BRITISH UNEMPLOYED.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVIII, Issue 20988, 26 September 1931, Page 9

BRITISH UNEMPLOYED.

WORKING OF INSURANCE. CHANGE IN DOLE SYSTEM. British Wireless. RUGBY, Sept. 24 In the discussion in the Committee stage of the National Economy Bill in the House of Commons, Sir Henry Betterton. Minister of Labour, discussed the report on the unemployment insurance system. He drew attention to the large numbers of working men and women contributors who had never drawn benefit, or who had done so only to a very small amount. At the end of 1930 two-fifths of the males and half of the females had drawn no benefit since they came into the insurance, and in two years, 1929 and 1930, Uvo-thirds of the insured workers drew no benefit at all.

The Minister contrasted these figures with the pictures of the indiscriminate dole drawn abroad by those countries which, although faced with serious unemployment, refused to adopt the British system of relief. Nevertheless, large numbers of unemployed bad been paid transitional benefit without true insurance qualifications, and the bill removed that reproach from the system and gave justice to the other contributors. Sir Henry said he regarded himself as a trustee who had to administer the fund with regard to the rights of the three parties contributing, the workers, the employers and the State. The contributions had had to be increased because the Government was determined that borrowing for the insurance fund must cease.