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26
Food.
clean milk. Not only so but they fail to recognise that
by the adoption of proper methods a greatly improved
supply could be obtained with very little increase in
labour. There are signs that the Ministry of Agriculture
are alive to the importance of educating the farmers
by means of skilled instructors. It is to be hoped
that the inspection and supervision brought about
by the Milk and Dairies Act when it comes into operation,
combined with the instruction of the farmers,
will result in a considerably improved milk supply,
which we have been demanding for many years.
Milk (Mothers and Children) Order, 1918.—Under
this Order the Council has made provision by which
expectant and nursing mothers and childn n under
five years of age who are in necessitous circumstances
can obtain a supply of milk. The practice adopted
has been not to supply the milk at a reduced cost but
to supplement the milk supply of the household by a
certain amount of milk free of charge, in accordance
with the circumstances of the parents. In carrying
out the scheme an order is sent to the dairyman who
usually supplies the house with milk specifying the
length of time for which it is to be supplit d, the practice
being to order a certain amount per day for a month
at a time the order being repeated at the end of the
month according to the financial circumstances of the
case. At the end on each month the dairyman renders
his account to the Public Health Department.
To begin with the amount of income per head per
week coming into the house— less rent, insurances and
travelling expenses—which entitled the mother or child
to a free supply of milk under the Order was fixed
at seven shillings. (Recently in February, 1920, this
amount was raised from 7s. to 8s. 6d.). There can be