TRANSACTIONS OF SECTION F. 835 
4, The Silver Question in relation to British Trade. 
By Joun M. Macponatp. 
WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 20. 
The following Papers were read :~ 
1. The Results of Recent Poor Law Reform. 
Sy Haroutp E. Moors, F.S.1. 
Within the last ten years, various experiments have been made by different 
Boards of Guardians with approval of the Local Government Board, the object 
in view being either (a) to secure better results to the persons helped, or (5) to 
effect economy in cost of poor relief. 
Four of these experiments, the results of which seem worthy of notice, are 
(az) attempts at classification of workhouse inmates; (+) improvements in the 
treatment of children who are dependent upon the Poor Rate for support, educa- 
tion and training; (c) the working of land by Boards of Guardians; and (d) con- 
tributing from Poor Law Funds to organisations under the control of voluntary 
committees, who, on such sums being contributed, receive those who have been 
able-bodied inmates of workhouses into the institutions under their control. In 
summing up the results gained by these various experiments, it is suggested as to 
(a), that classification is difficult, and not likely to be capable of great extension in 
existing workhouses ; as to (6), that the treatment of children by ‘village com- 
munities,’ ‘boarding out,’ or ‘scattered homes’ has shown beneficial results in 
comparison with retaining them in workhouses or barrack schools, the ‘scattered 
home’ system having proved most desirable under usual conditions ; as to (ec), that 
the working of farms, as shown by the results at Sheffield and elsewhere, has 
been found distinctly profitable and beneficial where proper conditions have been 
observed in choice and management of property; as to (d), that much good has 
been effected where the institutions so assisted have been farm labour colonies, of 
such a character as those now in operation at Lingfield in Surrey, under the 
control of the Christian Union for Social Service, near Dumfries in Scotland, at 
Hadleigh in Essex, and elsewhere. It would seem that by reason of such farms 
oh only has the cost of poor relief been lessened, but men restarted in an indepen- 
ent life. 
Having regard to these results, it is suggested that the principle of the Bill 
submitted to Parliament last Session for creation of Aged People’s Homes by Poor 
Law authorities should be supported, as affording a most desirable means ot 
classification; anc that further extension of the system of contributing towards 
the support of Farm Labour Colonies, under the control of voluntary committees, 
should be encouraged. 
2. Old Age Pensions in Denmark : their Influence on Thrift and Pau perism. 
By Professor A. W. Friux, IA. 
The paper deals with some of the results of the establishment of a system of 
Old Age Relief in Denmark. The allegation that the line between pauper and 
pensioner would become indistinguishable is contradicted by experience. The 
statement that deposits in the savings banks are falling off since the establishment 
of the pension system (in 1891) is not supported by the figures of deposits. These 
increased by 25:4 per cent. between 1882 and 1887; by 21°8 per cent. between 
1887 and 1892, and by 25:0 per cent. between 1892 and 1897. 
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