UNEMPLOYMENT INSURANCE.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVII, Issue 20623, 23 July 1930, Page 16

UNEMPLOYMENT INSURANCE.

Sir, —Allow mo a littlo space to voico my viows on the Unemployment Bill. Under the bill now before the Houso every male has to pay 30s per year. As a returned soldier drawing a pension of £1 per week and unable to follow my pre war occupation, I consider that all returned men should bo given work without paying for it. Thny have already paid their share toward their keep in this country, and preference should bo given to these men, irrespective of caste or class. Another view I take is if the Government is going to subsidise employers out of the fund a good many employers will put off hands so as to securo the subsidy on re-engagement. Hettkntd.

Sir, —Allow me to add a little to the letter in Monday's Herald. lam oyer 60 years of age, but not 65, and suffering from rheumatism. Ido odd jobs but cannot do work as supplied for the unemployed, not having tho strength. My total earnings for the pnsfc year were a. little over £BO. Yet they would tax me to pay men earning three times the money lam able to earn. Is it a fair tax ? Oi.D MAK.

Sir, —It would be wise for the Government to tnkp warning before 'it imposes such r.n obnoxious tax as the proposed poll tax on the manhood of the Dominion. I well remember 60 years or more ago the then Government placed a tax of £1 per head on all males of age. It was never collected, such was the feeling: aga;nst_it. I cannot remember all the details after such a lapse, of time, but no one paid Ihe lax. and our Government will be very wise not to try it. .Arc we serfs, or free men ? When will our representatives d;:re to speak out the only remedy to put the present position on a proper and safe -basis ? E. G. I"host.

Sir,—Regarding the proposed unemployment. t:ix, both "Ten Years' Colonial" and " Fair " propose a system by which the tax should be levied in proportion to salaries. In doing so tliey miss the point completely. The proposal, I understand, is to set, up .'Ui " insurance" fund to alleviate unemployment. - In all insuranco systems tho greatest • risks " pay the highest premiums. Common sense shows that as a general rule risk of unemployment diminishes as the salary increases. It is most improbable that the £IOOO-a---year man, or the salaried official at £SOO or over, will become unemployed, /whereas the unskilled labourer, and . even skilled wage earners, will bo most likely ones to benefit from the fund—thus constituting the greatest ".risks." By the method at. present proposed those who will draw most from the fund will contribute the most toward it, which is as it should be. Thing's will come to a pretty pass in insurance matters when the " bad life" pavs the lowest premium. £250 A Yexr.