UNEMPLOYMENT BILL.

Timaru Herald, Volume CXXXVI, Issue 19141, 24 March 1932, Page 8

UNEMPLOYMENT BILL.

SUMMARY OF PROVISIONS. IMPORTANT NEW PROPOSALS. By Telegraph - Press* Association. WELLINGTON. March 23. The Unemployment Amendment Bill makes provision for the settlement of unemployed and families on areas of cultivable lands; and to alleviate distress resulting from unemployment, by affording to these persons opportunity ! by cultivation of land to provide in j part for their own sustenance. If j persons so assisted are unable to pro- 1 vide for the adequate sustenance of themselves and families, they may receive sustenance allowances out of the Unemployment Act, 1930. or may be provided with necessities in accordance with Section 13 of the amending Bill. An alternative proposal made by the Bill is th.afc money may be spent from the Unemployment Found for the purchase' oi food, clothing, or other necessities for the benefit of persons qualified to receive the sustenance allowance under Section 20 of the principal Act. For benefit of persons -employed on relief works, or for the benefit of their families or other dependants, the Board may purchase supplies of food, clothing, or other necessities, and arrange for their distribution, or it may j arrange for the issue to qualified persons of dockets which will be exchangeable for such necessities. In accordance with the prescribed condi- | tions. these dockets will b- redeemed j by the Board by payment out of the j tJnemoloyment Fund. I Dealing with the question of the acquisition of suitable lands for settlement by the unemployed, the Bill authorises the Minister, acting on the recommendation of the Unemployment Board, to enter into agreements with the owners or occupiers for the occupation and cultivation of areas by unemployed. This agreement may provide for the occupation of land by any persons aporoved by the Unemployment Board, either with or without formal licence to occupy, and for the erection of any dwellings or other improvements. The lands to which this section refers include private lands. ?reas vested in or administered by the Crown or a Department of State or by local bodies. Where in any case the Board is unable to enter into an agreement for occupation of any suitable land, the land may be acquired bv the Crown under the Public Works A'-t. or the Lands for Settlement Act. All moneys payable in respect of the acuisition of land in this manner shall be paid out of moneys available for

th -5 purpose. In order to make lands available for c occupation, the Minister, on the re- ( commendation of the Board, may 1 order the erection of buildings and the ] provision of water, light, drainage, and I other necessities. Any buildings or i oth*T improvements may be at any i time removed without liability for payment of compensation to the owner cf ] the land, or any other person. All moneys required for the purpose of : this section of the Bill up to £500,000 mav be paid out of the public account. Any additional expenditure must be | appropriated by Parliament. The Bill deals with the new basis of . I unemployment finance indicated in the - j Minister’s statement to the House. The I clause in the principal Act providing ; for a £ for £ subsidy from the Consolidated Fund on the Board’s expenditure is repealed. An increase in the emergency unemployment charge from one penny in every 6/8 to three-pence in every 5/-, will operated from May Ist, 1932. It is provided tha? by Order-in-Coun-cil the rate of the emergency charge may be reduced if the proceeds are found to be more than sufficient to meet the reasonable requirements of the Unemployment Fund. The emergency charge was limited by last year’s legislation /o July 31st 1932. but it is now proposed to extend the liability for tax indefinitely. The emergency charge imposed in respect of income other than salary or wages derived for the year ended March 31st shall be payable by equal instalments on the first day of the months of May, August, November and February. Section 15 of last year’s Act defining the liability of women for payment of the emergency charge is repealed. That section made women with incomes of £250 per year and over, derived from sources other than wages or salary liable to the charge. It is now proposed to include women with such incomes exceedingly £2O. The Board may. on the ground of hardship, exempt any person from liability to pay the emergency unemployment charge.