“START OF THE DOLE”

Sun (Auckland), Volume IV, Issue 1026, 17 July 1930, Page 12

“START OF THE DOLE”

GOVERNMENT’S MORAL WEAKNESS VIEWS OF MR. ALBERT SPENCER i { "It is a grave mistake to set ■ up another Government department to collect taxes,” said Mr. Albert Spencer, president of the Employers' Association. "This unemployment insurance is only the thin end of the wedge, and the start of the dole in New Zealand.” Mr. Spencer considers that the suggested poll tax is most unequal. If there is to be a tax to provide against unemploj-ment, then everybody who is working should be taxed. Women have very good billets, and the bulk of the jobs, he says, and they should be asked to contribute their fair share. In Mr.' Spencer’s opinion, women should pay half the amount of levy imposed on the men. For instance, at the set rate of 30s a year for males, the women should be asked to pay 15s a year. “I think this is only a fair thing.” continued Mr. Spencer. “Nowadays women are always' contending that they are the equal of men. "I am afraid that this scheme will develop into a huge dole-paying system, which in England has spread to an alarming extent. It is really only a means of creating unemployment—of giving people something for nothing. "This unemployment insurance will destroy all enterprise and initiative on the part ot the individual. That fine old pioneering spirit seems to lmve gone. People will say ‘Why work? Why worry?’ if they are to receive unemployment insurance. lam afraid we will breed a nation of paupers, and destroy the character of the people and their efficiency. "This latest move shows great moral weakness on the part of the Government, which seems to be taking the line of least resistance. "HAVE TO BORROW” "When there is not sufficient money in the fund to meet all requirements, we will have to borrow money, as England has done. England at present is paying £2,000,000 interest a year on money borrowed for the dole, and this year this will be increased. “The same kind of thing will happen in New Zealand, though of course in a smaller way. It is a great pity in a country like ours. "Relief wages of 12s to 14s a day only encourage people to keep in those jobs, instead of looking for work of a permanent nature. We realise that we have to pay sustenance —charitable aid and that kind of thing—but the employers, farmers, and sheepfarmers are opposed to the dole. "The young men of today should fend for themselves, instead of being spoon-fed.”

“WILL GO THROUGH” OPINIONS OF LABOUR RELIEF SCHEME WELCOMED The Unemployment Bill, providing for an annual levy of 30s on all males, will go through Parliament. If it does not the Labour Party will vote the Government out of power at the first opportunity. This opinion is freely expressed in Labour circles in Auckland this morning. It is also stated that several other measures, more or less planks of the Labour Party’s platform, will be put through the House by the Government.

The scheme is welcomed by tho Labour Party as a definite move toward the relief of distress in the Dominion.

Mr. J. Purtell, a prominent trade union secretary, stated this morning that he had not gone fully into the proposals contained in the Bill. The former proposals for unemployed insurance received the endorsement of the industrial and political labour, and no doubt the present Bill would meet requirements. Mr. Purtell said that the Labour movement stood l’or a nou-contribut-ory scheme for the relief of unemployed, contending that iudustry should contribute the required funds. “We have come to the conclusion, however, that we will never get a non-contributory scheme operating, and we consider that it is better to have a scheme whereby the unemployed get some sort of relief than none at all.”