Unemployment Relief Bill

Dominion, Volume 23, Issue 257, 26 July 1930, Page 13

Unemployment Relief Bill

Sir, —The present unemployment measure before Parliament has much to commend it, but there are certain objectionable features about the proposed legislation which should be thoroughly investigated before the Act is placed on the Statute Book. In my opinion the proposed method of making the levy is going to make for an altogether too high rate of administrative cost., The scheme is almost sure to break down through excessive “overhead” charges. Just think what an enormous amount of expenditure will be required in the registration of the male population of the Dominion, and in the collection of levy by quarterly subscriptions. The scheme really amounts to compulsory conscription, and I can foresee endless prosecutions for failure to register and a much enlarged police force to chase up delinquents. The scheme will develop bad features, as did “prohibition” in America, and in a measure of this kind it would be wise to eliminate any risk of bad feeling on the part of any section of the community. I realise that it is not of much use Criticising the measure unless one is able to suggest a workable alternative, I wish therefore to offer the following suggestions, viz.: “Place an unemployment duty on all classes of foreign goods imported into the country and pay the revenue so obtained into the Unemployment fund.” The good features about such an indirect tax would be: (1) The cost of collection would be infinitesimal compared with the present scheme. (2) Trade within the Empire would be fostered, thus giving increased employment to the workers of Britain and the Dominions. (3) The purchasers of foreign goods within the Dominion would have to pay the cost of unemployment of our own people. Would this not mean that the great amount of money which yearly goes from the Dominion to foreign countries would be diverted to a large extent to Empire channels? Britain is the greatest purchaser of our primary products, finances us, and tho more we buy from Britain the more Britain will buy from us, thus increasing the prosperity of the Dominion, and helping to solve our own unemployment troubles. We do not want a palliative. We want to get down to the root causes of the unemployment evil, and the present scheme will not help us. I do not know what amount was spent last year on foreign goods, but it can be easily ascertained, and the percentage of duty required easily worked opt. If the foreign manufacturer does not like the duty he Can come here and set up his works , and give employment to our own people. The total amount to be collected from this source would not require to be so much as is estimated under the present scheme, as I estimate that at the very least £lOO,OOO would be saved in administrative expenses. With all sincerity I recommend the above alternative to the politicians.—l am, etc., _ "ANTI-OVERHEAD.” Wellington, July 18.