LETTERS TO THE EDITOR.
[Letters of the length of one of our leading paragraphs are often more read, and therefore more effective,, than those which fill treble the space.]
THE CHARITY (YEGANIZATION SOCIETY.
(To THE EDITOR OP THE "SPECTATOR."] • agree with Mr. Cecil Chapman that it is high time that, full credit should be given to the constructive aspects of the Charity Organization. Society's work. The public mind should be disabused of the idea that the Society's work has been predominantly critical and destructive. The truth is, the C.O.S. has taken a very large share in shaping modern reme- dial movements and legislation. Limits of space allow me to give only a few examples: The Poor Law Conferences, which. have had so large an influence' in raising the tone and quality of Poor Law administration,, were set on foot and almost entirely organized by the. Charity Organization Society. In the movement for the better housing of working people, the Council of the London Society has from the first taken a large part. The Council's agitation for reform in hospital adminis- tration inspired the formation_ of the King Edward' e Hospital Fund Committee, and in reoent times it has been mainly responsible for the creation of the admirable Children's Care Committees. The system of hospital almoners, now adopted by the leading London hospitals, is entirely due to the initiative of the London C.O.S. The Charity Organization Society has also played an active part in theoampaign against the white plague by encouraging the formation of voluntary tuberculosis dispensaries, whilst the improved treatment of the homeless vagrant is in no small degree the outcome of seforms pressed forward by the Society. It may also be stated that the case- paper system originated by the Charity Organization Society has been made compulsory all through the country by the Local Government Board.
Finally, the Charity Organization Society may justly claim public recognition for the invaluable opportunity it has pro- vided for people to qualify themselves for social work. Throughout the country, in all kinds of spheres, official and voluntary alike, men and women trained, under the auspices of the Society are rendering conspicuous service at a time when the expansion of the relief work undertaken by the State Is demanding the co-operation of a host of properly equipped social service workers.—I am, Sir, &c., Casinos E. MALLET.
Redford, Oakley.
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