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26
Under the provisions of the Meals Act, 1906-14, the feeding of
necessitous school children was continued as heretofore at the
Municipal Restaurant. Dinners and breakfasts were provided
at a cost of 3d. and 2½d each respectively. During the year 25,238
dinners, and 202 breakfasts were supplied to 394 children, suitable
cases being selected by the medical officers, school teachers, nurses
and attendance officers.
The menus in use are submitted weekly to the medical officer,
and I am happy to be able to state that our every suggestion has
received the kind attention of the Treasurer, who is in charge of the
Municipal Kitchen.
(12) SCHOOL BATHS.
With the exception of the Special School and Park Modern
school, which are provided with spray baths, no baths exist in any
of the other schools.
In connection with verminous conditions and scabies, baths
and disinfestations are provided at the cleansing station.
Public swimming baths in East Street, belonging to the Council,
are available for children attending the elementary schools on certain
weekdays during part of the year, when swimming instruction is
given.
(13, (14), (15) & (16) CO-OPERATION OF PARENTS,
TEACHERS, SCHOOL ATTENDANCE ' OFFICERS, AND
VOLUNTARY BODIES.
The attendance of parents at the medical inspections throughout
the year was 62.7 per cent., compared with 60.7 per cent, in 1926.
The teachers take a kindly interest in the work of medical inspections
in spite of the interruption entailed, and their help is most
valuable, while communication and mutual assistance are constant
between the medical staff and the school attendance department.
The number of parents actually refusing medical examination
during the year was 21, as compared with 29 last year. It would
probably be found, if these cases were investigated, that in several,