The people's voice. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1939-1969, 1942-12-11
By DIR. HAROLD TASCHER

by LIN. I1AItOLO lAOCI1ER
Montana has made tremendous
strides in the field of public welfare
administration during the last ter
years. I have had an excellent chance
to observe this development since
September, 1888. At that time, / was
the only accredited member of the
American Association of Social Work
ers on the public payroll of Montana
Since then, the number has slowly in
creased, some coming in from the out
side and more gaining certification by
going from Montana to secure profess
sional training in social work and re-
turning to jobs in Montana. The plo-
neer work of the Montana Relief Com
mission to meet the tremendous pub
lie assistance needs of people during
the hectic days of the depression the
launching of work relief methods as
a substitute for direct relief, the pas
sage of state legislation in 1887 to
take advantage of federal social secur-
ity services, the establishment of the
Merit System Council in order to GER
agencies, the establishment of the
Montana Conference of Social Work
in 1888 for the purpose of interpret
ing social work more effectively to
the people Of the state and the ex-
pansion of training facilities for So
cial workers at Montana State Uni
versity are merely some of the evil
dences of the progress Montana has
made in the field of public welfare
administration.
A Positive Social Welfare Program
Is An Economic Necessity
1t usually takes the people of
state rather long time to come to
understand and accept new public pro-
grams This is particularly true of
social service programs. Since the
outbreak of World War II, much pub
licity has been released about the I'M
usually complete development of the
New Zealand public welfare program
This island of democracy so far from
the United States has a well-devel-
oped public social service program
and is exceedingly of it. 1t boasts of
it's ability to maintain high standard |
of decency and health for it's people |
1t doesn't bubble about "wet-nursing" |
it's aged, it's youth, it's workers, its ill |
and physically handicapped, its unem |
ployed etc. 1t accepts with convic-
tion that positive social welfare pro-
gram is a necessity whether viewed |
o1
slants.
Public Should Understand
Nature of Welfare Work
People in this great era must have
a real stake" in the world if they
are to sacrifice even their lives for
the sake of great social principles.
They get this stake" by being an ap-
preciated part of their communities.
The neglecting of human needs is no
way to create 'stakes," morale, sac
rifice and labor for social betterment
1t is of the essence of good economics
to meet needs of people constructively
before they go beyond the point of
successful treatment. If New Zea-
land has achieved the acceptance of
the wisdom of a positive social well
fare program, why can't we in the
United States who are waging far
flung peoples war, accept the same
In my opinion, the pub
lie must understand and accept pub
lie welfare services and maintain ]
them on high order. At present, l
feel certain that it is much misunder- '
stood and resisted Yet we are in
-otal war calling upon total support
ior the war and peace effort Posi- S
i've action is needed more than ever s
before. Are we practical enough to s