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52
On the 31st May, 1915, Circular 906 was issued by the
Local Government Board and Board of Education, relative
to grants in aid of Maternity Centres and Schools for
Mothers.
On the 29th July, 1915, the Notification of Births
(Extension) Act, 1915, was passed, and on the same date
a Circular relative to the Act, was issued by the Local
Government Board.
On the 30th July, 1915, the Regulations under which
grants are paid by the Local Government Board to
Maternity Centres during the year ending 31st March, 1916,
were issued.
The Council fully recognise the need for adopting
measures for the reduction of infant mortality and the care
of expectant mothers and young children, and on 27th July,
1915, resolved to appoint one additional Assistant Medical
Officer and four additional Health Visitors, and to establish
two Maternity and Child Welfare Centres, at a capital cost
of £100 and at an annual cost of £1,348, as shown in
Appendix C of this report. Half of this expenditure would
be borne by the grant payable by the Local Government
Board. The difficulty, however, of finding the personnel to
carry on this work during the war made it necessary for
the Council to postpone its commencement at present.
When the war is over, or as soon as the circumstances
are favourable, it will be necessary for the Council
to attack the problem of the care of expectant mothers and
young children vigorously, as there is no work which the
Council has to do which is of greater importance to the
inhabitants and to the State.