OUTLOOK IN VICTORIA

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 76, Issue 116, 19 May 1933, Page 2

OUTLOOK IN VICTORIA

PAYMENT IN SUSTENANCE. REDUCED BY £10,685 A WEEK. Tn view of the decrease in sustenance payments in Victoria, amounting to £10,685 a week, equivalent to more, than £500,000 r. year, when compared with the figures for the peak period of July last, there is a possibility of a further reduction in unemployment taxation in the coming financial year. A reduction of 10 per cent, was made in tho current financial year. Tho Premier, Sir Stanley Argyle, said lately that this possibility would bo considered when tho Budget was being prepared, but. much depended upon the result of tho meeting of tho Loan Council this month. “Loan funds for tho relief of unemployment may not be available for next. year, or they rnny ho curtailed drastically, in which case it might be necessary to provide for relief works

out of the special unemployment tax* ation fund, which this year ha»s been almost exclusively devoted to sustenance,’’ Sir Stanley Argyle continued. “The decrease in sustenance is very gratifying. ~t shows that wo are beginning to reap the harvest for which tho Ministry has so earnestly laboured. 55 hen the relief works now authorised, amounting to considerably more than £1,000,000, are in full operation during the winter, we may hope for a further decrease in sustc lance. Everything is taking shape as we hoped, although we cannot express satisfaction with tho general position of unemployment. Tho undertaking of centenary works doubtless will improve the situation.”