FEEDING FOUR THOUSAND.

Auckland Star, Volume LVIII, Issue 45, 23 February 1927, Page 10

FEEDING FOUR THOUSAND.

COUNTRY CHILDREN CATERED

FOR. EXCELLENT WORK BY NAVY LEAGUE. Four thousand country school children were catered for at fundi to-day at the Drill Hall, Rutland Street, by the local branch of the Navy League. It was perhaps the biggest undertaking yet attempted by that organisation, and although it was a matter of distributing 4100 luncheons and 300 gallons of cor" dials, the arrangements were so complete in every detail as to ensure a satisfactory service. It was a great sight. A huge crowd of children, hungry after their activities in the Domain, were congregated in the big hall and the yards without. Each child, lunch-box in one hand and a mug of cordial in the other, leaned on the walls, strolled about as kiddies will, or sat beneath the drooping willows which gave grateful shade. Many of the kiddies were up before sunrise, some having come froni as far distant as Maungaturoto in the North and fiercer in the South. The contents of the lunch-box were, in many instances, the first food the children had eaten since breakfast. An assortment of seven sandwiches, two scone*, two small cakes and apple were contained in each carton. Those responsible for the, feeding of this juvenile multitude were Mr. John Alexander. C.M.G.. president of the Navy League; Mr. C. H. Palmer, chairman of committees; Commander Middleton, secretary, and 50 energetic workers under the direction of the Ladies' Committee. The girls' branch of the league also gave valuable assistance.