MILK SUPPLY.

Hokitika Guardian, 9 July 1924, Page 3

MILK SUPPLY.

SYDNEY, June 2d. The announcement miiuc months ago that an experiment by way ol the provision of a certain quantity ol milk daily for the children of a large school in a poor class suburb bad resulted in a substantial increase in the average weight has caused widespread interest amongst educationists and sociologists. Recently the milk distributers of Sydney oll'ered to place a large quantity of milk daily live at the disposal of I lie Education Department for sebmils. where it was likely to prove beneficial, and it i' exported that a scheme will soon be evolved lor taking advanlag this generous oHor. An interesting experiment has been carried out recently by Miss llannant. headmistress of the James street Illinois’ Sol I, Perth. Out ol true womanly goodno's of spirit she has taken upon herself the task ol organising i, '(heme by which each child may" receive a ball-pint of milk daily at the commencement ol the luncheon ,v«vss in the form of hot all-milk

cocoa. # , Absence of kitchen conveniences and

proper .•ulinnry utensils necessitates i, wood deal of ineonvenienee, as the milk has to he lioated ami the cocoa j I toiled in a rather primitive iasluon | i„ „i.|niig-cut kerosene tins on one ol th e class-room tires. A nominal elm rue of l' l P ol ' ( ' U P is " l! " ,0 \ i " ul racer rush of thirsty hahes tor \ho comforting tluid, with tlieii ptnnu rattling in the pannikins or cups they must bring from home, indnates the success of the idea, which is » ;° ,m to those children who bring their hm.-l, Pannikins and pennies are seldom forgotten, hut there are eases where the production ni either is mioossihle That makes no difference—he hot drink is given without m one of the scheme nines. A little more thought could he* exercised to tl.e.r children's advantage by paients . proper half-pint enamelled mug is preferahle to a tin pannikin tor a child. „s 0 although anything with a handle on tt is infinitely better than a handless cup or an ordinary empty t« • too small to hold more than half the quaiititv considered necessary for the well-being of each child not to mention the discomfort a.ul poss.h, .t> of accident hy attempts to ho\d and carrv anything containing very hot liquid without a handle. Many ehildi ron are told to come hack and hate • their tins or tiny cups refilled. hut 1 that causes extra work on Miss Hannant and those of her assistant teachers unselfish enough to give up a great 1 jjirt of their own luncheon time for i ,j, is vprv good work, which was begun s at a suggestion from Dr Hoherta .Toll. : school medical inspector. The children who receive the cocoa are to he regularly weighed, and it is 1 hoped an improvement in the physique of some who appear to he in needl o milk nourishment will he noticed. Miss Hannant distributes four gallons of milk each day, and she has been for-

tunato in finding a milkman philan thropic enough to supply her at a reduced rate.