SCHOOL CHILDREN'S LUNCHES

Taranaki Daily News, 14 February 1919, Page 6

SCHOOL CHILDREN'S LUNCHES

BETTER ARRANGEMENTS URGED. ASSISTANCE BY EDUCATION BOARD At yesterday's meeting of the Taraniki Board the chairman (Mr D. Masters) referred to a visit paid by members to the West End school in order to see the system adopted there for eontrolling the children during their luneh time, and of providing them with hot drinks during the winter months- This Mr Masters said had very favorably impressed him, and he hoped other schools would adopt a similar system. He pointed out that on the. Supplementary Estimates a vote had been placed providing grants for lunch and cooking utensils for use at country schools- He had discussed the matter with departmental officials in Wellington who stated that the grant was intended for such a purpose. It would be realised, he said, that children in the back blocks travelled long distances to school, and if such a system as triat at West End was adopted in these places it would be appreciated by parents as well as scholars- Some children appeared as though their parents gave the least possible thought to the matter of their lunch. Some of"them iust got a few pence and were told to buy cakes or maybe sweets for themselves. Others he had seen walking up ■".id down public streets eating their ■nelies. and this he contended was not • ■ tlipir i> e gt interests. If something ;.""'£ he done to bring the children un- "'" "roper control at meal time and pro- ■ t'em with hot cocoa, they would be <<nter ing an immense benefit upon tlii'ir He then moved the following resolution: That upon application being made by school committees for the necessary utensils for providing cocoa for the luncheon of school children, the Board supply those require!) free of charge, and subsidise to the extent of £ for £ an 7 amounts subscribed Inparents towards defraying the cost of cocoa required during the monfhs of .Tune. -Tuly. August, September and Oeto. her. He was sure the teachers would willinclv organise such a scheme, which would be carried out narf.ly Vv the teachers- and pan'lv hv the scholars. a = was the ca=o at \Wt End which woiked satisfactorily. Mr Smith, in seconding the motion, said he agreed entirely, and the chalr- [ man was to be congratulated upon bringing forward such a proposal. JTp pointed out that in ' the local town schools there was r-hh? eirtrol nt lunch times, as no child was allowed to heem nle.r until the last child had finished its lunch. Tn supportir? the motion Mr White said the Board was renllv indebted to Mrs Rowling for initiating the scheme ar"* bringing it under their notice. Mr Smith said a similar scheme liad been in operation at Hawera far enme tine.