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48
These figures mean that the average amount of milk coming
into Woolwich was approximately a quarter of a pint per bead
of population per day. Actually during the weeks when the
return was obtained, it varied (excluding the railway strike week
when it was only 3¾ ozs.) from 5 02 ozs. to 6.04 ozs. The Ministry
of Food estimated that the amount of liquid milk available in
January and February for the whole country was roughly a
quarter of a pint per head of population per day, so that the
Woolwich milk supply may be considered an average one, or
perhaps very slightly over the average.
This supply is of course insufficient, and the liquid milk must
be supplemented from other sources. In London, it is estimated
that the number of tins of condensed milk used per head of
population per annum is 16. The supply may also be supplemented
by the use of dried milk, but no figures are available to
show the extent to which dried milk is used.
From the above figures it must be apparent that there is an
inadequate supply of pure fresh milk, and it is reasonable to
assume that many children do not get fresh milk. This is rather
confirmed by the fact, that during the railway strike, 994 priority
cards were supplied for condensed milk, and 557 for fresh milk
on behalf of children under 6, and invalids, out of a total number
of 1,551 cards.
There are eleven farms within the district where milch cows
are kept, and the total strength of the herds amounts to 458.
During the summer months there appeared to be a more plentiful
milk supply, but the quantity used by those mostly in need of
it, viz., the children of the poor, must be regulated in a large
measure by their ability to pay the price. This, unfortunately,
was on an ascending scale during the year.