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III.— Maternity and 6hild Welfare.
Milk.— A circular letter from the Ministry of Health, dated 7th January,
was received"on the 13th, conveying the Local Authorities Milk (mothers and
children) Order, 1919, dated 19th December, 1919, and the Milk (mothers and
children) Order, 1919, dated 22nd December, 1919, made by the Food Controller
under the Defence of the Realm Regulations. These orders revoke the Milk
(mothers and children) Order made by the Local Government Board in 1918,
and a simultaneous order of the Food Controller. The above Orders relate to
milk only and not to food. The power of the Local Government Board to
require Local Authorities to make arrangements for the supply of milk has been
omitted and the Local Authorities are empowered to supply milk free, or at less
than cost price not merely in necessitous cases, but also where such supply is
necessary, because of the high retail price of milk in any area. The quantity of
milk to be supplied is prescribed by the new Order.
In October I received from the Ministry of Health a circular letter stating
conditions under which licenses are issued, permitting the use of the description
Grade A (Certified) and Grade A milk. Under the terms of the Milk Order,
1920, the Food Controller required that no person should describe or refer to
any milk offered for sale under the above description, except under license from
the Ministry of Food. Together with this, I received a pamphlet from the
Ministry of Health with regard to the proper use of milk, which they enclosed
with a circular letter addressed to Local Authorities on October 20th, suggesting
that the specimen pamphlet might be useful information to M.O.'s and their
staffs, in disseminating useful knowledge on the special value of milk as a food
and showing the proper method of guarding against comtamination of milk
when taken into the home.
The Ministry also desired that producers and distributors should be
encouraged to undertake the supply of higher grade milk.
In May the Ministry of Health published an interesting memorandum with
regard to Maternity Hospitals and Homes, together with plans.
In July, through our Local Food Control Officer, I received from the
Ministry of Food, form "R. 29." This was an application which required
recommendation from a medical practitioner or midwife to be used by expectant
mothers for extra rations of sugar during the last three months of pregnancy.
IV.—Dangerous and Unhealthy Industries.
An Order of the Home Office, dated November 28th, 1919, came into force
on the 1st January, 1920. It required notification in cases of " Epitheliomatous