UNEMPLOYMENT.

Waikato Times, Volume 108, Issue 18117, 6 September 1930, Page 7

UNEMPLOYMENT.

GOVERNMENT PROPOSALS. CRITICISED IN HAMILTON. COMMITTEE’S REPORT IGNORED. The following resolution was passed at the monthly meeting of the 'Hamilton Branch of the New Zealand Labour Party this week: — This Branch of the New Zealand Labour Party emphatically protests against certain provisions of the Unemployment Bill now before the House. The Government has almost totally disregarded the recommendations of the Unemployment Committee which was set up at great expense to investigate and report on the unemployment problem. That committee recommended the raising of a fund by the following means: — 1. A special individual employment tax, with certain exemptions, on: Males, 18 and 19 years of age, 18s per annum; 20 years and over, 24s per annum. Females: (In office and other work), 18 to 19 years of age, 12s per annum; 20 years and over, 18s per annum. 2. From a flat tax of one penny in the pound on all Individual inoomes (including dividends) in excess of £BOO per annum. 3. From a flat tax of one penny In the pound on all undistributed profits of companies, and on the dividends of all absentee shareholders in registered companies. 4. From a flat tax of 3-16 of a penny „in the pound on the taxable balance of unimproved value of country lands as assessed for land tax. 5. Briefly, by subsidies from local bodies. 6. Consolidated Fund. 7. Receipts from fines and breaches of the Act. 8. From such other moneys or souroes of revenue as may be made available to the board. “The Government now proposes a Rat tax on males of 20 years and' upwards, irrespective of income, and proposes to raise money by further taxation, but will not disclose its proposals until the Budget is brought down. The Government totally ignores the recommendation in * regard to females, who number 122,700 between the ages of 16 and 54. They are to be neither contributors nor beneficiaries.” DECREASE IN REGISTRATIONS. WELLINGTON, Friday. There was a decrease . of 92 compared with the previous week in the number of unemployed registered in New Zealand for the week ended last Monday, according to a statement by the Minister of Labour, the Hon. S. G. Smith. • The week’s total was 5371 and the details of the registration at labour i bureaux and post offices are as fol- ! lows:—With dependants: Auckland, 1812; Wellington, 443; Christchurch, 632; Dunedin, 333; Invercargill, 87. ■.Without dependants: Auckland, 596; Wellington, 325; Christchuich, 407; Dunedin, 110; Invercargill, 71. The totals fo? the five centres (with the figures for the previous’week in parentheses)' are as follow's: —Auckland, 1408 (1304); Wellington, 768 (910) ; Christchurch, 1039 (9Q’4) ; Dunedin, 443 (470); Invercargill, 158 1178).