POLITICS AT HOME

Hawera Star, Volume XLIX, 18 November 1929, Page 7

POLITICS AT HOME

- - Ai\.\ UAn LEAAL ON PAI. BILL TO INCREASE THE DOLE. British Official WirelessRUGBY, Nov. 16. The House of Commons to-day discussed a Bill introduced by Mr Winterton, a private Labour member, milking it compulsory for employers to give their employees eight clays’ consecutive holiday, with pay annually. The Bill was opposed by Conservatives on the ground that it interfered with the long-established custom of employers and employees settling conditions in their own industries.

Mr Lawson, Parliamentary Secretary to the- Ministry of Labour, said the Government accepted the principle of the Bill, but was conscious that this matter could not be dealt with in such simple terms as the Bill used. In view of the- heavy programme of the Government there could be no guarantee of time being given for the further stages of the measure if it were passed 1 by the House. The second reading was adopted without division.

The Government’s new Unemployment Insurance Bill, the text of which was read to-day, increased the allowance to wives of unemployed men from 7s to 9s a- week, and also increases the allowances to unemployed young men and to women under 21. Whereas at present unemployment pay is made to hoys and girls from the age of 16, the Bill proposes to make the allowance to boys and girls at the age of 1-5. This provision is to take effect so soon as the age of leaving school is raised from 14 to 15, which the Government proposes to do in 1931. Boys of 15 who are unemployed will then receive an allowance of 6s a week and girls will he granted ss. When the Bill comes into full operation the total charge on the Treasury for unemployment insurance will he £24,500,000, the new proposals involving an increase of . £12,500,000 over the present expenditure. The Labour Left Wing expresses dissatisfaction with the Bill, and wishes to increase the allowances, notably for men with families. The acceptance- of the full scale which the Left Wing proposes would cost the Treasurv an addition of £11,500,000. The Tit. Hon. Philip Snowden, Chancellor of the Exchequer, has resisted these demands on the grounds that the money is not available.