DOMINION UNEMPLOYED

Hawera Star, Volume LII, 31 January 1933, Page 6

DOMINION UNEMPLOYED

DECREASE DURING MONTH OVER 67,800 REGISTERED DIFFICULTY FACING BOARD WELLINGTON, Jan. 20. The total number of men who were registered as unemployed in New Zealand at January 21 was 67.895, a decrease of 1416, compared with the figures of a month earlier, according to a return issued by the Unemployment Board. Of the 67,865 men 6272 were ineligible for relief for various reasons, leaving 61,593 men a charge on the board’s funds. It is estimated that at least 30,000 are engaged in work of 'a definitely reproductive or developmental nature. Discussing the failure of registrations to show any appreciable decline during the summer the Minister of Employment (the Hon. A. Hamilton) said that unless they fell it would be difficult for the Unemployment Board to keep up its allocations to their present figure throughout the year. The board had anticipated a decrease in difficulties would be accentuated if they did not fall off.

TAXATION FOR RELIEF INSTALMENTS DUE IN FEBRUARY An instalment of five shillings of the general unemployment levy of 20s per annum will become due on February L, and on that date also the fourth instalment of the Emergency Unemployment charge on income other than salarv or wages for the year ended March 31, 1932 (one penny in each amount of one shilling and eiglitpence) will be payable. To omit to pay these takes during February is not only a breach of the law. but it results in the curtailment of the Unemployment Board’s revenue, necessitating a reduction in the amount or relief that can be provided for the unemployed. When this fact is realised. it is hoped that no one in a position to pay will hestitate to discharge his or her liability. IV itli over 4CO,OuG men liable for the levy the process of investigation to ascertain who have and who have not pa id is necessarily slow, but it may be taken for granted that the Post Office system is thoroughly efficient, and that sooner or later defaulters will be required to explain their non-compliance with the law. Periodically the police are supplied with lists containing the names of those who are alleged to have defaulted, and when that stage has been reached court proceedings usually follow. Because there still appears to be some misapprehension on the subject, it is necessary to reiterate that all males upon reaching the age of twenty years become liable for payment of the unemployment levy and the emergency unemployment charge on income other than salary or wages.

POSITION IN CANTERBURY

CONFERENCE REQUESTED

CHRISTCHURCH, Jan. 30

Owing to the serious position facing it the citizens’ unemployment committee decided to-day to ask the. Mayor to call a conference of local bodies and others concerned to discuss the problem of raising funds to carry on relief work.

During the dicussion it was suggested that the dole system might he adopted as being preferable to the present No. 5 scheme. Another suggestion was that a national art union should be promoted to raise the necessary funds ,foi the relief of distress.

Now Zealand. Notwithstanding: Xew Zealand’s much more favourable position she received no more favours than Australia.. .For that reason,” .said Sir .lames, “there seems to. he little foundation for the complaint that New Zealand has sold If at Ottawa New Zealand had received greattor privileges than Australia, and on our merits we were entitled to it, there would be some ground for complaint.”—“Dominion” Service.

PALMERSTON PROTEST. VIEWS O'F BUSINESSMEN. CONTRARY VIEW AT FEILDING. PALMERSTON IN., Jan. 3ft. A meeting convened by the Chamber of Commerce' and overflowing the Opera House strongly protested against the raising of the exchange rate “as suoli action will not at present materially assist the farming community, while it rebounds against the consuming public and definitely increases taxation .in a country unable to stand it.” The meeting more especially protested in view of the .statement by the Prime Minister (the Rt. Hon. G. W. Forbes) that exchange manipulation was a matter for the banks alone. The local member of Parliament, Mr J. A. Nash, was requested to vote in the House against such unfair and i neq u itahl e legislation. On the other hand the Feilding Chamber of Commerce to-night opposed a motion disagreeing’ with, the Government’s action in raising the exchange rate. The chamber agreed that the Government should definitely indicate the activities of the proposed central hank before passing a measure, members claiming that more informa-