A CIVIC Union must not be confused with the ordinary
Ratepayers' Association common to many towns. The latter is usually formed with
the object of reducing municipal expenditure, and generally owes its being to
real or imagined extravagance on the part of the local governing body. The Union
now suggested would have a wider basis, and would be formed, not for rivalry
with other bodies or institutions, but to promote their efficiency and to aid
their work. But it would be founded to do much more than this. Local Councils
work on certain definite lines, and are largely concerned with ordinary routine
matters. Many questions are considered outside their province [Since this
chapter was written I have received details of the formation in Dunfermline, as
the result of recent events, of a Citizens' Welfare Union, which contains
the elements of a Civic Union, and has great possibilities before it.] not
frequently are they pioneers. The Councils, too, are not necessarily composed of
the most suitable men. The expense of election, the necessity of belonging to a
party, and many other obstacles often keep off the Councils the men most
suitable for membership, and the best interests of the community
suffer accordingly. The Civic Union, on the other hand, would be open to all,
without favour or condition. It would be primarily intended to form a centre
where all interested in the problems of the town—its government, its progress,
the uplifting of its poorest classes, the lines of true advance— would be able
to meet for the statement and discussion of these questions, and for their
organised study. But the work of the Civic Union would by no means stop at
academic discussion. Its members would unite for the purpose of carrying out
schemes of enquiry and of practical work. It may be thought that whilst a Civic
Union might be most successful in promoting discussion and arousing thought, the
difficulties in the way of its undertaking practical work would, owing to the
divergent schools of thought represented in the Union, be practically
insurmountable. This objection, when the Society gets to work, will be found not
to have much foundation. Difficulties in carrying out social and other schemes
usually arise because men approach them wearing the label of party or sect, and
feel themselves committed in advance to one side or the other. The basis of
membership of our Civic Union would, however, naturally be the desire to
co-operate in schemes for the common welfare without reference to political,
sectarian, or other differences, and when men and women come together, as many
will always be found eager to do, with a desire to share that spiritual impetus
arising from the communion of sincere workers for good, those artificial
difficulties largely created by a false system of public life are soon found to
be capable of solution.
Further, in a Civic Union the group system would naturally be
evolved. By this is meant that various sections would be formed, and members
specially interested in certain questions would group themselves around the
sections which would respectively deal with these. The system of specialisation
which this would lead to would be one of the most valuable features of the
Association, and would immensely increase its importance and influence. It would
also be quite compatible with that general co-operation of all sections of the
Union so necessary in a movement which must be synthetic.
It may, without undue presumption, be claimed that a Civic
Union such as is now outlined would be able frequently to give a true lead alike
to the Town Council and to the Carnegie Trust. Members of both bodies are
frequently largely engrossed by their ordinary business and professional duties,
and are only able to give to their public work moments snatched from these. Such
men would frequently be only too grateful for the expert information,
sympathetic cooperation and wise guidance which the Civic Union would lay itself
out to give. Indeed, it is to be regretted that this point is not more generally
realised
in other departments of our public life. How often, for
instance, the average member of Parliament is prevented by the mere stress of
his life from devoting the necessary time to the investigation and adequate
understanding of the innumerable questions and problems with which he is ever
confronted, and how helpful to him, whether acknowledged or not, must be the
guidance of the specialists, whose claim to be heard is based upon knowledge
attained by laborious research and applied with wisdom and understanding.
It is perhaps hardly necessary to
enter into minute details concerning the organisation and government of the
Civic Union. Only necessary principles need be here mentioned. As already
indicated, there should be no formal test for membership beyond the unexpressed
one of the possession of what, for want of a better term, we may call the social
spirit. The subscription should be fixed as low as possible, so that membership
should never become a matter of class. Funds for special work and expenses might
be raised by private donations, for help in gifts as in service would be alike
welcome. The constitution and rules would of course rest finally with the
members, who would naturally elect annually the officials of the Union,
including a president, chairman, secretary, treasurer, and an executive
committee. The success of the movement would obviously depend in a large measure
upon the committee and its officers.
It would be idle to attempt to
give an exhaustive list of the work which might fitly be undertaken by our Civic
Union, for it has before it a field of labour—much of it virgin ground—so large
that the difficulty would be where to stop. Nor is it desirable at such a stage
to attempt to fix rigorously lines of activity and definite schemes for work.
