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as to the grant of milk to children over three years of
age. The Ministry also required the discontinuance of
the grants of food to mothers which had previously
been made. Apart from these restrictions, the Council's
previous arrangements (as regards methods of
investigation, delivery of milk, etc.) required little
change, being already largely in conformity with the
proposals of the Ministry.
On the 26th August, 1921, the Ministry of Health
issued the now well-known Circular 234, in which they
intimated that it was proposed to reduce the Government
grant in respect of expenditure on milk from 50
per cent. to approximately 10 per cent. for the ensuing
half-year. It was also anticipated that the grant in
respect of expenditure during the next financial year
(1922-23) would be further reduced to 7½ per cent.
Expenditure by local authorities, beyond the grant
earning limits specified in the Circular, might be sanctioned
by the Ministry in special circumstances, but
in this case, the excess expenditure would come wholly
out of local rates. The public discussion which arose
out of the issue of this Circular eventually led to its
withdrawal and the reinstatement of the 50 per cent.
grant for the half-year ending 31st March, 1922.
A further Circular, No. 267, was issued by the
Ministry on the 13th December, 1921, with reference
to this matter. This suggested the provision of meals
for expectant and nursing mothers in place of grants
of milk, and also proposed that grants of milk should
be restricted to children under one year of age. As,
however, this Circular relates to the arrangements to
be made for the financial year 1922-23, I forbear to
comment further thereon in this report, save to point
out the difficulties of administration which arise from
the frequent change of policy of the central authority
in this matter.