26 
we were noticing things more than we did then, twenty, and 
thirty years ago. He admitted there was a tremendous 
amount of bad physique, but he believed there was more bad 
physique in the old days that we did not take notice of. He 
would welcome medical inspection in schools, “ but,” he 
added, “ give us some reliable data as to whether we are 
advancing or receding.” As regarded the feeding of the 
children, he was of the opinion that Mr. Crossland had by a 
long way under estimated the cost. Wherever a child was 
improperly or insufficiently fed, he would be glad to think 
the locality could come in and supply food for that child. 
As a national asset the child ought to be fed. He was not 
so sure whether the local authorities had got the pluck to put 
into force the power to recover the money. He feared the 
provisions of the Act as to the recovery of the cost of meals, 
if left to local authorities, would only be half-heartedly carried 
out. Respecting the feeding of children, he remarked that 
there was a great deal of ignorance amongst people as to the 
food upon which children should be fed. Chips and fish, 
because they were cheap and easily got, constituted a meal 
which was far too common. 
