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77
Supply of Milk and Food for Expectant and Nursing Mothers and for Infants.
The supply of milk and food at less than cor-t price was continued during the
year under the Maternity and Child Welfare Act, 1918, for:—
(а) Nursing Mothers;
(б) Expectant mothers in the last three months of pregnancy;
(c) Children up to three years of age and, exceptionally, to children between
three and five years of age.
Scale of Necessity.
The approved scale of necessity adopted by the Council on the 14th October,
1921, continued in force during the year 1924.
Applications received for milk free or at less than cost price are carefully
investigated. Enquiries are made to verify statements of wages and other income;
information is obtained from the Guardians of the Poor as to relief given for
unemployment or other necessitous conditions. Other possible sources of assistance
are investigated, and all practicable steps taken to prevent overlapping. The
applications are considered by an Assistance Sub-Committee of the Maternity and
Child Welfare Committee meeting fortnightly for the purpose. Where grants are
made the cases are reviewed by the Sub-Committee at intervals not exceeding
one month.
During the year 281 applicants received free or assisted milk under
the Scheme. This number included 118 who were receiving such assistance at
the end of the year 1923. Grants were made in 163 new cases. At the end of
the year 1924, 111 cases were receiving assistance, viz., free milk 79, milk at halfprice
19, prepared milk free 10, half price 3.

Thirteen samples of milk supplied under the scheme were examined to check
the measure. The samples were obtained from 9 retail milksellers in the
ordinary course of delivery at the homes. In 2 cases the quantity was found
below the standard measure and communications were addressed to the
proprietors of the dairies concerned.
Home Help.
The Council's Home Help attended 29 cases during the year in comparison
with 19 in the year 1923. Tn 13 of these the Whole-time Officer attended entirely
and in 8 she attended during the earlier part of the lying-in period, being replaced