UNEMPLOYMENT INSURANCE

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXIV, Issue 19792, 12 November 1927, Page 11

UNEMPLOYMENT INSURANCE

BILL BEFORE COMMONS.

SECOND READING CARRIED.

POINTS IN THE DEBATE

By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright. (Received November 11, 5.5 p.m.) A. and N.Z.-Sun. LONDON. Nov. 10. The debate on the motion fbr the second reading of the Unemployment Insurance Bill was resumed in the House of Com mons to-day by Mr. E. Scrymgeour, Labour momber for Dundee. He said the state of unemployment was appalling and the Government was not attempting to face it fairly and squarely. Mr. E. Harmsworth, Conservative member for the Isle of Thanet, Kent, protested against what he termed the humbug and hypocrisy of Labour members. He said the Labour Party was responsible for the accumulated debt against the insurance fund. The bill had been necessitated by the general strike of last year; The use of the term " dole " had harmed Britain m the eyes of the people overseas, many of whom wrongly imagined that the same million people always drew the dole, and that it was wholly paid by the Government. -Mr. J. Wheatley, Labour member for Shettleston, Glasgow, said the only reason for the bill was to reduce the unemployment payments to youths from 18 to 21 years of age and to force them to accept work at less than trades union rates.

. Mr. H. Betterton, Parliamentary Secretary for Labour, replied on behalf of the Government. He said the Blanesburgh Committee had made a unanimous report and the Government was bound to act in accordance with it. The bill was read a second time by 296 votes to 143, and referred to the Committee of the whole House.