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Food.
31
during the year. Contraventions of the regulations
were found in 8 instances, the defects, which consisted
of delay in limewashing, and non-removal of manure,
being remedied at once when Notices were served.
Milk (Mothers and Children) Order, 1918.—Under
this Order the Council has made provision by which
expectant and nursing mothers and children 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 supplied, 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 of 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 entitle the mother or child
to a free supply of milk under the Order, was fixed
at seven shillings, but in February, 1920, this
amount was raised from 7s. to 8s. 6d. There can be
no doubt that this Order, permitting the provision of
milk in necessitous cases, has been of great benefit to
both mothers and children. Care, however, has had
to be exercised to prevent abuse, for there have been
striking instances in which application has been made
for a supply of milk, and wrong figures of the income
given on the application form.