FAMILY ENDOWMENT.

Waikato Times, Volume 102, Issue 17015, 31 January 1927, Page 7

FAMILY ENDOWMENT.

AUSTRALIAN PROPOSALS. ENDORSED BY WORKERS’ UNION. (United Press Association.) SYDNEY, January 29. The delegates to the Convention of the Australian Workers’ Union definitely adopted the principle of family endowment. For a State-wide scheme providing for the payment of 5s a week in respect of each child up to the age of 1.4, at least £8,000,000 would be necessary. Of that amount £0,000,000 would have to he borne by the industries of the State and the balance by tiie Treasury. It was agreed that the wage and endowment limit should be fixed at £4OO, but the proposals to raise the revenue by the establishment of a State lottery and by licensing startingprice belting shops were rejected as being unworkable. Instead it was agreed that a graduated land tax should he imposed, with exemption up to £SOOO, also that there should be an increase in taxation of higher incomes. The land taxation would bring in an extra £1,000,000, the stamp and probate duties £375,000, higher salaries £400,000, and taxation from other sources £225,000, making the £2,000,000 required from the Government. A suggestion that industries which work under the Slate awards should provide 0 per cent, of their wages bill and industries which work under the Federal awards 54 per cent, of the wages sheets will be placed before the next meeting of the Labour caucus.