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POOR-RELIEF.
293
from each other and only in a very few cases encroach on each other, but
such has not been the case. It is all the more proper that endeavours
should be made to prevent persons in need of help from being cared for
both by "poor law" and by "charity" simultaneously.
A. Public Poor Relief. The sole responsibility of each community
to meet the expenses of poor relief which must be granted to its members
was thus fixed. Definite instructions with regard to the giving of
assistance, applicable to the whole country, were however lacking, and the
settling as to what parish was liable in every particular case produced
sharp contentions.
The founders of the constitution of 1809 did draw attention to the
neccessity of investigating all conditions pertaining to poor relief and of
promulgating regulations for the whole kingdom based on that
investigation.
However, the first general poor law for Sweden did not appear before
18-17. Certain principles were then established for the giving of poor
relief, but the various communities were left free to regulate the details
according to local conditions; yet begging had to be prevented. Up to then
it had been regularly permitted, though under strict control, as being the
right way for the destitute to obtain the neccessities of life.
The poor relief ordinance now in force, issued June 9th 1871, are mainly founded
on those of 1847, with partial alterations and additions made before 1871 and
since. They ordain that every able-bodied man shall, without burdening the
poor law union, provide for himself and his children under age, i. e. under
15 years; the same shall apply to the support of his wife, it being understood
that parents and children are bound to support each other, in proportion as the
one part needs it and the other can bestow it.
Servants and other working dependents, together with their wives and children
under age who are at home, shall be supported by their master so long as the
contract for work runs.
Necessary relief shall be provided for minors, and for those who are, by reason
of age, sickness, disablement, or other defect, incapable of supporting themselves
and lack means of maintenance or other relief (poor law § 1). In other
cases, support may be given after investigation bv the Board of Guardians (poor
law § 2).
Every town and parish in the country forms a community for poor relief.
Application for support shall be made in the parish where the necessitous person
is living, but the cost of the support enjoined by law shall be met by the
parish where he has his settlement.1
A parish in the country may, under certain conditions, be divided into
districts which are responsible each for its own poor relief; the arrangement is
quite infrequent. Larger land owners, if they are deemed fully solvent, may be
personally responsible for their tenants ("Private Unions for Poor Relief"), and
are exempt, in that case, from half the poor rates payable to the parish.
Poor relief in the country is administered by the vestry, if no separate poor
law board, Board of Guardians, has been constituted. Such a board must always
1 Settlement is to be taken as meaning legal residence or establishment in a particular
parish.
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