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
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1090 xvi. labour legislation and social statistics of sweden.
The Question of »Own Homes*.
To the idea of procuring »own homes» in the country for people
with limited means, the State has long devoted its attention, but
it is only of låte that it has awakened any lively interest in the minds
of the public.
The first decisions of the Riksdag in this question were more of a State
financial than of a social nature. At the Riksdags of 1874, 1879, 1887, and
1888 it was decided to sell the smaller Crown estates. The terms of payment,
however, made it difficult for people of small means to take advantage of the
opportunity. In 1891, the Riksdag requested the Government to ascertain whether
people of limited means could not be helped to acquire farms of their own.
through the instrumentality of the State. This request caused the appointment
of a »farm committee» in 1891, which gave its report in 1892. The proposition
made by Government in 1894 to the Riksdag was principally based on this
report; the proposition of the Committee to drain wet ground and colonize the
enormous expanses of land belonging to the State in Norrland was, however, not
taken up, although the examination of these questions was recommended. The
Riksdag principally approved of the propositions of the Government It was
therefore decided that an entire or partial division into small farms should be
allowed of the Crown estates intended for sale. Furthermore, money was
appropriated for investigation of the question of colonization in Norrland. Hitherto
land has been leased in this part of the country to private individuals for a
maximum time of 20 years, and building-aid has been given on certain conditions.
At the Riksdag of 1899 no less than five propositions were made in the
question of »own homes». In these propositions it was pointed out what an
unfavourable position the farmhand has in comparison to the city workman. If the
farmhands could be provided with farms of their own on favourable terms, not
only moral and social advantages for them would follow, but the State ought, in
economical and other respects, to derive great benefit therefrom. The help from
the State ought to consist in loans with low interest and a long time of
amortization. The proposition caused the Riksdag to address Government, requesting to
have investigations made in the question of own homes, especially for the
working-classes in the country. Consequently the Government appointed a Committee to
investigate the matter, and it made its report in 1901. Upon recommendation of
this committee the Government has made a proposition to the Riksdag of 1904
concerning loans for »own homes» from the State. According to this the State shall,
during the next quinquennium, use, at the most, 10 million kronor of the so-termed
workmen’s insurance fund for loans, partly for dwelling-places and partly for
smaller farms. The borrowers are to be workers, men or women of the age of
25—50, Swedish citizens, and who earn their living principally through manual
labour. The value of the farms is, at the highest, to amount to 6,000 kronor,5«
of which can be obtained as a loan, while the dwelling may have a value of
3,000 kronor, with a loan amounting to 3/i at the most The interest is
calculated at 3% and the time for amortization to 23 years. The loans are
not to be by the State to the workmen direct, but the responsibility is to be
placed in intermediate hands: Agricultural societies, Associations, and employers.
The former would be especially suitable for arranging about loans for the
farms, inasmuch as they through their officers come in close contact with the
occupiers of smaller farms; the latter would be in a position preferably to wort
for the erection of workmen’s dwellings.
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