LIVELY RECEPTION

Evening Post, Volume CXII, Issue 3, 3 July 1931, Page 5

LIVELY RECEPTION

MEIW BELIEF BILL

QUESTIONS IN HOUSE

NO SUSTENANCE

The Minister *bf Labour was assailed ■with a bombardment of questions during a- lively twenty minutes when he rose iii the Souse' of Representatives yesterday afternoon to explain the provisions of the Unemployment Amendment BillJ , The Minister (the Hon. S. G. Smith) said that the reason for maintaining the flat levy principle was to ensure that every male ov.er the age of 20 years was kept contact with. The approximate revenue of the board under the present scheme; was £24,000 a week, and the board was paying out about £40,000 a week owing |o the increase-in the number of unemployed. It was obvious that insufficient money was being placsd to the benefit of the board. He then went on to explain the proposal- to impose a special emergency charge on salaries, wages, and income. Mr. W. E. Parry (Labour, Auckland Central): "Belief workers and all?" Mr. Smith: "Everybody. The only exemptions are domestic servants." An effort had been made, he said, to produce a scheme' by w,hich £2,000,000 would be secured without anybody paying. (Cries of "Ohl") Mr. A. M. Samuel (Reform, Thames): "Why did you drop that?" The Minister said that in the matter of exemptions first one class and then another cropped up, until it became apparent that the requisite amount would not be made available. Mr. F. Langstone (Labour, Waimar^ ino): "Oh, you don't know your job." (Laughter.) The Chairman of Committees: "Order!" . DOUBLING THE BOARD'S REVENUE. The Minister said that the new proposals would produce approximately double the present income of the board, or about £2,500,000. The Government was anxious that the Bill should be discussed and passed as soon as' possible. "Do you think it will increase your unemployment?" asked Mr. H. S. S. Kyle (Reform, Riccarton). Mr. Smith said he hoped not. If they could get some of the local bodies -which had been dispensing with men to recognise their responsibility the Government would be able to. take many of the unemployed off its lists. , ;rMr. Langstone: "Aro you going to increase the pay for. the unemployed?" Mr. Smith: "If the board gets more money it will have an opportunity to recast the No. 5 scheme and the other schemes." ' . . : A Labour voice: "Can't you make it 14s a day?" • „ "I can't say that at the moment," the Minister replied. :'Mr. D. G. Sullivan (Labour, Avon): "Is it contemplated that there will be ixibre days' work for the men?" •Mr.'Smith: "lam not able to answer that until I see how the House accepts these proposals." .Mr. C Oarr CLabour, Timaru): "But it the House does accept them?" ■. Mr. Smith: "Oh, that is a matter for "the future." ! Mr. Carr: "Oh-h-h-." • Mr. W. Nash (Labour, Hutt): "Is at H fact that the man getting £3 a week wjll have to pay £2.19s ayear?" ..Mr. Smith:-"The honourable gentleman can work it out for himself.?' ;■ "Surely the Minister can say whether regular benefits will be given to the unemr.lo.ye.d?" said Mr. Sullivan. . - ; Mr.' Smith: "It depends' entirely on tteamount of money, and whether we can decrease the present number ,of registered unemployed." , . , • -NUMBER OF DEFAULTERS. Mi'.' J. S. Fletcher ' (Independent, Grey Lynn.) asked the Minister a question aa to ■ the report that there were 40,000 defaulters from payment of the lew for the March quarter. Mr. Smith said he did not ksow anything about it officially. He declared that the .board had gone a long way toward meeting cases of hardship, and very few people in the Dominion could have real grounds for complaint: about exemption from the levy. Steps had been taken to prosecute in all cases except where thero were special circumstances. ' "".,.., Mr. J. Bitchoner (Reform, Waitaki): "How will the tax affect small farmers with practically no income?" The Minister: "Tho framers of the Bill are tho special friends of tho far-mer."-He added that they wouia pay the flat rate levy of £1. Mr. Carr: "How will the tax on incomes be collected?" ' ' ' ' J Mr. > Smith said that in the case of those paying income tax the'3d in the £ would be collectable oh last year s income and payable in two instalments if it was so wished.: . . v Mr. W. J.' Jordan (Labour, Manuknu):' "Will thci-o:be benefits for boys and women1?" Mr. Smith: "The'board; already has power to deal .with1; all classes of unemployed, whether men,' women,' or boys." / - .■'>. '■•' '.'.'-, A voice: "Why the reconstitution of tho board?"' : ' Tho Minister said that it was no reflection on the present board members. He paid a tribute to. the' work they had (16710. . '• , . ■ :. . Mr. Lnngstone: "Will there 1)0 any sustenance?'.' Mr. Smith:."No. No sustenance for anybody." . '."!■■