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While well designed and equipped premises are important, they only fulfil their real purpose
when associated with hygienic habits in their users. Man is the source of most food infections and
if he desires clean food he must practice personal hygiene. If every mother obeyed in her kitchen the
same rules she wishes to see obeyed in shops and restaurants and brought up her family to obey these
rules instinctively, it would mean much for the future. These children will not only be the housewives
of the future, but also the future cooks and food handlers. Schools are doing something to teach children
to treat food as it should be treated, but the best place for children to be introduced to hygienic habits
is at home, where they should be part of the child's natural background.
Nutrition.— The surveys carried out throughout the country by the Ministry of Health, school
health service records and all available local evidence, show that the standard of nutrition is being
maintained and even slowly improved.
Under the Welfare (Foods) Scheme of the Ministry of Food, vitamin supplements are available
free or at low cost to expectant and nursing mothers and to children under the age of five years.
The distribution of these welfare foods is now the responsibility of the local health authorities. Though
this now links the scheme closely with the maternity and child welfare services, the use made of these
facilities by mothers is far from adequate.

Gross malnutrition is not seen in this country now, though no doubt there is still much nutritional
defect of a lesser degree. There is a growing volume of evidence that such matters as fertility, pregnancy,
well-being of the baby developing in the womb, development of teeth and susceptibility to infection are
to some extent dependent on the amount and type of food eaten. Quantity of food is not the only
consideration in maintaining a good level of nutrition. A careful selection of essential foods in balanced
proportions is important.
HOUSING
Shortage of houses continues to be one of our social problems. The compulsory and prolonged
sharing of houses by families causes physical discomfort, but also leads to frustration and discontent.
Scarcity of separate accommodation makes the start of family life difficult for the unmarried and the
bearing and rearing of children difficult for the married.

What action is to be taken concerning unfit houses is governed by the cost of the necessary
works. Unless the house " is capable at reasonable expense of being rendered fit" action must be in
the direction of closing or demolition. " Reasonable expense " has never been defined and with restrictions
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