,, 4 a SWEDEN 



defence cruiser (of 6,800 tons) of the "F" type of warship was decided upon by parliament 

 in 1911 when the Conservatives were in power, but the new Liberal government indicated, 

 shortly after taking office, that they desired to postpone the building of the ship. That this 

 turn of events was not to the liking of the general public was demonstrated in a striking and 

 practical manner by the starting of a private subscription which in less than three months 

 realised 906,625. This sum was tendered to, and accepted by, the government, and the 

 building of the warship at a Swedish yard was sanctioned by the Riksdag in May 1912. 



Education. The public schools for boys have been reorganised and are now divided into 

 two kinds: hogre allmanna laroverk (higher public schools) and realskolor (lower public 

 schools, board schools). The latter have only six classes and lead up to examinations 

 (realskole-examen) adapted to the needs of a commercial and industrial life, etc. These six 

 classes are common to the two kinds of schools, and then come the higher public schools, 

 viz., four other classes (gymnasium) with classical and scientific studies, both leading up to 

 student-examen (matriculation examination), an examination for admission to the universities 

 and to several other higher special schools. In certain small towns the "practical schools," 

 or lower public schools, are accessible to children of both sexes, and are then named "boy 

 and girl schools" (samskolor). Generally, however, the higher and middle schools for girls 

 are private, but they often enjoy considerable state aid and are then submitted to special 

 state inspection. In 1909 the number of higher public schools was 38, and the "practical 

 schools," 77. The school terms comprise 38 weeks in the year. The primary education in 

 the "board schools" (folkskolor) is rapidly developing. The number of these schools in 

 1909 was 13,146, with 5,802 male and 13,549 female teachers. Of the children of "school 

 age" (7 to 14 years) 800,684 (or 98.2% of the whole number) have received instruction; 

 these include 755,197 in the "board schools," 14,380 in higher public schools, 19,566 in 

 private schools, and 8,004 i n their homes. Special instruction in gardening and arboriculture 

 was given in 1909 to 96,321 children; the cost of 784 courses in cookery and domestic economy 

 was defrayed by the state. Instruction in slojd ("sloyd," manual occupations) was given 

 to 95,070 boys and 170,689 girls in the "board schools," which represents an increase since 

 1894 of 114% for boys and 1 00% for girls. 



Religion. The Swedish Lutheran Church, comprising more than 99% of the total 

 population, is provisionally divided into 13 dioceses which, however, will soon be reduced to 

 12. Among the dissenters the Methodists and Baptists are most numerous; the Roman 

 Catholics only number about 2,600, and the Jews about 5,000. Vigorous measures are 

 taken against the Mormon propaganda carried on by American preachers. Interest in 

 religion and the church is increasing remarkably, and has evoked a strong feeling for the 

 careful preservation of old church buildings, and for the artistic adornment of the churches. 

 Christian social activity is also increasing, especially among university students. 



Poor Law and Charities. The burden of maintaining the poor is thrown on the parishes 

 and is, therefore, rather unequally distributed, but a Royal Commission is preparing schemes 

 for a more uniform and practical system of poor relief. In 1910 relief was given to 236,918 

 persons (90,912 in the towns and 146,006 in rural districts), i. e. to 4.29% of the total popula- 

 tion. The proportion of paupers varies in the districts between 14.5 % and o% (in 8 com- 

 munes). The number of inhabitants in workhouses, alms-houses or children's homes is 

 47,204, all receivers of relief (19.9% of the whole number); '28,494 (12.1 %) were boarded 

 out in private houses, and outdoor relief ("home assistance") was given to 144,892 (61.2 %). 

 The number of private charitable institutions is great and steadily increasing. A com- 

 prehensive system of sick relief funds has recently been organised by State legislation, and 

 proposals for an Old Age Pension Scheme are being prepared by the government. 



Law, Justice and Crime. The latest criminal statistics comprise the five-year period 

 1901-1905. The number of convicted persons for gross crimes was then yearly, on an 

 average, 2,589 (4.9 per 10,000 inhabitants), for lesser crimes 10,345 ( l 9-8 P er 10,000 inhab- 

 itants), and for misdemeanour 45,211 (86.7 per 10,000 inhabitants). No less than 83.8% 

 of the misdemeanour cases in 1905 consisted of drunkenness and disorderly conduct. The 

 number of prisoners is slowly, but steadily, decreasing; a daily average in the period 1901- 

 1905 was 2,954 (2,991 in the period 1896-1900; 3,842 in 1886-90; 4,981 in the period 1871- 

 75). Capital punishment is not yet abolished, though the second chamber has more than 

 once passed resolutions in favour of such a reform. Executions, however, are very rare; 

 none took place in the period 1901-05, and since then very few have occurred. 



Recent Politics. After the separation from Norway the Lundeberg Coalition 

 Ministry was succeeded in October 1905 by a Liberal Ministry formed by Mr. Karl 

 StaafT (b. 1860). His proposals for reform of the franchise being rejected by the Upper 

 House, Mr. StaafT resigned and a new ministry was formed in May 1906 by the Con- 

 servative leader, Admiral Lindman (b. 1862). His principal task was to find a solution 

 of the Suffrage Question which both Chambers could accept, and after various compro- 

 mises his Reform Bill, establishing Proportional Representation for both Chambers, 

 Universal Manhood Suffrage for the Second Chamber, and Payment of Members of the 



