PREPARING THE WAY

Evening Star, Issue 23098, 26 October 1938, Page 1

PREPARING THE WAY

SOCIAL SECURITY SCHEME MAY BE UNDER-SECRETARY APPOINTMENT [Peb United Press Association.) WELLINGTON. October 26. An indication that a Parliamentary under-secretary may be appointed to assist with the administration of the Social Security Act was given by the Prime Minister in an interview. Authority for the appointment of Parliamentary under-secretaries was taken by the Government in its first year of office, but so far only one appointment of that nature has been made—namely, Mr J. A._ Lee. “ Nothing has been decided about the appointment of additional Parliamentary under-secretaries, but the whole question will have to be discussed.” said Mr Savage. “The Social Security Act itself will call_ for a good deal of supervision, and this is a case where we might have to make use of an under-secretary.” Referring to the made for the inauguration of the social security scheme, Mr Savage said that the Health, Pensions, and Labour Departments were already doing some part of the administration work involved in the scheme. The Government was receiving a report from the heads of these departments as to what they considered necessary in the way of organisation, and after this report had been received the Government would decide what was to be done.