LACK OF WORK

Gisborne Times, Volume LXXI, Issue 11325, 1 October 1930, Page 5

LACK OF WORK

DOLES IN BRITAIN

FUND'S HUGE DEFICIT

Important political moves following a Alinistcrial division of opinion regarding the unemployment insurance, fund, from which Britain s doles are paid, are torcseeu by the London .l)ailv Mail.

The fund already shows a deficit of more than £40.000,000, which the trade depression is increasing. A Parliamentary committee is investigating the situation. Political interference broke down unemployment insurance because successive weak Governments whittled down the precautions precluding official refusal of the dole to thousands of unemployable people now drawing insurance money. , It- is revealed tha 200,C00, of the 2,000,000 on the hooks nc'*er paid the 30 weeks contributions originally necessary before drawing benefits.

Ministers are not unanimous on the suggestion that the public, assurance Committees, which supersedo the board of guardians, should take care of those 200,000. Thu commit tie is considering means of attaining solvency for ths insurance fund. It will bo alterua- A. lively iiocessary to increase the premium, involving higher taxation, or * introduce, a new class, of “good lives”—workers in sheltered trades—raising the income limit over tlio present £250, or. reducing benefits.