UNEMPLOYMENT LEVY.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVII, Issue 20760, 31 December 1930, Page 12

UNEMPLOYMENT LEVY.

A SUGGESTED INCREASE.

BOARD MEMBER'S FORECAST

MINISTER EXPRESSES SURPRISE

[BY TELEGRAPH. —PRESS ASSOCIATION.]

NEW PLYMOUTH. Tuesday. In a statement made at Chris!church (o members of the Christchiirch Unemployment Committee, Mr. W. K. Lead lev, a member of the Unemployment Hoard, is reported to have said that the proceeds of the present tax of 30s a year were not nearly sufficient to provide either work or sustenance for all those in tho Dominion who were sadly in need of it. lhere was nothing surer than that the levy would be increased by the next session of Parliament.

Mr. Leadley indicated that tho Unemployment Board, realising that it might not be ablo to find work for all thoso who wanted it, was making provision for sustenance payments, but ho said there would be adequate safeguards against these payments deteriorating into the dole. .

'-1 feol sure that ho has been misreported," said tho Minister of Labour, Hon. S. G. Smith, when Mr. Leadley's remarks were brought to his notice. If not,, ho is only expressing his private opinion. That causes me, as- chairman of the board, some surprise, because the question of increasing the levy has never been discussed, either by tho board or the Government. No one will know exactly what tho revenue from the levy will be until after tho end of this month." The Minister said that seven days after December 31, tho last day for tho payment of tho first quarter's levy, every employer whoso employees had not registered or paid would bo liable to a fine if ho continued to employ them.

Regarding Mr. Leadley's statement that tho board was making provision for sustenance payments, the Minister said that, though sustenance had been discussed by tho board, it had not yet reached finality on tho subject.

INCREASE MOST IMPROBABLE.

STATEMENT BY MR. RANSOM.

[BY TELEGRAPH. —PRESS ASSOCIATION. WELLINGTON, Tuesdny.

The acting-Prime Minister, Hon. E. A. Ransom, has issued tho following statement"My attention has been drawn to a statement mado by Mr. W. E. Leadley, a member of the Unemployment Board, to the effoct that there was nothing surer than that the unemployment levy of 30s would be increased by Parliament next session. No doubt, Mr. Leadley is expressing his own opinion, but I have to point out that tho question of amending tho legislation is a matter which must necessarily emanate from the Government. I think it is most improbable that anv increase will bo made."