UNEMPLOYMENT TAX

Hawke's Bay Herald-Tribune, Issue 154, 17 July 1937, Page 7

UNEMPLOYMENT TAX

— PresB ABsociation.)

Farmers Advocate Substantial Reduction FUND "KEEPING MEN IDLE"

(By Telegraph-

WELLINGTON, This Day. A substantial reduction should be made in the rate of unemployment tax, becaiise of^ reported increases in employment and wages, the New Zealand harmers' Union considers. A resolution to that effect was passed by the annual Dominion conference at . Wellington yesterday. Mr H. E. Blyde (North Taranaki) said that if it was correct that emplqyment had increased, and if those employed were receiving higher wages," it should not be necessary for the tax to be so liigh. "We farmers feel the position particularly, because we havo to pay the unemployment tax and then flnd that we are unable to get labour ourselves," he said. Mr E. H. Feisst (Auckland) said that the fund should be very considerably reduced, because as long as there was a fund in existence there would aiways be slaekers. "At present taxpayers are contributing to a fund to prevent men working for them in the primary industry of the country," he said. He had been told by an Auckland unemployment offieial that more than 1000 single, able-bodied men, suitablo for farrn work, eould be f'ound on sustenance rolls in Auckland in 24 hours, but they would not go to farms. Mr J. Livingstone " (Southern Hawke s Bay) said that tho money should be flowing towards tho industry which was producing the income of the country to lielp it to employ labour, rather than into a fund which was iceeping men idle. v A delegate suggested that the Government should be asked to devote 2d of the 8d tax to relieving the heavy burden of hospital rating. No action was taken in this matter.