LABOUR’S PROPOSALS

Hokitika Guardian, 29 August 1925, Page 2

LABOUR’S PROPOSALS

SYDNEY, August 21. The Labour Governments in power in some of the Australian States are venturing into the field of idealistic politics. Recently the Queensland Government announced its intention of introducing chili! endowment 1110a suro In- which the large families of tlio State would be helped by grants from, the State Treasury. Now the newlyelected Government in New South Wales is bidding for popular favour with two measures, designed, in ono instance, to help widows, and in tho other to assist unemployed. Information is being obtained with a view to drafting Bills to effect these proposals, both of which were promises made by Mr Lang in hi* policy speech. Xiiiur; illy finance is the important featnre of both proposals, and it is finance that might prevent the Labour Party trom giving lull effect to its desire-. Air Lang, however, is convinced that he will he able to find tho inonev necessary to pay widows’ pensions. as lie estimates that the number of women who could he entitled to such pensions would he much lower than the number estimated by his opponents. The suggested pension is at present £1 per week, with allowances to widows with children. SUSTENANCE ALLOWANCE. It is tho unemployed insurance proposal that is regarded in trade union circles as the most important of the measures forecasted by the Premier in bis policy speech. It is the present intention of the Ministry to frame a Bill that will provide sustenance allowance for bona fide unemployed after, say. six months’ residence in the State. The .Ministry has not decided what the amount will lie. but tile Labour Party wants the following scale:—Unmarried males or telltales, widow*' and widows 25s per week each; male workers supporting a wife and family £2 10* per week ; children under 10 voar* of age. supported by a male worker, (is per week each. An uncut- __ ploymeiit insurance fund will probably In- created, and will be controlled by the Treasury. The fund will he established principally from contributions front the workers and the employers, and probably a contribution from the State funds. Every worker over a specified ago whose wage or salary is governed by an award of the Court will 're called upon to contribute. Provisions will be inserted in the measure safeguarding the fund from persons who are unwilling to accept work when offered to them. It will also he provided that persons will not he eligible to receive sustenance allowance if it he proved that ho or she became unemployed solely by his or her own fault. Old-ngo pensioners probably will also be excluded from the provisions of the Act.