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 THE RELATION OF LEGAL RELIEF TO PRIVATE CHARITY

controversy as to the respective functions and merits of public and private relief is no new one; in order to understand it rightly it is necessary to know something of the history of the question, both past and present, and this it will be my endeavour to sketch briefly to-day. The subject has been discussed more than once before at these Conferences. It was my privilege to be present upon one such occasion six years ago, and I was then impressed on the one hand by the enlightened views of many of the speakers, on the other by the fact that there were still a considerable number of Poor Law administrators who failed to recognise the underlying distinction between public and private relief, and were content to deal with the question by rule of thumb. Since then much water has flowed under the bridges. There has been a considerable swing in the pendulum of public opinion, and several important changes in legislation affecting the poor. Many new Guardians have been elected who desire to get at the truth in these matters, and it is for every reason very desirable that the subject should be again discussed from every aspect.

Though there is at present a tendency to regard the teaching of experience as the enemy of progress, I cannot think that such views will commend themselves to this Conference. On the contrary, all real progress must obviously be based upon experience and upon that