UNEMPLOYMENT BILL.

Manawatu Herald, Volume LI, Issue 4480, 19 July 1930, Page 2

UNEMPLOYMENT BILL.

SECOND READING BEFORE HOUSE. DI VIDEO OPINIONS. The Unemployment Bill, one of the chief policy measures to he introduced by the Government this session, met with severe criticism during the debate on the second reading’ in the House of Representatives yesterday. Argument centred mainly on the proposal to impose an annual levy of £1 10/- on all males in the Dominion over 20 years’ of age, other questions figuring largely being the constitution and functions of the suggested Unemployment Board, the proposed sustenance payments and the relation of women to the general problem.

In moving the second reading, the Minister of Labour, Hon. S. G. Smith, gave a lucid explanation of the provisions of the Bill, and his grip of’ the subject and recognition of the difficulties to be met drew numerous’ appreciative references from speakers. He justified the flat rate levy and revealed that it was hoped to raise over £500,000 a year by means of it.

The ease for the Reform Party was stated by the Leader of the Opposition, Rt. Hon. J. G. Contes, who expressed his complete disagreement with the sustenance payments. He stated thfit he never could agree to this system, adding that he would rather encourage the development of industry even if it meant guaranteeing reasonable wages to employees, and the intervention of the State to ensure that the wages of workers in really productive industries were maintained. For the Labour Party, Mr. H. E. Holland objected to the hat. rate levy, stating that the party preferred a. graduated scale so that those "'ho reaped the great benefits from the workers should he-made to pay. He, and other of his party’s speakers, also advocated the inclusion ofwomen in those called on to pay the levy.

After a full day’s discussion the debate was unfinished when the House rose at 5.30 p.m. It will be continued ou Tuesday ■ afternoon .•nnl probably on Wednesday also.