UNEMPLOYMENT TAX.

Waikato Times, Volume 113, Issue 18878, 23 February 1933, Page 8

UNEMPLOYMENT TAX.

LOCAL RELIEF WORKERB. POSITION OF BOROUGH GANGERS i BOARD RULES MUST PAY. The desirability of remitting part of the tax now payable by certain relief workers in Hamilton was recently drawn to the attention of the Unemployment Board by the Mayor (Dr. F. IJ. Pinfold). It was explained that in Hamilton it was customary to select a number of relief workers as gangers and place them in charge of small parties of workers under the No. 5 scheme. These gangers were held responsible for the tools issued to their gangs and for the carrying out of the detailed instructions issued by the foreman. They received an additional is 6d per day, which was paid by the council from its general fund. As a result the whole of their wages became liable to tax. The men concerned claimed that they should only oe called upon to pay tax on that part of their wages which was found by the council.

The Commissioner of Unemployment (Mr G. C. Godfrey), in answer, advised that there was no legal provision to exempt from payment of the emergency unemployment charge the wages paid to the relief workers mentioned. In regard to wages paid to relief workers the Unemployment Amendment Act of 1931 provided exemption only in the ease of wages received by any worker in respect of his employment on relief works undertaken by local authority whereby Hie whole amount or such wages is refunded to the local authority from the Unemployment Fund. The board, therefore, had no power to accede to the request.