Meals From Shanty

Press, Volume CVI, Issue 31119, 23 July 1966, Page 16

Meals From Shanty

An Indian house which, according to the DeputyMayor (Cr. H. P. Smith) “hardly conforms with the latest by-laws,” is attracting much attention in Cathedral square.

Measuring Bft by 10ft, the house is built from scraps of tin, rusted iron, tarred paper and board. It is an example of the type of dwelling inhabited by the poor of South India, and is displayed to publicise the conditions in which they live.

Yesterday the little shanty was used as a base for distributing free rice meals. Given away to passers-by by Indian university students were 4oz cartons of rice cooked by a city hotel. The amount, accepted by most as an unexpected post-luncheon tit-bit, was equivalent to the total eaten by most Indians in a day. The shanty and rice have been provided by Christchurch Jaycees as publicity for their penny-a-meal

scheme to provide funds for milk powder to relieve the Indian famine. The city had been glad to co-operate in displaying the shanty because any reasonable means to draw attention to the need to feed the hungry was to be commended, said Mr Smith. The next stage of the scheme will be the distribution of 20,000 boxes throughout Christchurch during next week. Those receiving them are asked to put a penny a meal in the box. The boxes will be collected between September 3 and September 10. Those not receiving boxes, but wishing to contribute are asked to get in touch with the Chamber of Commerce office. The picture shows Mr S. Singh serving rice to Mr Smith outside the shanty.