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105
The care exercised by the foster mothers has been of a high standard. In two
cases there was some overcrowding of the home. In one of these cases this was due
to the fact that the child had to be temporarily transferred owing to the regular
foster mother having had to undergo an urgent abdominal operation. There was
one death of a foster child; this child was removed to hospital with whooping cough
and died in hospital. No inquest was held, the coroner being satisfied that the foster
mother had taken every possible care of the child.
During the year five un-registered foster mothers were found in the Borough.
Of these one had already returned the child to its parents when she was visited; two
were removed by the parents when the foster parents were told that they must
register; and two foster mothers refused to register and returned the children to their
own homes. In each instance the foster mother concerned pleaded ignorance of the
fact that she was required to register. Five of the foster children are of school age
and attend regularly. Those who are not of school age attend the infant welfare
centre.
DINING CENTRES.
There are two dining centres in the Borough, both of which are under the
control of the Maternity and Child Welfare Committee. Necessitous mothers receive
dinners on production of a certificate from the assistant medical officer of health.

In October, 1932, a scheme was commenced under which selected children
under five years of age who were eligible on financial grounds to receive milk
allowances should as an alternative be allowed dinners. The number of individual
toddlers who attended for dinners during the year was 109, and the total number of
attendances was 6,753.
MILK ALLOWANCES.
Particulars regarding the scale of income and the quantities of milk allowed
under this scheme were given in the Annual Report for 1933.