SOCIAL SECURITY

Wairarapa Times-Age, 15 December 1938, Page 8

SOCIAL SECURITY

MEMBERS OF COMMISSION APPOINTED WITH ADMINISTRATIVE OFFICIALS. STATEMENT BY MR SAVAGE. (By Telegraph—Press Association.) WELLINGTON, This Day. A further step towards the completion of the administrative side of the Government’s social security system was announced today by the Prime Minister (Mr Savage). The members of the commission to carry out the scheme under the control of the Hon W. Nash have been appointed. Mr J. H. Boyes will be chairman, with Dr Watt, Director-General of Health, as a member. The latter will retain the DirectorGeneralship of Health and during his absence from New Zealand, Dr R. A. Shore will act on his behalf.

The principal executive officers under the commission will be Messrs J. S. Hunter, Secretary for Labour and H. Digby-Smith, Commissioner of Pensions. Mr Hunter will be in charge of the division dealing with unemployment and sickness benefits and Mr Digby-Smith of the division dealing with superannuation and all other monetary benefits, including age, invalid, widows’ and family benefits, etc. ( He will also be Secretary of War Pensions. The present Pensions Department will be absorbed in the new Department in its entirety. The task of setting up an organisation for administering the various monetary benefits under the Act is now being taken in hand with a view to having the necessary machinery ready by April 1 when the Act comes into operation.

“The commissioners are faced with a formidable task,” said Mr Savage. “It is their duty to give effect to the social security scheme, which is the best of its kind in the world. The Act makes provision for a range of benefits designed to enable every citizen to insure himself, his wife and children against the financial loss which follows on early death, sickness, unemployment and old age. Not only are all existing pensions considerably increased, and widened in scope, but for the first time there is to be universal superannuation. Apart from the superannuation services, there is the whole range of national health benefits. Preparatory work in connection with their inauguration is also being proceeded with.” Mr Savage said Mr T. Mark becomes sole Public Service Commissioner.