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17
During the first nine months of 1919 the Committee granted milk to
14 applicants only.
In October, 1919, the Committee had under consideration, a communication
from the Ministry of Health, impressing on local authorities the necessity of making
full use of the powers which they had under the orders of the Food Controller, and
the Maternity and Child Welfare Act, to secure that mothers and young children
were not deprived of the necessary supply through the increase in price of milk,
and intimating that the Committee should consider whether any extension of the
arrangements were required. The Committee decided to ask the Borough Council
to authorise them to incur expenses of a sum of £100 for this purpose.
At their meeting in November, 1919, the Committee had again under consideration
a communication from the Ministry of Health, and at that meeting it was
decided to recommend the Council to increase the sum to £500 a year.
At their meeting tne following month the Committee recommended that milk
should be given to 78 new applicants and the renewal of 16 cases.
At their meeting on 30th December, 1919, the Committee considered the
conditions under which milk was given. Where the combined income of a family,
after deducting the rent paid, worked out at a rate of 7s. 6d. or under per head
per week, milk was given free, after enquiries had been made, and the figures given
were verified. The Committee, after consideration, were of the opinion that the
amount of income per head should be increased from 7s. 6d. to 15s. It was further
resolved to take steps, by means of handbills and posters, to bring to the notice
of all concerned the facilities provided by the Council for obtaining free supplies
of milk for nursing and expectant mothers and children under 5 years of age.
These recommendations were adopted, and 50,000 handbills with 2,000 large
posters were distributed throughout the Borough early in February, 1920. It
had the immediate effect on the number of applicants as is evident by the table
given below. I informed the Committee towards the end of January that £400
of the £500 granted by the Council had been spent, and on 27th January the
Committee resolved to raise the amount to £3,000 per annum.
The Ministry of Health drew the attention of the Committee to the large and
increasing expenditure incurred, and at their suggestion it was resolved to ask the
Ministry to receive a Deputation for the purpose of obtaining the Ministry's
approval to the arrangements for the supply.
As a result of two visits to the Ministry of Health, the following revised scheme
was adopted, and is in force at the present time:—
B