SOCIAL SECURITY

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LXXII, 29 November 1938, Page 3

SOCIAL SECURITY

APPOINTMENT OF COMMISSION TO BE MADE BEFORE HOLIDAYS n S PRIME MINISTER'S STATEMENT j .brute* l |Jrww Asaoc,at|nt * WELLINGTON, This Day. s. An indication that the administrative n appointments authorised by the Social Security Act passed last session of Par- a liament will be made soon was given * by the Prime Minister, Mr Savage, in n an interview last evening. The Act P establishes a Social Security Depart- * ment, which is to be administered by a 1 commission of not more than three com- 1 missioners acting under Ministerial n direction. “The members of the Social Security Commission, who will be the principal officers of the new Social Security Department, will have to be appointed very soon, certainly before the holidays,” said Mr Savage, when asked if “ he were in a position to state when these appointments could be expected. “It is also desirable to have a Minister of Social Security appointed as soon as possible.” f A decision of the Auckland Electric t Power Board to seek from the Govern- { ment an indication of its intention m c relation to the retirement of employees on reaching 60 years, at which age ( age-benefit will be payable under the j Social Security Act, was also brought j to the notice of Mr Savage. “There j is nothing in the Act to say people , must retire at the age of 60, and the £ Government has never suggested it,” 4 said Mr Savage. “We all know there ( are plenty of men physically unfit at , 60, and others are as fit as they can ( be at that age and would rather stay in employment. No doubt, if a man retires at 60 he leaves a place for a younger man, and the development of the machine will have that effect ultimately.”