Scandinavian American. [volume] (Seattle, Wash.) 1945-1958, 1946-10-01

ated at $50 million kronor ($216,-
700,O0O), which involves an in
crease of 400 millions over pres
ent expenditure. The premium
payments will amount to about
one per cent of taxable income,
the maximum premium, however,
being fixed at 100 kronor (S28)
and the minimum one at 6 kroner
($1.66).
Free school lunches and
free books.
Free school lunches and free
school books and writing mater
ial are other social improvements.
Free school lunches have, as a
matter of fact, been served at
various Swedish ele m e n ar
schools for a long time, particul-
arly in the sparsely populated
northern parts of the country. In
1887 the government began to pay
subsidies to communities which
/ pTON4utu lIee SClioOl luiCICo. III
the year 1945-46 10000 chill
dren received such free meals. 1t
is nov the intention to introduce
the same privilege in all elemen-
tary shcools, and for certain pu-
pills at the secondary schools, in
the course of a Swear period.
The "school-book" reform in
wolves that all the pupils at the
elementary schools - more than
half million children will re-
ceive their books and writing ma
terial free of cost as from the au-
tumn term of 1916. In areas
where the children have a long
way to go to school, the authori-
ties also pay their travelling
costs.
Three weeks vacation for miners
and juvenile workers.
In 1889, law was passed stip-
ulating at least two weeks paid
vacation for all regular employees.
For most workers this meant an
increase of ten whole days, while
office employees and officials gem
orally already had longer holidays
However according to new law
in effect as from July l, 1916, the
vacation period has been extend
ed to three weeks for large
groups of workers, including
| among others, all persons under
| IS, workers underground, miners
in the far north, those having at
least four hours night work OF
working a minimum of four hours
| in darkrooms. Persons exposed tc
the risk of dangerous effects oil
X-rays and rad.um are entitled tC
six weeks.
Another interesting Swedish
social reform which has recently
been considerably extended is The
right to free rail travel for chill
dren and mothers of small mean:
in connection with vacations OF
for other urgent purposes. Chill
dren of families with incomes "
to $500 kronor (S695) and tax
able property not exceeding 20,
900 kronor (S5,56O) are entitled
to free travel up to 600 kilomoter.
/ 1915 miles,, and in the sparSelN
populated northern provinces, VI
to twice that distance. Mother!
in this income class, with at leas
two children under IA, may nov
travel for any distance, but hav'
to make the return journey with
in ten days. These free trave
facilities have also been arrange
! to make possible vacations 70
poor housewives, another socia
measure to which the local as wei
as the central authorities are de
llvoting much attention. Free va
cations for housewives were start
| ed on a small scale even befor
the war. and facilities are nov
being gradually extended.
i The above gives a few glimpse
of some of the social reforms, o
extensions passed, or scheduled t
be passed. by the present Riks
| dag. Others could be mentioned