Practicable Socialism, New SeriesBarnett, S. A. (Samuel Augustus)
Religion
Practicable Socialism, New Series
Barnett, S. A. (Samuel Augustus)
Great Britain -- Social conditions -- 19th century; Social problems; Working class
(2) “The expediency of ultimately associating this specialized treatment
of each class with the standing machinery for enforcing both before and
after the period of distress the fulfilment of personal and family
obligations.”
The differences between the Reports are manifest in that the Minority
is more anxious to secure a co-ordination of public authorities, but
both alike agree that relief must be thorough and regard primarily the
necessities of the individual. The general workhouse is therefore to
be broken up, and separate institutions set apart for children, the
old, the sick, mothers, and feeble-minded. Out relief is to be given
on uniform principles and under strict supervision, whether by skilled
officials or by a registrar. (The majority make the interesting--if it
be practicable--suggestion that there shall be proscribed districts
in which no out relief shall be given, on account of their slum
character.) The sick are to have the means of treatment brought within
their reach, whether it be by the officer of the Health Committee or by
means of provident dispensaries. The two Reports often differ as to the
means by which the ends are to be reached, and the consideration of the
means they propose would make matter for many articles. But their main
difference is as to the constitution of the authority which will apply
their principles to practice.
They both agree in making the County Council the source of the authority
and in taking the county as the area. The Majority would create, by a
somewhat intricate system of co-optation and nomination, a “Public
Assistance Authority,” with local “assistance committees,” to deal with
all cases of need. The Minority would authorize the existing committees
of the Council--the Education, the Health, the Asylums, and the Parks
Committees--to deal with such cases of need as may meet them in their
ordinary work. The Majority would create an _ad hoc_ authority, for the
purpose of giving such relief; the Minority would leave relief to the
direction of committees whose primary concern is education or health,
the feeble-minded or the old. The Majority is, further, at great pains
to establish a Voluntary Aid Council, which shall be representative of
the charitable funds and charitable bodies of the area. This council is
to have a recognized position, and to work in close co-operation with
the Public Assistance authority. The Minority, though willing to use
voluntary charity, suggests no plan for its control or organization.
This omission in a scheme otherwise so complete is somewhat remarkable.
The administration of the Poor Law may account for most of the mischief
in the condition of the people, but the administration of charity is
also to a large extent responsible. This extent of charity is unknown.
In London alone it is said to amount to more than £7,000,000 a year, and
much money is given of which no record is possible. Hitherto all
attempts at organization have failed, and it is quite clear that no
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
Reviews
Reviews
No reviews yet
Be the first to share your thoughts on this work.
Elsewhere in the archive
Join the Discussion
Join the discussion
Sign in to leave a comment or review.
Sign InorCreate an account