DOLES IN BRITAIN

Otago Daily Times, Issue 21139, 24 September 1930, Page 9

DOLES IN BRITAIN

FUND’S HUGE DEFICIT.

MINISTERIAL DIFFERENCES.

LONDON, September 0. political moves following a D rri enal | dmsion of opinion regarding the Unemployment Insurance Fund, from which Britain’s doles are , paid, are foreseen, by the Daily Mail. The fund already shows a deficit of more than _ £40.000.000. which the trade depression is increasing. A parliamentary committee is investigating the situation. Political interference broke down unemployment insurance because successive weak Governments whittled down the precautions precluding official refusal i the dole to thousands of, unemployable people now drawing insurance-money. It i s revealed that 200,000 of the 2,000,000 on the books never paid the 30 weeks’ contributions originally necessary before drawing benefits.

Ministers arc not, unanimous on the suggestion that the public assurance committees, which supersede the board of asr shouid tak ° care ° f thos ®

The_ committee is considering means of attaining- solvency for the insurance fund, it will be alternatively necessary to increase the premiums, involving higher taxation, or introduce a new class of good lives —workers in sheltered trades cn f a^ l “® the “come limit over the present £-50, or reducing benefits.