following hours of attendance to be observed in connection with the acceptance of registrations: To-day, ° a.m. to 6 p.m.; to-morrow, 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. and 7 to 8 p.m.; Saturday. 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Yesterday’s applications raise the total registrations in Wanganui to more than 5000, but the departments estimate of 9000 suggests that nearly 4000 have not yet fulfilled their obligation in this respect. However, suburban post offices, such as Wanganui East, Aramoho, St. John’s, Gonvvil le and Castlecliff have dealt with a large number of applications, and probably by the end of the week the total registered locally will run into five figures. Late-comers will find that procrastination may cause thenundue delay and will entail much unnecessary work for the harassed hut courteous and effie’ent staff.