The Hawaiian gazette. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1865-1918, 1912-03-22

endeavor, is just as reprehensible as it
is in any other phase of life. There
can be no objection to work for an
institution or a viewpoint, provided it
does not conflict with the general good
and is not selfish and partisan. Institu-
tions like the Sabbath must be made
for man. This must therefore be the
first test applied to social work.
1.-THE second test may be made o
part of the first, L state it, however,
as separate one. Is the service being
rendered or proposed necessary to the
community and is it of sufficient i'm.
portance TO warrant the formation Of
! a separate organization7 In these days
of multiplication of agencies for the
relief and cure of social maladjust-
ments, it is imperative that people
know, whether the service given or
| need is great enough to warrant the
formation of separate organization.
In determining this, no narrow policy
will suffice. The needs and problems
of the community must be known and
understood and this is where the social
expert renders his greatest service to
| society. knowledge is power, without
: it we can only grope our way in the
! dark aud probably be lost in the crop
/ ing. When people are in possession
] of facts, they can act intelligently
| and with some degree of accuracy. Wo
I must not lose sight of the fact how
ever, that social experiment is just as
! necessary as experiments along other
lines of scientific investigation. The
i experience of the past should also have,
weight in any answer to this test.
Test of Efficiency.
1.-THE third test to be applied is one
of efficiency. This would cover all mat
i tiers in regard to the conduct of the,
affairs of the organization. 1t should
| apply to the method of organization
and supervision, composition of the,
board of management, financial opera
1 tions and other business detail. There
is no reason why scientific management
should not be applied to social agencies
as well as commercial and Industrial.
g The old idea of competition or in
dependence is fast dying among social
workers. They realize that by them
selves they cannot save humanity and
hence are being driven not only to mu-
tual helpfulness and endeavor, hut to-
cooperation with other professions as
2 well.
I 81 am concerned however for the
: present, chiefly with cooperation among
our philanthropies, here in Honolulu;
we have not had this to any extent.
4 We have failed to pattern after the
chief industry of our Territory and
consequently our results have not been
: as large or good. There are three ways
u in which this cooperation may be
4 brought about. First it may be n
4 voluntary coming together of the va
rous workers. as in social clubs and in
/, discussion Of problems Cities like,
i Boston, Chicago and others, have such
organizations. The various individuals
and institutions in these cities real
lied the danger of isolation and have
adopted this method of mutual help.
fulness and benefit. These organiza-
J, tions are strong and exert powerful
! influence in their communities. They
have undertaken surveys and mapped
, out a definite program of work for b
, series of years.
fThe second method by which the
j social work of city may be coordi-
mated is through the State boards of
! charities. This is governmental control
! and is sometimes distasteful, because
, of politics.
'fThe study should be an extensive
rather than an intensive one. 1 know
i of no organization better fitted to pro-
mote such study than the chamber
e of commerce. With the authority of
: the chamber back of him, an investi-
0 gator would be able to get at facts
: such as would not be possible otherwise.
:. i'Some tentative form of supervision
/ could be undertaken by the chamber
/ while the study is being made and after
n, the facts are gathered more definite
= scheme could be substituted not only
e of supervision hut of work to be UNI
n dertaken in the future.o
2 George w. Smith was unanimously
n chosen director"of the chamber to sue
d coed the late y. +. Morgan.