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41
In the past the work of reducing the amount of preventable illness and
mortality amongst the infant population has been a definite function of the
Council, and it is desirable from every point of view that the large extension
of this work that is now going on should be intimately linked up with the
Council's work which at present centres round the Notification of Births Act.
For this reason it should be urged that grants made by government departments
should be paid to the voluntary organizations through the Borough
Council. This would enable the Council to secure a certain amount of control
and thus act as the co-ordinating authority in the borough for maternity and
infant welfare. In this connection it may here be stated (as reported in the
Council's Minutes for 24th June, 1914) that at a Conference held at the St.
Pancras Town Hall on 11th June, 1914, under the Chairmanship of the
Mayor of St. Pancras (Councillor T. A. Collins, j.p.) when representatives of 16
Metropolitan City and Borough Councils were in attendance, a resolution was
unanimously passed in the following terms:—
" That in view of the fact that the work of Schools for Mothers and
" Infant Consultations is intimately associated with that of local
" sanitary authorities for the reduction of infantile mortality and
" sickness under the Notification of Births Act, and otherwise, this
" Conference of representatives of Metropolitan Borough Councils
" is of the opinion that the proposed grants to these institutions
" should be made by the Local Government Board, through the
" local sanitary authorities."
It would also be advantageous for the Council themselves to make grants
in aid of the more needy of these voluntary centres which are carrying out
public health functions which in many districts are performed entirely at the
cost of the Local Authority. Such grants will still further enable the Council
to exercise the control necessary for the perfection of a well co-ordinated
scheme. Assistance, however, is already given by the Council in the form of
help rendered by its paid officers, and this can be extended if additional
health visitors are appointed. The question of the Council's making of
money grants to those Maternity and Infant Welfare Centres which are in
need of support for the efficient performance of their work has been held
over for the present until the Council is in possession of fuller information as to
the amount and effect of the Government grants.
An important question arises out of the Local Government Board's reply
to the application for a grant on the part of the Kentish Town Dining Room
for Mothers, and in this connection a letter dated 6th November, 1914, was
received by the Town Clerk from the Poplar Borough Council asking the
Council to support their action as set out in the following resolution which
they have passed:—
" That strong representations be made to the Local Government Board
" urging the pressing necessity for authorising in ante-natal and post"
natal cases intended to be assisted under the Maternity and Child
" Welfare Scheme, the provision (outside the Poor Law) of susten"
ance for the mother in suitable necessitous cases ; and that the cost
" of such contribution should rank for contribution from the Govern"
ment Grant."