DEARER MILK
PROTECTING THE CHILDREN NEED FOR CO-OPERATION
Throughout the country local authorities are engaged upon schemes to meet the serious position likely to arise should the price of milk be increased to a shilling a quart. Reports from our correspondents in many centres show that whatever be the cost, nursing mothers, children and invalids are not to be allowed to suffer, and that steps will be taken to see that the price to them will not be unreasonable for an adequate supply. The need for co-operation is impressed upon all, and to this end municipal and other bodies are preparing schemes by which the poorer classes shall not be deprived of their milk, and to ensure that no district shall benefit at the cost of another.
Infant welfare centres, health visitors, and others are giving valuable help to local authorities in formulating plans, and everything will be done for the protection of infant life. Liverpool Municipality, in carrying out the advice of the Food Ministry, is merely continuing a system which has been in force in that city since 1901. At that time special arrangements were made by which a number of milk depôts were established for the purpose of supplying suitably prepared milk for infants.
During the war the system was considerably extended, and on the issue of the circular of the Local Government Board in 1918 further developments took place, and all houses in which births take place are visited by the health visitors. Steps are taken to see that every infant is properly fed with suitable food, procurable at a reasonable price, or in certain necessitous cases at a reduced price or even free of charge. An official of the local health department states that whoever else may have to go without milk this winter in Liverpool, the mothers and young children may be certain of obtaining their requirements.
There is no apparent danger of a grave milk famine in the Midland area, of which Birmingham is the centre, but already precautionary measures are being taken to secure equality of sacrifice in the event of shortage. Last winter the Birmingham and District Dairymen’s Association worked in co-operation with the medical officer of health in securing an equitable distribution, and a regular supply of milk was thereby procured. For the coming winter Mr. Ledbury, the Milk Commissioner for the Birmingham area, has prepared a milk “pool,” which he will manage in conjunction with the medical officer of health for the city (Dr. Robertson), the executive food officer (Mr. Richardson), and representatives of the Dairymen’s Association., The object is to see that no district benefits at the cost of another.
Beginning last Saturday, the retailers will supply weekly returns showing the demand, and if the deficiency generally is 15 per cent., and if in any town or district 25 per cent. deficiency is reached, the poorly-supplied parts will draw on their more fortunate neighbours. It is hoped by the operation of this scheme to prevent the necessity for rationing. The shortage at the worst period of last winter was 15 per cent., and Mr. Ledbury’s view is that this winter it may touch 20 per cent. as the limit.