View report page

73
If the women paid half the cost of the first two items, a sum of £1670
could be deducted, leaving an expenditure of £3,185. The deduction of a 50
per cent. government grant (subject to approval) then leaves a total cost to the
rates of about £1,600 for the year.
This is on the basis of the whole cost of the hostel being paid by the Council.
It does not take into account the cost of assistance to widows, who are already
dealt with by the Guardians; but in regard to this point, the saving due to
the expense being borne by the Council and subject to a 50 per cent. grant
would furnish a set-off to such additional expense as the Council might incur
over what would have been incurred by the Guardians.
I wish it to be definitely understood that these figures are submitted by way
of illustration and in no sense as a definite estimate.
In conclusion, I would call attention to the circumstance that a state system
of Mothers' Pensions for all mothers, married or unmarried, who lack the
support of a husband and are in need, would greatly lessen the provision
which the Council would require to make on the lines indicated in this report.
The Council have already (see minutes, 22nd January, 1919) informed the
Government of their opinion that a system of Mothers' Pensions is desirable.
I have the honour to be, &c.,
T. Shadick Higgins,
19th November, 1919. Medical Officer of Health.
The report was accepted by the Borough Council who passed the following
resolutions on December 17th, 1919:—
(a) That the foregoing report of the Medical Officer of Health be
approved and adopted.
(b) That the St. Pancras Guardians of the Poor be asked whether they
are willing to receive at the Leavesden Institution, by the request
and at the expense of the Council, children under five years of age
such as are referred to in the foregoing report, and for what
payment.
(c) That, subject to the approval of the Ministry of Health, the Council
do make grants to the Whitfield Day Nursery, 53, Whitfield Street;
the Edith Rendell Day Nursery, 26, Cartwright Gardens; the
Kentish Town Day Nursery, Gospel Oak Grove; and the Margaret
Day Nursery, 44, Ampthill Square, to the extent of one-half of the
deficit on the total approved expenditure after the deduction of the
payments made by the mothers ; the grants to be paid six-monthly,
the first grant being payable on March 31st, 1920, in respect of the
expenditure incurred during the six months ending on that date:
these grants being payable on condition that the day nurseries are
conducted to the satisfaction of the Council; that they undertake so
far as possible to receive cases referred by the Council; and that
the day nurseries be requested to consider the advisability of opening
earlier in the morning and closing later in the evening.