WAGES TAX REVENUE.

Auckland Star, Volume LXIII, Issue 116, 18 May 1932, Page 8

WAGES TAX REVENUE.

"ERRONEOUS IMPRESSION."

AMOUNT FOR NO. 5 SCHEME.

£52,000 FOR 48,000 MEN.

(By Telegraph.—Press Association.)

WELLINGTON, Tuesday.

The deputy-chairman of the Unemployment Board, Mr. J. S. Jeesep, states that a very erroneous impression has gained wide credence with the public that the increase in the wages tax from 3d to 1/ in the pound means that the 'boai-d's income has • been quadrupled. The suggestion was very wide of the mark. The estimate for this year is that the total income of the board will not exceed from £3,500,000 to £3,750,000. If the full amount of the estimate is realised it means a weekly income to the board of £72,000.

"The total number of unemployed registered, plus those who are receiving assistance from the board, but have been taken from the register, totals 58,475," said Mr. Jessep. "Of this number 48,601 were dependent for relief upon scheme No. 5, The commitments outside this scheme are estimated to cost the board in a full year £1,000,000. That leaves only an income of £52,770 a week for the purpose of carrying on scheme. No. a at the present figures. One lias only to compare these two figures, £52,000 and 48,000 unemployed,- to realise the difficulties that the board has to overcome.

"A question continually asked is what is a fair thing to pay a relief worker in the way of wages? But it is also an important queetion, how much more in the way of taxation could the public stand without precipitating absolute ruin? We can only distribute the amount in the most equitable fashion and at the same time in such a way as to ensure that some proportion of it can come back again to the country in the CTraj. jo£ 'ancreaged^cbAdctiba.' , ■