UNEMPLOYED PAY

Hokitika Guardian, 18 November 1929, Page 1

UNEMPLOYED PAY

INCREASE IN BRITAIN

(British Official Wireless)

RUGBY, November 15

The Government’s new Unemployment Insurance Bill, the text of which was read to-day in the House of Commons, increased the allowance of the wives of unemployed men from 7s to 9s a week, and it also increases the allowances to unemployed young men and women under 21 years- of age. Whereas at present the unemployment pay is made to buys and girls from the age of 10, the Bill proposes to make an allowance to boys and girls at the age of 1-3. This provision is to take effect so soon as the age of leaving school is raised from 14 to 15, which the Government proposes to do in 1931. Boys of 15 who are unemployed will then receive an allowance of 6s a week, and girls will be granted 5s a week. When the Bill comes into full operation, the total charge on the Treasury for unemployment insurance will be £24,500,000. The new proposals will involve an increase of £12,400,000 a year over the present expenditure. The Labour Left Wing express dis-satisfaction-with the Bill. They wish to increase the allowances, notably those for men with families. The acceptance of the full scale which' they propose would cost the Treasury an additional £11,500.000 a year. Mr P. Snowden (Chancellor of the Exchequer) has resisted these demands on the ground that the money is not available