UNEMPLOYED TAXES

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXI, Issue 21940, 25 October 1934, Page 15

UNEMPLOYED TAXES

PROPOSED CONCESSIONS FURTHER RELIEF SOUGHT DISCUSSION OF BILL [BY TEL KG It A PH —Pit ESS ASSOCIATION] WELLINGTON, Wednesday The second reading of the Unemployment Amendment (No. 2) Bill, whicli contains concessions in connection with unemployment taxation, was com- | tnenced in the House of Representatives j to-day. | The Leader of the Opposition, Mr. | M. J. Savage, said he thought that, instead of trying to make the bill fit existing conditions, the Minister should get rid of all relief work. There were still a number of gaps. There might be a number of young girls who had a substantial income but who were exempt from the payment of tax under the bill. Mr. Savage considered the Minister would have to go further than removing the restriction on the time limit for payment of sustenance. The rate of sustenance would have to be increased. The amount provided in the original Act should be paid. Generally speaking, some improvements had been made, added Mr. Savage. Persons who should never have been affected were given relief. Mr. A. J. Stallworthy (Independent —Eden) asked the Minister to increase the exemption to women still further to £lO4 a year. He hoped the day would not be long before tbe whole system was superseded by something more satisfactory. Old-Age Pensioners Mr. F. Jones (Labour —Dunedin South) urged that greater provision should be made for unemployed boys and greater assistance given to the relief worker who had unemployed children. Mr. Jones asked if the limit of exemption for old-age pensioners was £lO4 for husband and wife or jointly. The Minister, Hon. J. A. Young, intimated that lie understood the exemption applied to £lO4 for each. Mrs. E. R. McCombs (Labour — Lyttelton) criticised the Government for the way it treated unemployed women, and said many women and girls had refused to register because of indignities to which they were subjected. Mr. R. A. Wright (Independent— Wellington Suburbs) urged the abolition of the levy, as it affected relief workers. He said this would cost about £IO.OOO, but the fund could stand it. Mr. W. E. Parry (Labour —Auckland Central) said he believed that if the Unemployment Board carried on vigorous housing policies, the number of unemployed would be greatly reduced, necessary work would be put in hand and many other workers be benefited. Mr. H. T. Armstrong (Labour — Christchurch East) contended that tho exemption of persons from the unemployment tax should not be by age, but the salary received. He thought a portion of everyone's income should be exempt from taxation. The City and Country Mr. A. M. Samuel (Government — Thames) referred to the differentiation in payments to country and city relief workers, and urged the Government to remedy the position. Mr. W. J. Jordan (Labour —Manukau) considered all pensioners should be exempt from payment of the unemployment tax. The amount pensioners received was too small for them to live upon. It was unsatisfactory to find the unemployment fund mounting up, as there was no reason why the fund should be much ahead of the income. Mr. W. A. Veitch (Independent— Wanganui) contended that much of the Dominion's trouble was due to internal causes which could be remedied. He said much of the legislation of recent years had retarded the trade of the country. The country had not received half value for the money expended on unemployment; there was little to show for it. The debate was adjourned.

AUCKLAND'S WATER PROPOSED DISTRICT BOARD SHELVING OF THE BILL [BY TELEGRAPH —SPECIAL REPORTER] WELLINGTON, Wednesday The Auckland Provincial Water Board Bill was again before the House of Representatives for a brief period today, when the Lands Committee reported that in view of the report of the Local Bills Committee, which heard evidence at length on the measure and of the necessity for altering clauses affecting Crown lands, the bill be not allowed to proceed this session. A similar recommendation was made earlier by the Local Bills Committee. There was no discussion on the Lands Committee's report. MISCELLANEOUS ITEMS STATE MORTGAGES [BY. TELEGRAPH —SPECIAL REPORTER] WELLINGTON, Wednesday Temporary provision for the capitalisation of arrears of interest in respect of State advances was given in the Finance Bill passed in 19.'52. The same measure also provided for the temporary extension of the provision relating to the rebate of interest on instalments. The Act was passed on May 10, 1932, and these temporary provisions were to remain in force for three years from that date. A clause in the Finance Bill (No. .'5), introduced in the House of Representatives to-day, extends the period for a further three years. Exemptions from stamp duty of transfers of shares on the foreign registers of companies and of stock issued by local authorities are contained in the bill. A donation of £IOOO by the Auckland Savings Bank to the Waitanci National Trust Board is authorised.