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Section 1 of the Maternity and Child Welfare Act, 1918,
enacts that any local authority within the meaning of the Notification
of Births Act, 1907, may make such arrangements as may be
sanctioned by the Local Government Board, for attending to the
health of expectant mothers and nursing mothers, and of children
who have not attained the age of five years and are not being educated
in schools by the Board of Education.
Prior to the passing of the Maternity and Child Welfare Act,
an Order had been made by the Food Controller by which a local
authority may, and when required by the Local Government Board,
shall arrange for the supply of food and milk for expectant mothers
and nursing mothers and of milk for children under 5 years of age,
subject to such conditions as may from time to time be presented
by the Food Controller.
The quantities of food and milk to be supplied shall not in
any case exceed the amount certified to be necessary by the Medical
Officer of Health, or the Medical Officer of a Maternity and Child
Welfare Centre working in co-operation with the local Authority,
or by a person authorised in that behalf by either of such Medical
Officers, or by some other person appointed by the Local Authority
for this purpose.
In necessitous cases in which the Medical Officer of Health
or the Medical Officer of a Maternity or Child Welfare Centre or
any person authorised by the Medical Officer or appointed by the
Local Authority, certifies that the provision of food, or milk is
necessary, food or milk may be provided free, or milk may be sold
at less than cost price.
The expression Milk for the purpose shall include any preparation
of milk which may be prescribed by the Medical Officer
of Health or by the Medical Officer of a Maternity or Child Welfare
Centre.
The Local Government Board at the same time (February
1918) made an Order conferring and imposing upon every local
authority within the meaning of the Notification of Births Act,
1907, and upon such officers as they may designate or appoint
the powers and duties necessary to provide for the due discharge
within their district of the functions assigned to local authorities
by the Milk (Mothers and Children) Order, 1918.
In order to give effect to these orders, a local food control
committee can adopt a Priority Scheme whereby priority of supply