THE UNEMPLOYMENT BILL

Taranaki Daily News, 4 July 1931, Page 9

THE UNEMPLOYMENT BILL

;vr SOME NEW FEATURES. PENALTIES TIGHTENED. In addition to the points in the Bill explained 'by the Minister of Labour, the measure stipulates’ that the. emergency charge—the wage-tax an incometax—Ahall operate for' one year only, ending uppn' July 31 next year. Those who pay. relief tax .under, this Bill will be entitled to commensurate exemption from tiieir assessable iricoirie for the period, , The Minister of .Finance,,is empowered to pay the' subsidy from the Consolidated 'Fund into the unemployment fund -up to three months in advance if the money is required for urgent purposes. Payments, made in advance under the old levy will bo adjusted and credited to the contributor,-under the new scheme.

; The penalties are tightened under the new provisions. Fourteen days’ default, in place of one month as 'before, make the defaulting contributor liable to a line of £5. The fine of sixpence a month upon unpaid instalments stands, but instead of recurring indefinitely, it is now limited to a maximum of half a crown. The exemptions remain the same and the 'board is empowered to grant exemption to anyone suffering hardship —retrospective if thought desirable. No refunds'are permissible, however. Income derived from sources other than wages or salaries is assessed for special taxes up to bwo-tfiirds, the remaining third going free of the special tax. This applies to income derived overseas as well as here, and applies also to women who last financial year received more than £250 in income. The emergency taxation is payable on November 1 next year. fourteen days’ default make the contributor liable to a, fine of £5 and to a further penalty of 10 per cent, of the tax. Special stamps are to be created and sold for the purpose of denoting the payment of -the unemployment relief tax, and all revenue from., the sale of thege stamps is io be paid into the unemployment, fund. In cases where, the payment of an instalment of the levy is 14 days overdue the amount maybe deducted from wages or salary by the employer. Among committees to be ?ct -up is one which is to consider proposals and make recommendations for the development of unoccupied, lands with a view to increasing the production of primary products of the country. Another committee is to deal with, assistance to women in any manner contemplated by the, principal'Act. The present, Unemployment Commissioner will retain that post, '