380 SECTIONAL TRANSACTIONS.— F. 



when changes occur, but there would be fluctuations regardless of such influences 

 and due to reasons not obviously beyond human control. The important question 

 is whether the working of the monetary system is the principal cause of fluctua- 

 tions. Outline of the views of Irving Fisher and Hawtrey. Criticism of the 

 purely nionetary theories. Influence of the durability of capital goods. 

 Monetary theory suggests that there should be a simple solution in better 

 control of Bank rate. Some reasons for questioning whether this can be made 

 effective. Even if we disregard the multiplicity of nations with independent 

 banking systems, it is questioned whether control of Bank rate for the purpose 

 of stabilising industry could be successful in more than a moderate degree; but 

 though there may not be any quite simple method of control, probably a more 

 complex method could be developed in time. When international co-operation 

 has to be considered success is more problematic. We may look forward, 

 however, to a gradual improvement through a more complete understanding of 

 the working of the monetary system, but some departure from the simple gold 

 standard may be necessary. Merely to aim at long-period stabilisation on the 

 lines of Irving Fisher's proposals, however, does not go far towards checking 

 ordinary fluctuations of good and bad trade. 



9. Miss A. AshijEy. — The English and Scottish Poor Law in Rela- 

 tion to the Able-bodied. 



Contrast in principle between English and Scottish Poor Law with regard 

 to responsibility for the able-bodied and their families until the Poor Law 

 Emergency Provisions (Scotland) Act, 1921. This partly the outcome of different 

 history of the Poor Law in England and Scotland. Difference in actual practice 

 less than in theory, because : — 



(1) The general use of the 'workhouse test' for the able-bodied in England 

 kept many from applying to the Poor Law. 



(2) The requirement that a man must be disabled to be relieved was often 

 laxly interpreted in Scotland, and the argument that if a destitute man is able- 

 bodied he will not, if unrelieved, remain so long sometimes used. 



The difference in principle involved, however, the absence of all special 

 provision for the able-bodied in Scotland, such as casual wards and special forms 

 of employment for able-bodied inmates of Poor-houses. 



Underlying assumption of much of the policy of both countries the receipt 

 of lielp from Poor Law shameful, and the number of legal paupers to be kept 

 low, not only for economy, but for the moral good of the people. 



The individualistic doctrine underlying this view largely abandoned, but 

 until 1921 with the effect not of removing the stigma from the receipt of Poor 

 relief, but of multiplying separate pieces of machinery to administer forms of 

 public support not held to be shameful {e.g. Old-age Pensions). 



Result of War a.nd of period of extreme depression after the War : 



(1) To multiply the cases and emphasise the existence of prolonged unemploy- 

 ment uncoimected with personal fault. 



(2) To increase the forms of public support outside the Poor Law (pensions, 

 unemployment donation, special provision for school-children, for infants, &c.). 



(3) These having proved inadequate, to break down the practice of refusing 

 Poor-Law out-relief to the able-bodied (and in Scotland to make the relief of 

 the able-bodied legal, when it had already become common under the Act of 

 1921). 



(4) To lessen and almost abolish the feeling that help from the Poor Law 

 is more shameful than other forms of relief. 



Thus the inconvenience and undesirability of a large variety of agencies is 

 being demonstrated, while at the same time the objection to the old single 

 agency for the relief of distress is largely removed. 



The position may be seen by examining recent developments in sample 

 English and Scottish towns, with details of typical cases. 



Possible future developments and conclusions. 



Tuesday, September 12. 



10. Joint Discussion with Section M on The Possibility of Increas- 

 ing the Food Supply of the Nation. Opener : Sir John 



EUSSELL, P.E.S. 



( 



