FAMILY ALLOWANCES

Evening Star, Issue 19274, 12 June 1926, Page 17

FAMILY ALLOWANCES

HOW THE SYSTEM WORKS IH FRANCE ' One of the most unexpected recommendations of tho Coal Commission was that the Commissioners regarded the introduction of a system or children’s allowances, irrespective of the.level of wages, as “ one of the most valuable measures that could be adopted for adding to the well-being and contentment of the mining population.” It will be remembered that evidence was submitted to the Commission by Miss Eleanor Ratbbone, showing that family allowances were practically universal throughout the mining industry of those countries which compete most actively witty our own. , It’is, however, still not generally realised that France is the pioneer of the system of putting family allowances into force on an established scale. In Franco the family has always been recognised as the unit of the nation, and for over thirty years past experiments have been made in order that fathers may be able to bring up their families on an income that increases in proportion to the number of children. The system started at the end of tho last century on certain of the French Railways, notably the Nord, the Orleans, and the P.L.M., who gave small bonuses for dependents. Hi 1900 the system spread to tho coalfields. At the present time tho State has applied the principle, not only in the (igating services, but for married members of its manual and clerical staff. Tho officials of local government authorities are also paid on tho system that they should receive a weekly income that varies according to their need, rather than according to their output. Private industry adopted the principle during the war so decisively that family allowances have mnv become part of wages awards., It is of special note that since December, 1922, nil employers tendering for State contracts are reuired either to bo members contributing to a family allowance fund or else paying allowances direct. Complete official figures as to the number receiving allowances are not available. The figures announced at a congress last year are, however, of significance, for it was then stated that there wore in France no less than three and a-half million employees who receive each year 1,017 million francs ns family allowances. The system has spread to professional men, and there are funds in existence for solicitors’ clerks and similar persons. Funds have also been established for agricultural workers.

Tho rates for State workers as voted last year were 45, 60, 90 francs a month respectively, for one to three children. For the fourth and succeeding children 105 francs were payable monthly. Under the Lille Family Allowance Fund fifty francs are given for two children, 180 for four, and 390 francs for eight. A rubber company pays seventy-five francs for each of the first two children, and as much ns 1,020 francs a month for twelve, if they are under sixteen years of ago. " The average amounts of payments paid to underground workers with families were one ■franc a day for one child, g,nd two for tho third and each succeeding child, but these allowances have since been increased to meet the fall in the franc. There are several reasons that have led to this system becoming established in French industries. One cause, no doubt, is the wish to encourage tho birth rate and to increase the welfare of young children. Employers, however, have found that contented married men are more regular at their work and pay more attention to output than those who have no ties, and that it is a wise provision to pay this addition, which helps production and encourages a satisfied staff.— ‘ Observer.’