And these results are corroborated by abundant testimony from School Medical Officers, teachers, Care Committee workers and others, of the benefit derived by the children where the Provision of Meals Act has been put in force. "The children derived an enormous amount of benefit" from the meals.[503] "The physical appearance of the children speaks in pronounced terms" of the value of feeding.[504] "Those who have any practical experience ... are all agreed that such meals [free breakfasts] are of the greatest value, not only from a humanitarian point of view but also as a necessary adjunct for successful education."[505] "There is continuous evidence of the immense benefit conferred upon the children by the administration of this Act--both from the inspection of the scholars at the dining-centres and from the reports of the teachers."[506] These are a few typical opinions culled from reports of School Medical Officers. At Manchester "the operation of the provision of free meals acts very largely ... not so much in the way of improving the physical condition of children already emaciated and debilitated, but of preventing their ever reaching that condition by stepping in when the home income fails. It is certain that since the organisation of the supply of free meals at centres covering practically all parts of the city where they are required, _the number of underfed children_--_i.e._, the number showing signs of underfeeding--_has decreased markedly_. It is also certain that the type of child at the feeding centres is gradually improving--_i.e._, there are fewer children found in the centres with signs of the result of bad nourishment, and there are fewer such children in the schools."[507] At Bradford, where the Local Education Authority has systematically endeavoured to effect an improvement in the condition of the children both by the school medical service and the provision of meals, there has been in the last few years a very marked improvement in nutrition and "a fairly regular increase in weight amongst Bradford children as a whole. They are approaching nearer each year to the national average."[508] Footnote 503: Report of School Medical Officer for Macclesfield for 1911, p. 18. Footnote 504: _Ibid._ for Workington for 1911, p. viii. Footnote 505: _Ibid._ for Hastings for 1911, p. 14. Footnote 506: Report of School Medical Officer for Newcastle-on-Tyne for 1910, p. 49. Footnote 507: Report of School Medical Officer for Manchester for 1911, pp. 256-7. In the following year he reports that out of over four hundred children attending eight feeding centres, only ten cases of markedly bad nourishment were recorded. (_Ibid._ for 1912, p. 31.) Footnote 508: