SOCIAL SECURITY ACT

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 80, Issue 254, 27 October 1938, Page 8

SOCIAL SECURITY ACT

MUCH SUPERVISION NEEDED SERVICES OF PARLIAMENTARY UNDER-SECRETARY [ Per Press Association.] WELLINGTON, Oct. 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, Rt. Hon. M, J. Savage, in'an interview last night. Authority for the appointment of Parlii mentary Under-Secretaries was take,, by the Government in its first year 01 office, but so far only one appointment of that nature has been made, that of 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 in itself will call for much supervision, and this is a case where we might have to make use of the services of a Parliamentary Under-Sec-retary. Such services can probably be availed of in various other directions. I have always maintained that no one man can supervise intelligently two or three departments.” Mr. Savage said the Government was having an investigation made as to what was necessary in the way of organisation for the operation of the social security scheme. Three departments—the Health Department, the Pensions Department, and the Labour Department —were already doing some part of the administration work involved in the scheme. The Government was obtaining a report from the heads of these departments as to what they considered necessary in the way of organisation, and after receiving their report the Government would decide what was to be done.