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93
oases at the Special School. Now that the latter has been established,
it is hoped that the full scheme will be taken advantage of
during the ensuing year.
PROVISION OF MEALS.
Under the provisions of the Meals Acts, 1906-1914, the feeding
of necessitous children has been continued at the Municipal
Restaurant. Dinners and breakfasts were provided at the cost of
5d. and 2½d. per head respectively, and during the year 27,331
dinners and 2,093 breakfasts were supplied to 598 children. As
in previous years, a selection of suitable children was made by
the medical officers, school teachers, school nurses, attendance
officers, etc., such recommendations being considered and in suitable
cases approved of by the Meals Minor Sub-Committee.
SCHOOL BATHS.
An arrangement exists whereby the swimming baths are
available for children attending the elementary schools on certain
week-days, when swimming instruction is given. As already
mentioned, with the exception of the Special School, where spray
baths have been instituted, no bathing facilities exist at any of
the other schools.
CO-OPERATION OF PARENTS.
As in previous years, the attendance of parents at the routine
medical inspections was invited, and 53.47 per cent. responded,
as compared with 55.2 per cent. in 1923.
CO-OPERATION OF TEACHERS.
Much of tne success of school medical inspection is due to
the sympathetic assistance shown by teachers. In all schools
considerable personal interest is shown, and valuable information
made available regarding the children. Through the tactful
influence of teachers, difficult parents are often induced to obtain
or accept treatment for defective children. It is hoped that this
practice will be further facilitated by the recent arrangement of
keeping medical inspection cards at schools.