LEVIES UNPAID.

Press, Volume LXVII, Issue 20243, 22 May 1931, Page 6

LEVIES UNPAID.

DEFAULTERS FINED. EMPLOYER AND EMPLOYEE IN COURT. Non-payment of the unemployment levy resulted in two men, and also tlie employer of opc of them, being fined amounts from £2 to £3, at tlie Magistrate's Court yesterday. "The Labour Department intends to take proceedings in all cases against those who fail to pay on tho duo date," stated Mr li. T. Bailey, officer in charge of the Labour Department at Christchureh, who conducted the proceedings, Mr E. D. M6sley, S.M., was on the Bench. Thomas Cree, senior, an engineer, was charged that, being an employer of labour, he employed Thomas (Jree, junior, without the authority oi: the Unemployment Board, for mors than soven days after he was in arrears for more than one month in the payment of his instalments of tho unemployment levy, as provided by the Unemployment Act. Thomas Cree. junior, aged 24, an engineer, was charged with being a person liable to an annual levy of 30s, us a, contribution toward the prevention of unemployment, ho did make default for more than one month in tho payment of the December and March instalments, contrary to the provisions of Section 6 of the Unemployment Act. "These are the first cases of their kind in Christchureh or Canterbury," said Mr Bailey. "The obligation is on the employer to see that hia men not only register, but also pay the levies. By the penalties provided it is l evident that the legislators, in framing the Act, considered default in the payments a serious offence. The Board is spending more than is coming in, and it is imperative that every person who is liable should pay. There is plenty of machinery for exemption, and there is no reason why there should be any defaulters. '' Continuing, ho said that? information had been received to the effect that Cree junior had been boasting that ho had not paid, and did not intend to pay. Enquiries were ma.de by a constable, and immediately afterwards the young man had "rushed off" to the Post Office and had paid ISs 6d for the two levies. The Board had been notified of the case, and instructions had been received to take proceedings. The son was employed by his father. Cree, senior: I never thought I needed 4o do anything more than see that they had registered. The Magistrate: Never mind, it is in a good cause. You won't mind paying a pound or two. Cree: A pound or two. .. . The trouble is where to get it from. It won't be so easy. He was fined £2 and costs. Thomas Cree, junior, said that he had been working for his father up to this week, and that he was unmarried. He admitted that his rate of pay was 2s 3d per hour. The Magistrate: That is 18s per day. Afcout as much as the single unemployed men get in a week. Why didn't you pay the money? Cree, junior: I hadn't it by me at tho time. The Magistrate: And these others go about starving! Do you mean to say that you hadn't 7s 6d? Cree: There were things I had to buy. The Magistrate: A few drinks? Cree: No, I don't drink. > : The Magistrate: Smokes, then? 1 . Cree: No. The Magistrate: Picture shows? Cree: iißoufc twice a year. The Magistrate: Well, cut, it out, then. There isn't much that can be said for you. This is a law of the land,..and a very good thing, too. It is something in which we can all help, and you're going to help. Cree, junior, was fined £3 and costs. David Alexander Taylor, who did not appear, was also charged with failing to pay his levies. Mr Bailey said that Taylor was a "red-cap" porter at the railways. When the police had enquired Le had stated that he thought he could pay at any time, at the end of three or six months or a year. He had immediately gone to the Post Office and paid. Taylor was fined £2 and costs.