AID FOR MINISTERS

Dominion, Volume 29, Issue 220, 13 June 1936, Page 10

AID FOR MINISTERS

Parliamentary Under-

Secretaries

APPOINTMENTS AND STATUS Legislation Likely This Year The probable appointment of additional Parliamentary under-secretaries to Ministers was indicated yesterday by Hie Prime Minister, lit. Hou. M. J. Savage, in an interview. Parliamentary nmler-secretaries, he said, would be given definite status under new legislation to be brought down in the second half of the session, and additional appointments were likely to be made in order to relieve members of Cabinet of the present heavy pressure of work. At the moment there is only one Parliamentary under-secretary, Mr. J. A. I/e, M.P. for Grey Lynn, who acts in this capacity to the Prime Minister. During the past few months Mr. Leo ■has been actively engaged on special duties and inquiries, aud has had much more work to do than the ordinary private member. The new procedure would place him on a definite status with regard to his duties, unless, of course, he is granted full Ministerial rank in the meantime. No official information can be obtained on this latter point, although it is freely stated that Mr. Lee is a strong candidate for Cabinet office. Although Mr. Savage would not discuss names or portfolios in outlining the desirability for additional appointments of Parliamentary under-secre-taries. he said it was obvious that some Ministers were handling more work than was reasonable. If under-secre-taries with proper statqs were attached to those Ministers they would be able to carry out many of the official duties. In addition to lightening the routine work, the scheme would provide valuable training for younger members of the Government Party who in future might be candidates for full Cabinet rank. “I have made inquiries into the British system of Parliamentary undersecretaries,” Mr. Savage said. “All the details are not applicable here, but I am satisfied that appointments can he made which will operate to the benefit of the Government and the country as a whole.”