THE UNEMPLOYMENT ACT

Hokitika Guardian, 14 October 1930, Page 7

THE UNEMPLOYMENT ACT

(Mercantile Gazette). The Unemployment Hill having passed the Upper House is now part of the Statute Law of the Dominion, and recognises that unemployment must he considered as having become a permanent feature of our social liife. As such, it is necessary that finance shall he nrovided for their maintenance, and enacts that each male .of 20 years and over shall contribute one pound ten shillings each year to the funds to he disbursed by a Statutory Hoard, which is supposed to do its best to find work for those who register themselves as unemployed. If the effect of this will he to lift the question out of the political arena and free the Government from any direct responsibility with regard to the unemployment, then a considerable change for the better has been brought about.

At the present time, assuming the figures quoted in the House by one of the members is correct, there arc 16,500 unemployed engaged on relief works at the present time, and a simple calculation shows that £11,500 is being paid for each working day at fourteen shillings which is the Arbitration Award rate for labourers without regard to tlieil’ conjugal conditions. The Act imposes a poll tax of 30s per year upon every male inhabitant, which must be paid on the Ist of March, June, September nnd December in each year, but may at the option of anyone ljabK be paid in advance on'any one of the qunrter days. As hoys attain their majority, the liability accrues and upon payment of the ’ first instalment, the taxpayer is compelled to give his full name, address, occupation, and, such other particulars as may be required—by whom the Act does not say—possibly the Postmaster—in exchange for which lie receives a certificate of registration a copy of which is to be forwarded by the official issuing the original, to Wellington, where it will be inscribed in a register. Anyone who defaults *n paying the tax on the day appointed or within one month thereafter, is liable to a fine not exceeding five pounds, and those who tail to give the in formation required of them under Section 9 of the Act, i.e. tlieir name, address avocation, of such other information as may be required, are liable upon summary conviction, to a fine of one hundred pounds.

The moneys derived from the tax are to be administered by the Boi'-c! consisting of the Minister charged foi the time being with the administration of the Act, two members appointed ly him, one of each nominated by 'lie Federation of the Employers engaged in the primary and secondary industries; two to be nominated by me workers union and one by the Returned Soldiers’ Association. The Board will therefore consist of 8 persons, who are charged with the following duties: (1) to arrange with employers or prospective employers for the employment of persons out of work; (2 j increasing

the growth of primary and secondaty industries; (3)- to make recommendations for the payment of sustenance «il _ lowanccs to unemployed persons; (4) to ensure proper collaboration between different Departments of State and all authorities engaged in carrying .ml public works so that they shall bo distributed as evenly as possible tlirougoout tlie year; (5) to assist unskilled or other workers with money to pursue courses of vocational study, to provide instructors, establish and equip classes or do anything necessary to quality such persons to undertake suitable employment; (6) to make grants to any persons or authorities to enable them to undertake developmental works calculated to relieve unemployment; (7) to make -such inquiries as it- thinks proper, for the purpose of obtaining information in relation to its Junctions into any matter whatsoever with reference to any industry carried on in New Zealand or to any industry which in the opinion of the Board, could under favourable conditions be carried on, which in the opinion of the Board, may affect the industries of New Zealand and the employment of workers; (8) to appoint such member of local committees as it thinks fit, and subject to any regulations under the Act to define the powers of such sub-com-mittees.

Sustenance allowance to all persons who are contributors to the fund, who have been unemployed for more chan 14 days, if the applicant has a wile in charge of his home and two childdren, the rate is fixed at £2 6s 6d ner week. A single man is entitled to roceive twenty-one shillings weekly, and a married man enn obtain four shillings per week for each one of his children. Sustenance allowance is *ot payable to any contributor if he efuses to accept employment offered to him by the Board, or to accept any other employment offered to h’m, which in the opinion of the Boardwould be suitable in its nature, Mon ditions, rates of remuneration and vocation.

Regulations may from time to time be made, inter alia, for prescribing such matters as may be necessary— ve suppose in the opinion of the draltsnian—for the purpose of giving full effect to the provisions of the. Act. We notice that the net proceeds of t.ae unemployment levy will be supplemented from the Consolidated Fund, to ny amount equal to one half of. the expenditure made by the Board out of the levy. The Board members other than the Minister or Officers in the service of the Government, will -out of the Unemployment Fund be paid such allowances as may from time to time be approved by the Minister of F’nanc'q and all travelling expenses 'easonably incurred by them in respect of their attendance at meetings or other wise in transacting the business of He Board. Local committees appointed by the Board in any district are net. however, entitled to receive any remuneration for their services. Every employer is liable to a fine not exceeding twenty pounds who -.-m----ploys or continues to employ in bis service for more than seven days cry man who is registered, under the Act or who without obtaining the authority of the Board continues to.employ

any man for more than seven days who is in arrears for more than one month in the payment of any instalment of the unemployed levy, but it is a good defence to any prosecution if the defendant believed upon reasonable grounds that his employee was registered and made his instalment payments. The' exemptions in the Act are War and Old Age Pensioners, Maoris, persons in Mental Hospitals, or Charitable Institutions, Prisoners in goal, or persons in Reformatory institutions, students who are at College or at any educational establishments and who are not in receipt of salary or wages.