PUBLIC KITCHENS

Dominion, Volume 11, Issue 223, 8 June 1918, Page 9

PUBLIC KITCHENS

AN INSTANCE 01' SUCCESSFUL WORKING. In these days, when the policy of public feeding is inevitably being expanded, :_it may be useful to record the experience of a public kitchen which has worked most successfully since tho beginning of Novombcr in a West Country town of 80,000 inhabitants, and to sum ]ip certain conclusions (writes "C.'M.S." in the "Westminster Gazelle"). This kitchen is also a restaurant. People may buy and eat'their food there, or they may bring utensils in which lo carry it homo. It was started by I lie fnterpriso and munificence of ono lady, who mis awaro of its pressing need. She guaranteed it for the first few months, but she claims thai it is now perfectly self-supporting, and that the capital knt to it ii. the beginning will very speedily be paid off. This means that about 1000 portions of food, varying in price from fivepeuco a portion to ono penny a portion, arc bought every day by about 000 people, between the hours of 12 and 1.30. Hero is a typical menu with the price of each portion: Thick soup - 1(1. Greens Id. Mnslied potatoes It'.. Ueofstenk and kidney pie ... sd. Beef rissoles lid. Bacon, onions, and rice !ld. Jam roly-poly 2d. fiico and. custard Id. Who are tho customers? Clerks, postmen, warehousemen, workmen, errand boys, school children, working mothers, babies, young ladies from shops, and j there was one dog. The people who pay best by buying the more expensive portions are some middleclass householders who come from time to timo to buy tho family dinner. Business is mast slack on Mondays, when tha Sunday joint is still to the foro, and

most lively on Thursdays and Fridays, when the family larder begins to bo empty. A great featuro of this special kitchen is the number of school children who come for dinners. For twopence, or even a penny, these small people have a very good meal, and it is interesting to find that they improve very much in health from week to wee*. In -this special kitchen workers/aro paid, but the stall" who wait and the clerks who take the money are all voluntary. Tho entering and management is also supplied by voluntary workers of experience. From very small beginnings the kitchen has grown gradually to supply a real need, and has gained the public confidence. It is worked in premises for which rent is paid, but it must be admitted that it had tlio unique advantago of inheriting a great deal of necessary plant from a soldiers' club which had been worked in the samo quarters. Tho experience of this kitchen should be a irreat help to any town where people aro hesitating to try the experiment. There could be no greater philanthropy than to financo it for a given time, though this kitchen is a charitable concern, and no patronage is allowed. It is intended for all mombers of tlio community, in whatever occupation of life, who realise the need for national health and economy. Everything in it is supplied at tho lowest possible price, because no profits aro made, and therefore tlio whole benefits go to tho consumer.