Manawatu Evening Standard. SATURDAY, APRIL 11, 1936. THE EMPLOYMENT BILL.

Manawatu Standard, Volume LVI, Issue 111, 11 April 1936, Page 8

Manawatu Evening Standard. SATURDAY, APRIL 11, 1936. THE EMPLOYMENT BILL.

Important changes in the present legislation governing* the unemployed are contained in the Employment Promotion Bill brought before the House of Representatives this week. The Unemployment Board, of which practically _ nothing has been heard since the general election, will cease to function and the fund will be administered by the Department of Labour. Probably, • the most interesting change is that the word “unemployment” is to be entirety replaced by “employment.” But to some extent that is not really something new, for when Mr Coates became Minister of Unemployment he changed the portfolio’s title to Minister of Employment. He was not, however, so much concerned with words as to proceed further, so the country .continued to have its Unemployment Board and its levies and taxation for the unemployment fund. Terminologically, employment is a nicer word lhan unemployment, but the previous Government was much more interested in trying to place men in employment than in giving consideration to the niceties of the language. The present Administration, however, is apparently determined to start at the bottom and everywhere substitute “employment” for “unemployment.” No seriously minded person will raise any objection to that procedure if the purpose is fulfilled, but an examination of the Bill fails to reveal any determined employment policy. The Employment Promotion Bill is chiefly a consolidating* measure with also several changes in the system of taxation. Sums paid as unemployment, tax are no longer to be exempt from income taxation. That means a higher payment for some people when tlie Taxation Department makes its demand, adding more to their annual costs and preventing saving to that extent. People avlio may leave New Zealand before the quarterly levy is due ishall no longer be held to be liable for its payment; neither shall it be charged against a deceased person’s, estate. The authority is given the Ministers of Labour and Einance to extend the payment of allowances to women,' and also to increase the allowances payable under the present legislation. An unemployed person who has been reduced to that condition by refusal or failure, to accept reasonable work will not now be entitled to allowances except' with the Minister’s authority—hitherto the clause was absolute—and the penalty for falsely securing benefits under the Act has been increased fivefold. With regard to the present Unemployment Board it is not clear whether their services are to be

retained, the Minister’s reply to Mr Forbes’s question being cryptic. There is, however, nothing in the Bill as to how the Government will promote employment, and the men at present on the list may quite naturally be disappointed with the Bill. What they are concerned with is the fulfilment of the Government’s promise to place them in work, and an announcement of that policy is what they desire most to have. In the meantime, with the rest of the country they must Avait details of this most important matter.