MILK FOR CHILDREN.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 19218, 8 July 1924, Page 2

MILK FOR CHILDREN.

AUSTRALIAN SCHEMES. GENEROUS OFFERS. .Thom Ooh lwij Coreesponxient.) SYDNEY, June 26. The announcement some months ago that an experiment by way of the provision of a certain quantity of milk daily for tile children of a large school in a poor-class suburb had resulted in a substantia] increase in the average weight lias caused widespread interest amongst educationists and sociologists. Recently., the milk distributors of Sydney offered to place a large quantity of milk daily free at the disposal of the Education Department for schools where it was likely to prove beneficial, and it is expected that a scheme will soon bo evolved for taking advantage of this generous offer. An interesting experiment has been carried out recently by Mi?s Hannant, head mistress of the James Street Infants’ School, Perth. Out of true womanly goodness of spirit she has taken upon herself the task of organising a scheme by which each child may receive a- half-pint of milk daily at the commencement of the luncheon recess, in the form of hot all-milk cocoa. Absence of kitchen conveniences and proper culinary utensils necessitates a good deal of inconvenience, as the milk has io bo heated and the cocoa boiled in a rather primitive fasldon in oblong-cut kerosene tins on one of the classroom fires. A nominal charge ofId per cup is made, and the eager rush of thirsty babes for the comforting fluid, with their pennies rattling in the pannikins or cups they must bring from home, indicates the success of the idea, which is a noon to those children who bring their lunch. Pannikins and pennies are seldom forgotten, but there are cases where the production of either is impossible. That makes no difference —the hot drink is given without in one of the scheme mugs. A little more thought could be exercised to their children’s advantage by parents—a proper l».ijf-pint enamelled mug is preferable to a tin pannikin for a child’s use, although anything with a handle on it is infinitely better than a handless cup or an ordinary empty tin, too small to hold more than half the quantity considered necessary for the well-being of each child, not to mention the discomfort and possibility of accident by attempts to hold and carry anything containing very hot liquid without a handle. Many children are told to come back and have their tins or tiny cups refilled, hut that causes extra work on Miss Hannant and those of her assistant teachers unselfish enough to give un a great part of shcir own luncheon ume for this very good work, which was begun at a suggestion from Dr Roberts Jull, school medical inspector. The children who receive the cocoa are -.o be regularly weighed, and it is hoped an improvement in the physique of some who appear to be in need of milk nourishment will be noticed. Miss Hannant distributes four gallons of milk each day, and she ha-s been' fortunate in finding a milkman philanthropic enough to supply her at a reduced rate.