Page:The Annual Register 1899.djvu/71

 1899.] The Cottage Homes Bill. [63

by Hon. L. R. Holland (Bow and Bromley), reached a second reading debate (March 22), which was summarily cut short by the Wednesday time limit. Its author was, however, able to explain its main principle, which was to provide that a person who had from the age of twenty-five years insured against sickness and funeral expenses, should be entitled to receive from the County Council of his district a pension of 5s. a week on reaching the age of sixty-five years. Mr. J. Chamberlain, anticipating the action of the Government, said that some attempt would be made during the session to deal with this question, and that meanwhile the Government would support the bill under discussion on the understanding that it went before a select committee. On behalf of the Opposition Sir H. Campbell-Bannerman also gave a general support to the principle of the bill ; and, but for the desire of some amateur philanthropists to air their special views, the second reading might have been carried, whereas it was adjourned, and the debate never resumed.

The Cottage Homes Bill fared somewhat better, for it not only was read a second time, but succeeded in passing the ordeal of a select committee, to which it was twice referred. This excess of care was, however, fatal to its vitality, for the bill was never brought to the notice of the House of Lords. Its proposer, Mr. J. Hutton (Richmond, Yorkshire, N. B.) explained (Feb. 22) that the object of the bill was to provide the necessitous and deserv- ing poor after the age of sixty-five with suitable accommoda- tion and maintenance, and so to save them from the stigma of pauperism. The measure enacted that the council of any borough, of any urban district, or of any parish, might, with the consent of the County Council, provide and maintain cottages for the aged poor. In areas where the population was sparse the County Councils would be empowered to group several parishes together for that purpose. Inspectors ap- pointed by the County Councils would be responsible for the condition of the cottages, and deserving persons not actually destitute would be admissible to the homes, but would be re- quired to make some suitable contribution towards the expenses. It was intended that the County Councils should supply local councils desiring to set up these homes with adequate funds for the purpose, and that they should also supply three-fourths of the cost of maintenance out of the general county rates. It was hoped that Parliament would consent to contribute the remain- ing fourth. The bill did not apply to Scotland, Ireland or London.

The chief opposition to the bill came from the Conservative side of the House, nevertheless Mr. Chaplin (Sleaford, Lincoln- shire), on behalf of the Government, recognising a general desire that a distinction should be made between the deserving and undeserving poor, was willing to allow the second reading, if the bill was then referred to a select committee, with the result