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v. social movements.
able turn of the tide, and since that time the sick benefit movement has been
growing with steady rapidity. Thus in 1910, the year in which the new
Sickness Benefit Societies Act was promulgated and the last for which there are
complete statistics available, the number of registered societies was 2 426,
with an aggregate number of members of 632 005, out of which 156 496, that
is 24’8 %, were women, and 475 509, or 75’2 %, were men.1 The takings of
the sick societies, when totalled up, figured out at 8’2 million kronor, out of which
6-4 million kronor consisted of members’ fees. The expenditure of the societies
totalled 7"3 million kronor, out of which an identical figure of 6"4 million
kronor represented the expenses for sick and funeral benefits, doctors’ fees, physic
and the like. The balance in hand for all the societies amounted in 1910 to
12’7 million kronor, or 20 kronor per member. The number of cases of illness
per 100 members figured at 27’o (men 28"7, women 21*9), the number of days
of illness to each 100 members was 600"6 (men 619’7, women 542’2), and per
case of illness 20’3 (men 19’6, women 23’4). The amount of the cash benefits
worked out, on an average per case of illness, at 30’29 kronor, and per day of
illness at 1’36 kronor.
In spite of the gratifying development that the Swedish sick-benefit
system has passed through, it was evident that this movement suffered
from many grave defects, due in a great measure to unsatisfactory
legislation. One of the most salient of those defects was the great lack
of uniformity that prevailed within this movement, and the way in which
it was broken up into a number of small organizations with very feeble
economic power.
The question as to an amendment of the Act of 1891 had, it is true,
repeatedly challenged the attention of the State authorities; but the
initiative in the matter of the new Sickness Benefit Societies Act passed in
1910, may be said to have proceeded from the sickness societies themselves.
This being so, it is obvious that this law should pay the most considerate
attention to the sick funds already in existence. The Sickness Benefit
Societies Act of the 4th July 1910, accordingly, leaves the status of the
sickness benefit societies as voluntary associations, on the whole, entirely
inviolate. At the same time, the Act aims at securing that the operations
of the societies shall be planned and executed on principles more scientific,
and in closer conformance to the social mission of the work, than has
hitherto often been the case. With this object in view, the operations of
these societies are subjected to what is, in many respects, a very rigorous
regulation, both in formal and in more substantial matters. It is likewise
for this purpose that the Act has created Sickness Benefit Societies
Inspection, armed with far-reaching powers. Finally, the State too has
undertaken to provide the sick benefit movement with far bigger subsidies,
estimated on sound scientific principles.
Legislation now in force. The Sickness Benefit Societies Act of the 4th
July 1910, and the Royal Decree promulgated in connection with it relating
1 Note should be taken that the average figure given here must, for divers reasons, be
deemed to be a maximum figure. In real fact the sick benefit movement would appear not
to have numbered more than about 500 000 souls (equivalent to 9 % of the population).
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