UNEMPLOYMENT ACT

Hokitika Guardian, 8 November 1930, Page 2

UNEMPLOYMENT ACT

PAYMENT OF LEVY.

OBLIGATION ON EMPLOYERS

AUCKLAND, November 6

Surprise was expressed at the meeting of the Council of the Auckland Chamber of Commerce at the appearance in the Unemployment Act of a clause making it an offence punishable' by a fine not exceeding £2O for an employer to retain the services of any person who has failed to register or pay the instalments of the levy imposed under the Act. It was considered that this provision imposed an undue obligation on employers. The clause reads: “Every person shall be guilty of a', offence punishable on summary conviction by a fine not exceeding £2O who at any time after December Ist, 1930. “(a) Employs in his service or continues in such employment for more than seven days any men who, being required to be registered under this Act, is not so registered, or

“(b) Without the authority of the Board employs in his service or continues to employ in his sendee for more than seven days any man who is in arrears for more than one month in the payment of any instalment of the unemployment levy under this Act.” A further clause provides “That it shall .be a good defence in any proceedings for an offence against this section if the defendant proves that he believed on reasonable grounds that the man so employed or retained in his service was duly registered under this Act, or, as the case may be, was not in arrears for more than one month in the payment of any instalment of the unemployment levy.” The president, Mr M. Stewart, said that employers were evidently going to be made responsible for the payment of the levy by all their employees. This aspect of the Act seemed to have escaped the notice of those who examined it before it was approved by the Legislature. Employers certainly never expected anything like that.

Mr A. G. Lunn said the Government might • as well have said straight out that the employing firms must collect the i levy.

Mr Harvey Turner asked why the Government should impose fen obligation upon employers of seeing that the Act was carried out. “Jt means that we shall have to have someone chasing round all the time to see that our peopleware keeping the law,” he said. Mr L. A. Eady said the appearance of the clause showed the need for having someone in Wellington to keep continual watch on legislation passing through the House of Representatives. The chairman: We are too late now to do anything. Mr Lunn: We might get ail ahiefid* ment next session. It was decided to refer the matter to the Associated Chambers of Commerce, with a view to taking concerted action.