UNDERFED CHILDREN

New Zealand Mail, Issue 1727, 5 April 1905, Page 56

UNDERFED CHILDREN

THE VICTIAIS OF DEPRESSION. SUGGESTED PROVISION OF AIEALS BY LOCAL AUTHORITIES. PROAIISE OF INVESTIGATION. LONDON, March 28. In ti.e House of Commons last night Air J. Keir-Hardie raised a discussion relative to underfed school children. Dr J. T. Alacnamara stated that there were a million children attending schools in Great Britain who were not adequately fed. Sir John Gorst suggested that the Poor Law Officers in areas where distress Avas known to prevail should, provide meals for the children, and charge the parents with the cost. Sir William Anson, Parliamentary Under-Secretary for the Board of Education. thought Sir John Gorst’s suggestion Avas worthy of consideration. He promised to confer Avitli the Local Government Board on the subject, but pointed to the danger of undermining the independence and self-reliance of parents so as to break up family life. If the House acted rashly, the country might be committed to free meals for such children —.and then clothes and boots would be demanded. The question' of what should be done to meet the case of thousands of underfed children Avho attended schools in London Avas recently the subject of controA’erey in a number of English newspapers, and was discussed by philanthropic societies and at special meetings. Sir John Gorst took a leading part in urging that an effort should be made to put a stop to “the inhumanity of siding hungry boys and girls to school. In one of "his speeches he declared that it was criminal to make a child ivho had been without breakfast learn lessons. During the winter in London figures Avere

published which showed a high age of half famished children to b 1 n attendance at schools in the poorei onarter of the metropolis. The establishme of free meals for school children was advocated by many people and it was stated that for an expenditure ot one penny per head the children of the nooi could be well provided for at school kitchens.