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the family consisted of the parents and 8 children, of ages ranging
from 15 months to 15 years. By the end of 1923, two more
children had been born. The father was out of work. The
total income of the family was 28s. per week, earned by the two
eldest sons, 17 years and 16 years—the former a street newsvendor,
the latter a messenger. They occupied two rooms, for
which they paid 8s. 7d. weekly rent. The family was given
grants more or less continuously from 1921 to the end of 1923,
by which time the Maternity Sub-Committee felt that the family
could not apparently be re-established on a self-supporting basis.
They were then referred for relief to the Guardians of the Poor
Law. It will be noted that although the family was in serious
difficulties in 1921, although they had only two rooms to accommodate
themselves and 8 children, yet into this extremely limited
accommodation two more children were born by the end of 1923.
The Council's free grant consisted of daily dinners for the
mother, and two pints of milk daily for the babies.
2. The first application for a grant was in April, 1923. The
father was a "dealer," who had been in prison. He disappeared,
leaving no trace, shortly after the baby was born.
The child was 1 year 10 months old, illegitimate, and suffered
from diarrhoea. Six weeks after the birth of the child, the mother
was turned adrift by her parents. She became a casual charwoman,
and did occasional scrubbing work in various institutions.
Her earnings were about 5s. per week. She shared
a room with a girl friend, for which she paid 3s. weekly rent.
She lived principally on "tea." She was not eligible for
National Health or Unemployment Insurance benefits. The
Council's grant consisted of one pint of milk free daily for the
baby and was continued through the whole of 1923.
3. The mother was a charwoman and single. The father
was an engine attendant at a "roundabout," making a circuit
of country fairs, and could not be traced. The first application
for a grant was made in April, 1922. The mother was then
expectant, and had no income. She was stated to be friendless.
Her parents were dead. She was attended in her confinement
by a medical student from St. Bartholomew's Hospital. She had