TRANSACTIONS OF SECTION F. 715 



that wisely directed charity, working in concert with the poor law, has been 

 stimulated, that the needy and deserving- poor are more earnestly sought out, that 

 the character of the poor has improved, and that both poor-law administrators and 

 representatives of organised charity are now unitedly engaged in the work of 

 bridging the gulf between rich and poor, and in stemming the tide of hereditary 

 pauperism, the policy which has produced these results will at least be held worthy 

 of earnest public attention. 



3. Poor Law Administration. By the Rev. W. Burt. 



There are two conflicting opinions as to the intention of the Poor Law ; one 

 that it exists for the relief of distress, the other that it exists for the repression of 

 pauperism. A brief review of the history of the subject will show which opinion 

 is the more correct. 



In the fii'st instance we find the signal failure of charity alone to deal with the 

 disease ; 



Next, the State interfering in self-defence, but defeated in its object by the 

 severity of its measures ; 



Next, the State retaining its repressive measures and endeavouring to regulate 

 charity. 



Then, as pauperism increased, the passing of the Elizabethan Poor Law, by 

 which a system of legal relief was established, limited in its scope and repressive in. 

 its nature, and under a vigorous administration of which pauperism received a 

 check. Then the administration becomes lax, the disease breaks out again, the life 

 of the State is threatened. Government interferes once more with the Poor Law of 

 1834, which reverts to the principles of the old Poor Law. 



Finally, more recent histoiy since 1834, and our own experience for the last 

 twenty years, repeat the same lessons, viz., the demoralising effect of a Poor Law 

 laxly administered solely as a system of relief, the necessity of a Poor Law which 

 gives no scope for the indulgence of so-called charitable feelings, and which offers re- 

 lief only in an unattractive form. In a word, Poor Law relief should only be given 

 in the house. That this is possible and productive of the happiest results the experi- 

 ence of more than one union shows, e.ff., Atcham, Brixworth, Bradfield, St. Neots, 

 and others among rural unions, and St. George 's-in-the-East and Whitechapel in 

 the metropolis. 



"^^'hat can be done by these could be done by all ; and if not an inquiry by a 

 Royal Commission, at all events an inquiry by the Local Government Board might 

 be made into the reasons for the flagrant contrasts which exist in contiguous 

 unions, with a view to a new departure in the above direction. 



4. A National Pension Fund. By the Rev. W. Moore Ede, M.A. 



Interest in national insurance has been revived by the recent German legis- 

 lation, which provides a complete system of national insurance for sickness, dis- 

 ablement, old age, and burial money. 



In England we generally prefer to leave satisfaction of social needs to 

 individual eflbrt ; but, when individualism proves inadequate, we supplement its 

 efforts by municipal or national organisation, e.g., the Education Act of 1870. 



How far does individual effort provide adequate insurance ? 



The friendly societies have created a system of insurance whereby provision 

 can be secured in sickness, and funeral money at death. Though open to criticism 

 on financial grounds, the friendly societies are steadily endeavouring to overcome 

 past flnancial mistakes, and place the societies on a sound basis. 



The eflbrts of these honourable societies would be facilitated, and the working 

 classes protected from the disaster of joining unsound branches, if the Government 

 would institute an adequate system of inspection of accounts, and insist on due 

 publicity being given. 



Provision in sickness may be left to the efforts of self-help working through the- 

 organisations of the friendly societies and the benefit funds of the trade unions. 



