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58
partaken of a hasty meal, heavy or sparse, according to the
family circumstances, would then make either a hastier return
to school or tarry again, according to his mental outlook on
punctuality. Nowadays, the child can have his meal under conditions
of regularity and correct dietary, with a consequent
minimising of digestion ailments arising from that hitherto
continual factor of haste and anxiety. The Assistant Medical
Officers are more and more noticing the beneficial results
showing in the nutritional standards of the children obviously
resulting from the provision of milk and meals, and Dr. G. H.
Stinson specially mentions that many children hitherto reluctant
to eat a dinner at home will do so with other children at
school.
Owing to enemy action and evacuation during 1944, it was
impossible to make any substantial progress with the extension
of the School Meals Service, although the Ministry's approval
of most of the Committee's projects was received during the
course of the year.
Some work, however, was carried out, and the kitchen at
Valley Council School was slightly enlarged, a separate larder
constructed, and extra cooking equipment and a refrigerator
provided. A new kitchen was constructed at Princes Plain
Council School and fitted with up-to-date equipment; but, unfortunately,
shortly after completion of the work, the kitchen
suffered severe damage and was rendered unusable when the
school was partially destroyed by enemy action.
The number of children receiving meals in school is still on
the increase, and for the year ended 31st March, 1944, the total
number of meals served to children was 423,727, an increase of
over 66,000 for the corresponding period last year.
Towards the end of the year a further 25 per cent, was
added to the family allowances in the Committee's Income Scale
for assessing applications for free or half-rate meals and milk
thus making a total increase of 50 per cent, on the original
allowances given when the Scale first came into operation.
Milk in Schools.
A slight falling off in the number of children receiving milk
is shown in a return made to the Ministry of Education in
October, 1944, when the percentage of children receiving milk
based on the actual number in school was 66.59%. This reduction
may be partly due to evacuation, which commenced in july
and partly to the fact that as more children take advantage of
the midday meal there is less demand for milk.