The Evidence for Voluntary Action
- Author:
Lord Beveridge and A. F. Wells. George
Allen and Unwin Ltd., London. 16s.
In the preface to Evidence for Voluntary Action, which is intended to accompany his ” Report on Voluntary Action as a Means of Social Advance Lord Beveridge explains that ” Organizations for Voluntary Action should be allowed to speak for themselves, as they act according to their own inspiration in serving society.”
Thus the first volume is supplemented by the basic information on which its conclusions were founded, and together the two volumes provide a fairly comprehensive survey of the field which voluntary action covers in this country and, in addition, some valuable suggestions for the future. The method in which the material is presented indicates the meticulous care exercised in the survey and the collection of the evidence. Part 1 is devoted to the Reports by Mass Observation, one being on the Friendly Societies from which several significant points emerge.
Other reports are on Mutual Aid and the Pub, Voluntary Services, and Aspects of Charity. The purpose of the latter study was ” to discover attitudes to charity, reasons for giving to charity, and whether or no people considered that charity was necessary in the world of to-morrow”. Here again significant differences are revealed: “Middleclass people almost invariably discuss the effects of charity on the giver, working class people the effect on the recipient.” Among the general sample little more than one in four persons thought charity ” a good thing “, while one in five disapprove. Fifty-five per cent, had no opinion. Among panel members, ” the vagueness is equally evident Part III consists of memoranda on the finance ?f voluntary action and is of importance to all voluntary organizations. The fourth part of the book is devoted to the publication of memoranda from fifteen organizations representing the wide variety of interests in the field of voluntary action. There is also a directory of some of the leading voluntary societies and an extensive, though not complete, bibliography on voluntary action. A valuable section of the book is that in which memoranda by individuals on special topics” are included. The contributors are Lord Beveridge, Mr. A. F. Wells, Mrs. Joan Clarke, Mr. Roger Wilson and Mr. John A. Lincoln.
It is not possible here to deal in detail with the numerous and varied facts and suggestions which every section of the book contains. With its companion volume, Voluntary Action, much information, not previously available, is presented ln such a form as to make for easy reference. The ^any statistical tables are comprehensive and varied, and in addition to the conclusions which are ?V??ested every reader will find in them a basis for his or her own comments and hypotheses.
With public attention focussed on the future of the v?luntary societies, the present situation calls for strict examination of their own affairs by all Voluntary organizations. Voluntary Action and ‘le Evidence for Voluntary Action, together provide much valuable material for this purpose. J.S.
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