UNEMPLOYMENT LEVY

Ellesmere Guardian, Volume LIII, Issue 14, 19 February 1932, Page 7

UNEMPLOYMENT LEVY

INSTALMENT THIS MONTH.

FINES FOR DEFAULT.

NEED FOR THE MONEY.

Nearly 200 men were prosecuted during January for breaches of the Unemployment Act (chiefly non-pay-ment of the General Unemployment levy), and all but twelve were fined. The fines ranged from £18, for an es- j pecially glaring breach, to five shillings, but in many cases the magistrates marked their sense of the seriousness of the offence by imposing fines of quite substantial amounts. Lists are now being prepared of those who, if the levies are not quickly paid, will be asked to attend at Court and give an explanation of the delay. Once the lists are handed to the police the law must take its course; and that involves heavy expense in addition to the penalties and fines provided under the Act. The February instalment of the general unemployment levy is now due, and, in order to escape the possibility of a penalty, should be paid some time before Ist March. Every individual in the community is feeling the effects of unemployment. While nearly 50,000 men are without work there are very many other people who are in receipt of only a tithe of their pre-slump income, and others who are living practically from hand to mouth. Prompt payment of the levy would materially assist in the efforts to provide work, and the distribution of the money would of necessity benefit everybody —directly or indirectly. On personal and national grounds, therefore, it is good policy to pay without delay.