For the Association must naturally develop slowly, and extend its boundaries in
the light of its own experience. Thus will the value and the permanence of its
work be more surely attained.
Yet there is one scheme of social
service so necessary and urgent in its character, so fraught with possibilities
for good, and so suitable for a Civic Union to undertake, that I venture to
submit it first for consideration. This is a survey of the social condition of
Dunfermline. By this is meant an investigation of the actual conditions under
which the bulk of the poor in the town live. Such investigations have taken
place in York, London, and one or two Scottish towns, and have provided accurate
data upon which to base schemes of reform. An investigation like this depending
for its accuracy and success upon the tact and sympathy shown by those
conducting it, could best be carried out by a band of voluntary workers whose
interest in the social cause would enable them to overcome the not
inconsiderable difficulties which would attend such a scheme.
It would not perhaps be possible
or indeed necessary to survey the whole of the town, so long as a sufficiently
representative portion was done as would afford a trustworthy guide to the
condition of the town as a whole. Thus, for instance, one of the chief
elementary schools in the town might be selected, the addresses of all the
scholars obtained, and investigation made at all of these by the committee of
enquirers. Each member of the latter/would be given a certain number of houses
to visit, and would have printed schedules on which he would himself fill in the
information he gathered from his enquiries. This information should cover the
following points :—
Name and age of parents.
Husband's occupation and earnings.
Wife's occupation and earnings (if any).
Number, sex, and ages of children.
Occupations and earnings of any at work.
Rent of dwelling-house.
Number of rooms, showing separately the number used as bedrooms.
Details of sanitary arrangements.
Number of hours worked daily, and the period of same in the
case of the husband and any other members of the family at work.
The investigator would also add the details he would be able
to see for himself as to the hygienic conditions of the house, and his
impressions generally.
It will no doubt be urged that such a system of enquiry would
be keenly resented by the poor themselves, and that it would be almost
impossible to get the information sought in an accurate form. The reply is that
all would depend upon the investigator, for if those he visited became
instinctively aware of his (or her) genuine sympathy and absolute sincerity,
there would be no reluctance to give information which would be justly refused
if demanded like a census return. In a word, the success or failure of the plan
rests upon the tact and wisdom with which it is organised and carried through.
That success is attainable is seen by the accomplishment of similar enquiries in
other towns.
The importance of the information
resulting, when properly sifted and tabulated, hardly needs to be emphasised
here. There is no better way of showing what the condition and needs of the town
really are, and of giving at once justification and inspiration for the measures
of reform thus shown to be necessary.
Though, as already indicated, it
is not proposed to sketch in comprehensive detail the activities to be
undertaken by the Civic Union, it may be pointed out that many of the social
schemes put forth in this book can hardly be realised by the unaided work of the
Carnegie Trustees, even if the latter were willing to undertake them. The Civic
Union, therefore, will not only by its expert investigations into the problems
of the town, and the methods of solving them, influence action by the Carnegie
Trustees, as also by the Town Council and School Board, but will itself give
practical assistance in carrying out such action. In the slum problem, the
development and proper use of Pittencrieff Park, the foundation of educational
and recreative clubs, the development of the public library, the work of the
social settlement, will be found work to occupy all sections of the most
progressive of Civic Unions. Yet the writer would add one other suggestion
relating to a matter at once urgent and vital. It is the cultivation of a sound
public feeling on the subject of hygiene and the laws of health. So far as the
young people of the town are concerned, it is to be hoped that the schools will
have an increasing influence. For the other sections of the community the Civic
Union may do much, both by lectures and the publication of information in
leaflets, etc. Great numbers of the people live unhealthy lives at present only
for the lack of knowledge, particularly on such subjects as ventilation,
exercise, and personal habits, clothing, and similar questions. Ignorance and
thoughtlessness are also probably responsible in a large measure for the
extraordinary prevalence of the dangerous habit of expectoration. Not only is
this practised in the streets, on the railway stations, in the carriages, but
also in concert room and theatre. If reform in this direction were to be the
first work undertaken by the Civic Union, it would place the community of
Dunfermline under no inconsiderable obligation.
Finally, perhaps the Civic Union may prove to be the best
agency for leading a movement of licensing reform, and of gathering together
such a body of public opinion as shall ensure not only that the
evil shall not be made greater through the unseen workings of powerful vested
interests, but that the present over-licensed condition of the town shall be
genuinely remedied, and the opportunity given for other agencies to have fair
scope for their beneficent activities.
