UNEMPLOYMENT LEVY

Evening Post, Volume CX, Issue 32, 6 August 1930, Page 11

UNEMPLOYMENT LEVY

SUPERANNUITANTS PROTEST

The views of superannuated Public Servants regarding the Government's proposed unemployment levy arc stated by the Dominion Executive- in the course of their report, which will be presented at the annual meeting on 12th August. "A matter which has recently engaged your executive's attention is the question of the levy under the Unemployment Bill upon all males in the Dominion, including superannuitants, of a tax of one pound ten shillings for the rolief of tho unemployed and for the subsistanco fund," states tho report. "On tho publication of tho details of the proposals in this regard, immediate application was made to th© Prime Minister, and t6 tho Minister of Labour (who is in charge of the Bill), for exemption from tho proposed levy in favour or superannuated Public Servants. It was pointed out that it would be manifestly inequitable to tax those who by their thrift had made oven a small provision, by payments iuto the various superannuation funds, for the days of their old age and possible infirmity, while those in receipt of old-age pensions, towards tho cost of which they had made no direct contribution, were exempted from the operation of tho taxing proposals. Also that, many superannuitants were, by reason of their age and infirmity, themselves 'unemployed, 3 and thus could not reasonably bo expected to provide funds for others who for various reasons aro out of work. In many cases t'lo total income ox a superaanuitant js far less than the rates of payment decided upon by the Arbitration Court as the 'minimum wage.' Doubtless now that tlie matter has been brought before the Government it will receive duo consideration, and this is but one- of many instances in which the vigilance of the association has been exercised to safeguard the interests of ex-members of the Public Service, and your executive would urge upon every member of the association the desirability of pointing out to thosewho are not so far members the advantages of membership of an organisation whose sole functions are tho safeguarding of the interests of superannuitant.!;."