The Scheme of Things

Evening Post, Volume CXX, Issue 138, 7 December 1935, Page 19

The Scheme of Things

■ Recent nationaF events have been extremely interesting, and it seems as if- women are; more and more waking up-' to>; their /responsibilities which inevitably accompany privileges. They have =-been slow, indeed, to do so in this.c'puntry, but it is to be hoped now j the, .^wakening has • advanced so far, tHat<ii;may' go on well and gather paceieach year. There is, perhaps, a new^iope that the question of housing, so/cldse to' the hearts of- women who cate^fot the welfare of their fellow-citiiens;-may be advanced more rapidlyj',than seemed likely a brief time agoVfor to .be truly sympathetic "authorities"{rniust needs be better, aware, of the'.in'tehse disadvantages of slum con-ditipns;th^ah-has appeared possible in th'e:*pssf..C-''ln the-mean time it will interest ? s6me of • the; women to hear about aVfine resume of the conditions in-Great'Britain1 between: the years 1835 and?l93s. It appears that in September, ;1835, the Municipal Corporations Act.v came into force, which had-aegfeat effect on social well-being. This gave the municipalities the right to-elect their own governing bodies by popular vote, as is the custom in this country. * These. councils were given, what-was. then a new power, to cope ■with; the dirt, disease, disorder, and crime .prevailing in the country. The efforts ■of the councils have gone on all- these years with varying success, but in later times, through the personal interest -of the Prince of Wales and other people of influence, a great deal more' has been done. • The writer draws . attention to the improvements effected during the century;—for. the roads in early days were lost,in mud and dirt of every description.- There were no .roadmakers, no .'road-menders, no road sweepers, no sewerage, no removal and disposal of street .and -house litter and rubbish. Public;health, and medical services were non-existent; water supply was inadequate; - sanitation primitive. Housing : conditions were deplorable, dwellings insanitary, damp,- and lacking in light. .'Popular education was at a low, ebb—there were, no school services, no school clinics, no provision for .physically and mentally afflicted children. Maternity and infant welfare centres'were unknown. ; Crime -and /disorder, were rampant; riots ■ and ; disturbances were frequent (and un- . derjsuch; circumstances were not surprising). The police were often corrupt. Justices of the Peace were sometimes'unable to read or write, and one instance;is on record of a fight in a courthouse, between Magistrate and prisoner. Abuse of powers oh the part of those responsible for the government and order of boroughs, and gross neglect of duties on the part of public officials .were of frequent-occur-rence. ■ Social amenities for the development of body arid mind Wvere not even thought of. This, says the writer, was.the state of the country in 1835. ;L_opking r backih 'the history of this nw" .country, it is possible to see I

some of the same conditions, and in the direction of housing these conditions, which should never have been permitted to arise in a new country, have still to be taken.in.hand. A Royal Commission was appointed in England to investigate conditions a year or so ago. and it was a remarkable thing that this Commission not only reported promptly, but its recommendations adopted,, with the result that useful amendments' to the Municipal Corporations Act were passed, and work put in hand to, remedy the conditions re-r ported upon. When the number of Royal Commissions appointed in New Zealand at different times is considered, and the paucity of results attained (most of them never having been heard of again, either as to report, or in the form of recommendations being car-

ried out) the results of the English Commission is ■ a matter for wonder and deep admiration. .

, : In other countries there is more, system than obtains here in the care of the indigent people. In Austria each province takes care of its own poor people. In Vienna there are houses where the inmates are given free board and lodging, medical care and nursing. These are mostly old folks. In Czechoslovakia there are special institutions called "Community Bungalows" where old people are housed. In Prague these consist of the imposing Masaryk Honies, where the people' have their own clothes . and store cupboards. There are also "sick homes" for incurables. . Since; the. war laws have been passed providing for insurance, pensions, etc., a State, allowance being paid to people who, by reason of their age, could not come under the provisions for social insurance, and a contribution is also made to the local

authorities to meet outside needs. These allowances are paid to Czech citizens residing abroad, and to foreigners living in Czechoslovakia providing reciprocity is guaranteed. These arrangements all show a determination that there shall be no social distress within the borders of the country that is in any way preventable. In Germany there are many homes for aged and poor folk and those in receipt of poor law relief receive a special grant for rent. In Holland there are many kindly institutions, and the poor are well looked after, only vagrants being sent to the State workhouses, where, presumably, they have to do some work for their keep. In Italy the State makes advances to local institutions, and many have been founded and endowed by private benefactors. In Belgrade there are excellent homes for working people and also places where those who, com: ing in from the country and working by the day, may leave their children. Scandinavian methods have special points of interest. In many places the people receive an old age pension granted by the. community, not the State, and the amount is variable. At Oslo there are "homes" built for not more than 50 people, which are • arranged in semi-circles to get all possible sunshine. Each house has two floors, and each corridor has rooms for two, three, or four people, bathrooms being shared among several by arrangement. There is a common garden, and each tenant is given a line for drying clothes. The inmates do not give up pension or other money they may have, but pay a monthly account for board. Those who have no money are helped by the local authorities. In Lisbon there is a special State institution for the widows and daughters of naval and military officers and civil servants who can live in comfort, with free accommodation and medical advice. Those whose ans are .inadequate also Receive a nthly grant of money. Lisbon

ands alone in the world in making eh kindly and adequate provision

jr poor gentlefolks, and the example is a noble one, well worthy of imitation .by other countries. There are many more interesting details to be had, but enough , has been given to

ow that the world outside does many lings for aged, sick! or poor folk, hich, in many instances, have no

ototype here. If these things were etter considered there would not be eh a. heavy burden on the women of c community to be,incessantly makg efforts to raise money for this or at cause, efforts which are becoming earisome from all points of view.