ABSTRACT
THE strength of the original conception of poor law administration had been its comprehensiveness, the ability of one administrative body to provide care for the destitute individual according to his need, whether it be sickness, deprivation or old age. In fact, however, the history of the poor law shows how this original conception became destroyed by philosophies and techniques which in the twentieth century were out of keeping both with the developments in knowledge, and with the spirit of responsibility in the people. Gradually the duties of the poor law became enfeebled and powers which had previously belonged to it were laid on the newly developing departments of local authorities. 1 These departments specialised in particular needs requiring service, making no distinction between the client who was destitute and the client who was able to pay. In this way the comprehensiveness of the poor law was finally destroyed and there developed a series of services based on specific needs of the general public in the treatment of which a high degree of knowledge and efficiency was sought. Many of these needs became clear for the first time, or were emphasized, in the changing climate of social thought and greater statistical and scientific information, while the 1914–1918 war, which broke down so many social and economic distinctions, forced some problems to the public notice in an atmosphere of greater responsibility and understanding.
