GRADUATED RELIEF TAX

Patea Mail, 2 March 1936, Page 4

GRADUATED RELIEF TAX

MINISTER J S STATEMENT. UNEMPLOYMENT LEGISLATION. Without walling for the session of Parliament to begin the Minister of Employment, the Hon. H. T. Armstrong, has made a number of important changes in the administration of the Unemployment Act, and in an interview he said that legislation was being prepared which would have the effect of repealing the Act. Mr. Armstrong said the Unemployment Board had already ceased. to function, and the whole of the administration responsibility had been null '[‘taken by himself as Minister of Labour. As the ’ board was constituted by Act of legislation was in course of preparation which would have the effect of repealing the Unemployment Act, retaining only its best features, which would be co-or-dinated with the Labour Department under the direct control of the Minister. The Minister thought the unemployment tax would be graduated on the same basis as income tax. “ Anybody can sec that expenditure from the unemployment fund has far exceeded revenue,” Mr. Armstrong added, “but it has to carry the baby in the meantime until the Government is able to make new financial arrangements.”

‘ ‘ When the Government has made its financial arrangements the fund will be. relieved of a good deal of its present expenditure. There will be considerable relief by the provision of pensions for persons physically ai'hlit for work, and the Public Works Department will pay for work which is rightly a charge upon it.”