Economic and financial section > Problem of nutrition

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France.
In France, the distribution of milk is a matter for the municipalities,
not the State. In the north of France, there has been milk distribution
for two years past in many schools, 25 centilitres being given at the
morning break and the same in the afternoon. In certain schools, this
distribution has been in existence for two years past, the parents
contributing in varying degrees. The cup of milk tends to take the place
of sweets, which some of the children used to bring in their pockets
for their “ tea ” {i.e., in break).
Italy.
School assistance in the form of food naturally varies according to
local requirements, the class of school, the season and the circumstances
of the children.
It is provided by provincial committees of the National Balilla
Association, through the School Welfare Committees.
To take an example, the Rome School Welfare Committee has arranged
two types of school meal, one for open-air schools attended by children
who need special care owing to tuberculous antecedents in the family
(this scheme provides complete meals), and the other for elementary
schools (only soup with rice or macaroni, etc., and bread). This latter
meal is served free of charge to children in the first grade, while those in
the second and third grades pay contributions of 0.30 and 0.50 lira
respectively.
In the present case of schools under the Rome School Welfare
Committee, the schemes have been drawn up with the approval of the
Rome Health Bureau, and special agreements have been made. There
are numerous agreements between the authorities of the National
Balilla Association, the local School Welfare Committees, and the
municipal authorities. The “ Ente Opere Assistenziali ” (Organisation
of Assistance Associations) of the Fascist Party also concerns itself in
this work, both directly and by contributing to this form of assistance
in consideration of such special circumstances as unemployment or
poverty due to other causes.
In some of the larger centres, the School Welfare Committee also
arranges—chiefly in summer—camps in the mountains or by the seaside
on the same lines as those organised by other Fascist bodies. These
camps follow schemes of diet in which particular interest is taken because
the public authorities attach the highest importance to the rational
feeding of children.
Latvia.
Feeding of Pupils in Riga Schools.
The Riga municipality has arranged for hot meals to be distributed
to pupils in all elementary schools. In 1935, the total number of
elementary school children in Riga was 30,740, of whom 19,397 shared