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Full co-operation has been maintained with the
Ministry of Food in the isue from the clincs of cod liver
oil and orange juice for children under five, and cod
liver oil for expectant mothers, and with the Board of
Trade, in the issue of supplementary clothing coupons
for expectant mothers.
Two war-time day nurseries were opened in January,
which were an immediate success and the Council
decided to provide a further three, raising the total
accommodation to 240. Allowing for absentees this permits
of 300 children on the registers. At the time of
writing this report one of the nurseries has been enlarged
by 18 places, also to provide accommodation for 18
children at night whilst their mothers are working and
a sixth nursery is being prepared for 60 children and
consideration is being given to provide accommodation
for a further 100 children whose mothers will be in part
time employment. However much we may be convinced
that the place for the young child is at home with its
mother there is no doubt that the childs place is in a
nursery, so long as the mother goes out to work. In any
case the scheme for Daily Minders was a failure in this
Borough as although there were several initial registrations
to take children the housewives pratically all withdrew
their applications after giving the matter futher
thought, as they no doubt realised that looking after
children is difficult work and their household goods
would be wearing away very quickly with other people's
children in their homes.
Slum clearance and housing development has continued
in abeyance but there are many signs that the
post-war problem in this respect will be very different
from those of pre-war years and that very extensive
works will be urgently necessary. Many houses in the
Borough are now occupied by two families, a mother
with children whose husband is in the Forces letting off
two rooms to a family in similar circumstances, but in
view of the low standard of the Housing Act, 1936, there
is no evidence of more overcrowding.
Treatment of scabies commenced in the new year
and 475 persons were treated at the Cleansing Station,
but until sufferers present themselves earlier for diagnosis
and treatment and realise that infection is an
accident and not a disgrace there does not seem to be
much hope of eradicating the disease.
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