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50
APPENDIX.
REPORT ON MATERNITY AND CHILD
WELFARE.
To the Chairman and Members of the Public Health
Committee.
Gentlemen,
Maternity and Child Welfare.
Notification of Births (Extension) Act, 1915.
The Local Government Board in their recent circular
respecting the Notification of Births (Extension)
Act, 1915, have pointed out that Section 2 of the Act
provides that for the purpose of following up the information
obtained by the notification of births and for
facilitating arrangements for the care of expectant
mothers, nursing mothers and young children, all the
powers which the Sanitary Authority has under the
Public Health (London) Act may be exercised. It
will be seen, therefore, that the Act definitely contemplates
that the powers of Sanitary Authorities will be
used to promote the care of mothers and young children,
and having regard to the urgent need that exists
at a time like the present for taking all possible steps
to secure the health of mothers and children, and to
diminish ante-natal and post-natal infant mortality, the
Board state that they are confident that they can rely
upon Local Authorities making the fullest use of the
powers conferred upon them.
In July, 1914, the Local Government Board drew
the attention of local authorities to the financial assistance
they were prepared to grant in aid of systematic
measures undertaken for the reduction of infantile
mortality, and in the following memorandum they
outlined the matters needing consideration in the
preparation of a comprehensive scheme, formed with
the object of securing that medical advice , and where