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15
[1919

MILK (MOTHERS and CHILDREN) ORDER, 1918.
This order of the Ministry of Health has been in operation since
September, 1918, and from that date up to the end of the year 1919, the sum
of £2,137 18s. was expended by the Council in the provision of milk to
necessitous mothers and childern under 5 years of age.
It has been found very difficult to lay down a fixed rule as to what
constituted a necessitous mother and therefore as to the cases which should
be assisted, and as to whether milk should be supplied free of charge, or at a
reduced cost, owing to the fact that the circumstances of each case differed so
much, even when the wages were the same.
The Maternity and Child Welfare Committee, however, requested the
Medical Officer of Health and the four Welfare Centres to inquire carefully
into the position of all applicants, the demands made on their purses, whether
through illness or other causes, and as to their ability to pay even a portion
of the cost of the milk supplied, and authorised the Medical Officer of
Health to supply milk free of charge or at a reduced price, according to the
circumstances of each family who applied for assistance. 192 cases with the
periodical renewals were dealt with during the year, necessitating the issue of
378 orders on various dairymen in the borough.