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(b) Dried Milk—supplied at the Welfare Centre attended by the infant; and
(c) Dinners (cut from joint, two vegetables and "sweet") to expectant or nursing
mothers partaken at approved restaurants.
The necessary orders are despatched on the evening of the day on which the Sub-Committee
sits, one copy to the tradesmen and one to the grantee. On the latter the following conditions
are printed:—
Milk supplied under this order is to be used only for the mother or child to whom the
milk has been granted. It is not to be given to other members of the family.
The Medical Officer of Health should be informed at once if there be :—
(1) Any change whatever in workplace or income of any member of the family ;
(2) Any change of address ; or
(3) Any assistance received from the Relieving Officer.
During the year the following quantities of milk were issued to necessitous mothers :—
Fresh Milk 11,462 quarts.
Dried Milk 600 lbs.
The approximate cost of milk given in this way was £362 17s. 7d.

The wave of trade depression and consequent unemployment had its natural effect on
the work of the Maternity and Child Welfare (Grants) Sub-Committee and the resultant
marked increase in the grants during the year may form an excuse for some special comments.
The influx of applications, totalling 2,519, for assistance under the Scheme rendered it
necessary for the Sub-Committee to meet fortnightly, twenty-five times in all. The
following Table forms a comparative statement of the work during the past five years:—
1926. 1927. 1928. 1929. 1930.
Total cases dealt with (Figures not kept) 1,300 2,519
Total of new applications 467 371 385 443 652
No. granted 365 271 273 337 575
No. refused or referred to Relieving Officer 102 100 112 106 77
No. of orders for milk 904 776 814 1,015 1,761
No. of orders for dried milk 149 113 149 152 361
No. of orders for dinners 19 6 — — 8
The figures relative to grants of dinners to expectant and nursing mothers may appear
somewhat low. During the year under review efforts have been made to urge such applicants
to take advantage of the provision of meals, but with little success. In most cases domestic
difficulties, such as the necessity of having to provide meals at home for other children, have
been advanced, and in others there is undoubtedly shyness at the thought of having to attend
a general restaurant, though arrangements are made for the meal to be taken in a room apart
from the public.
Of the 652 families whose applications were considered, approximately two-thirds were
unemployed. Three factors accounted for the remaining one-third " in works," viz., low
wages, high rents, and large families. The low wage type of grantee is chiefly the domestic
or hotel worker. With wages of anything between 20s. and 40s. per week, plus food, a rent
of perhaps 15s. to 20s. a week to meet and a wife and children to maintain, the difficulty
can be appreciated. The Sub-Committee has dealt with over 100 such applicants and many
will undoubtedly remain in the "chronic group" of grantees.