Author: University Of Missouri

Publisher: General Books

Published: 2009-12

Total Pages: 170

ISBN-13: 9781150096860

This historic book may have numerous typos, missing text or index. Purchasers can download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. 1903. Not illustrated. Excerpt: ... CHAPTER II The Present English System Of Public Relief Aschrott has called England "the classical land of State poor relief." As we have seen, it is only in the broad sense of the word "State" that this epithet is historically deserved. Originally the relief was communal or parish relief, which perhaps may be traced back to the clan system of social organization, but which was given definite form during the Middle Ages by the fact that the Church was the sole agent of public relief. So the duty of giving relief became attached to the parish; and it remained so down to 1834. Even now the bulk of relief does r.ot come from general public funds, raised by taxing equitably the whole country, but from local funds raised by the taxation of a comparatively small area, the Poor Law union. However, the Act of 1834 did transform the relief system from a local into a state system. It supplied what had hitherto been lacking--a central authority which could secure uniformity of administration throughout the kingdom. Accordingly, local administration has now the character of appearing derived from a central authority. The system is a state system; but the carrying out of details is left to local authorities upon grounds of expediency. The recognition of the right of relief as a civil right is further evidence of the state character of the system; but most of all does this appear in the highly centralized organization of the Poor Law administration. Let us see what this organization is: 'Art. Armengesetzgebung in Grossbrttannien In Hand-uiorterbuch der Staatswissenschaften. i. The Organization Of Poor Law Administration.2 (a) The Centred Authority. The existing central authority in Poor Law administration is, as we have seen, the Local Government Board. The Local Government Bo...