Full resolution (JPEG) - On this page / på denna sida - Second part - XVI. Labour Legislation and Social Statistics - 2. Social Condition and Social Statistics - The Question of »Own Homes», by G. H. von Koch, Editor, Stockholm - Sick-Relief and Burial Funds, by H. Burström, Actuary at the Royal Central Bureau of Statistics
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sick-relief and burial funds.
1091
To promote the establishment of smaller farms and to make them profitable,
an energetic work for the instruction and information of the farmers has with
great success been undertaken by the State and the Agricultural Societies, which,
through subventions for travels for the purpose of study, premiums for well managed
farms, offices of analysis, and through information concerning Agricultural
cooperation, etc., endeavour to encourage, advise, and support the occupiers of
smaller farms.
Through laws in regard to partition of land (the last one of 1896), the
Riksdag has endeavoured to facilitate the division of private property. There is,
however, still very much to be done in this matter, since the present way of
making pourparty is accompanied by rather heavy expenses and many disadvantages.
Of the endeavours made towards procuring »own homes» in the cities we
have spoken in connection with workmen’s dwellings in town (see p. 1084). In
Stockholm, there has been a lively activity of låte years to get »own homes» for
the city workmen in the country just outside the city. Private individuals and
companies have for this purpose purchased properties, divided them into
building-lots, and sold the lots to workmen, who have themselves built houses on them.
Among others, we may mention »Aktiebolaget Hem p& landet» (Country Home
Co., Ltd.), which has formed a colony for own homes at Dufbo, near Stockholm
(see fig. p. 1087). The greatest difficulty is the lack of suitable means of
communication. In order to solve this problem, the State ought to offer its aid.
Some members of the Riksdag have proposed that the Crown possessions in the
suburbs of the city should be devoted to the erecting of own homes, the State
retaining the ownership of the land. Hitherto, however, all such propositions
have been discarded by the Riksdag.
In some places unions have been formed by the workmen for the purpose
of erecting own homes. The largest of these is the Own Homes Union in
Östergötland, which was organized in 1889. In 1902, the Union consisted of
4,011 members, who owned 29,659 shares of 10 kronor (11 sh.) each. There are
branch unions to a number of 72 in seven different Läns. Buildings have been
erected in cities and in the vicinity of them, as also in the country. The value
of these buildings amounts to about 600,000 kronor. On entering into possession
of the property Vio of its value is paid in cash. The amortization amounts to
2—3 The Union has sought a subsidy from the State. In the vicinity of Motala
a piece of property has been purchased and divided among the members of the
Union. The result has proved satisfactory both for the Union and the
farm-owners, and the taxation value of the land has considerably increased.
Sick-relief and Burial Funds.
The Swedish sick-relief and burial funds date their origin, like
similar funds in other countries, from the guilds of the Middle Ages,
which usually had for one of their objects the rendering of assistance
to members in the event of sickness or death. According to the guild
regulations of 1669, it even became obligatory for guilds to give such
support. The law of 1864, relating to the extended liberty of trade,
resulted in the repeal of this obligation, which, however, as early as
1846, was transferred to the handicraft and factory societies established
upon the dissolution of the guilds; but the efforts of self-help thus
aroused and maintained, which even previously had gained approval
within spheres outside the guild movements, have nevertheless, through
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