§ 55. Mr. FELLasked if the Secretary to the Treasury's attention has been called to the payments being made to the agents and collectors of the collecting societies and to the sums which are being retained by those societies for further benefits under the National Insurance Act; and if he will say if those arrangements were contemplated by the Commissioners?
§ Mr. MASTERMANAs I have stated on several occasions, the Commissioners have no power to interfere in the rates of remuneration paid to agents for such work as they do for the National Insurance Act in addition to their normal work, as this is a matter to be settled between themselves and the societies employing them. The funds of a society are held for the benefit of the members, to whose advantage any saving due to economical administration accrues.
§ Mr. FELLMay I ask if the Commissioners have taken any action in any case 1618 where the remuneration of these agents must be manifestly inaccurate, and where very large sums are retained for further benefits? Have the Commissioners any power over that?
§ Mr. MASTERMANThey have for administrative purposes. When a society works within the limit, any savings they make goes to the members as a whole.