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9
Provision of Meals.
This section of the work of the Education Authority
was taken over by the Medical Officer during the year under
review. Administrative methods have been altered and the
dietaries have been revised, two-course dinners now being
general at the Centres provided or supported by the Committee.
Owing to the shortage of Medical and Nursing Staff,
it has not been possible to keep records of the effect of
feeding upon the children. The maximum number of
children fed on an average in any one week, was 1,402 for
the week ending February 13th, and the minimum number
410 for the week ending December 25th, 1915. During the
whole of the year the number has continuously fallen. For
the year ending 31st March, 1915, the cost per meal for
food only was 1.497d. under the pre-war contracts obtaining
for that year. In June, 1915, the cost per meal for food
only had risen to 2.416d., and at the present time,
February, 1916, it is 2.675d. Table No. 67 on page 97
gives the costs of school meals, and incidentally shows the
large proportion of expenditure attributable to administrative
charges. This at once raises the question of the
advantages of a central kitchen, which is a matter which
will require the considered attention of the Authority when
the times are favourable to the movement.
Isolation Hospital.
706 patients were admitted to the Isolation Hospital
during the year, as compared with 979 in 1914. The
diminution in the number is mainly due to the diminished
prevalence of Scarlet Fever and Diphtheria during the year
under review. While the number of cases, however, of
Scarlet Fever and Diphtheria has been smaller, the type of
each disease has been more severe, and in consequence the
fatality rate has been higher than in the previous year.