KAITANGATA CRISIS.

Otago Witness, Issue 3806, 22 February 1927, Page 32

KAITANGATA CRISIS.

SCHOOL CHILDREN’S MEALS. The extraordinary condition that hasarisen in respect of Kaitangata school children was made the subject of a long discussion at the meeting of the Education Board on Thursday and it was. decided that the board should supply one meal per day to children 'of people who require such assistance. The chairman (Mr J. Wallace) said that some aspects of the case had been considered soon after the Kaitangata difficulty was announced. The senior inspector was the promoter of the scheme to supply meals to the children, and his idea was to send one of the cookery teachers down to organise the thing. ‘‘The Acting-Prime Minister was in Dunedin,” went on Mr Wallace. “I telephoned him, and told what we proposed doing. He said: ‘ls it necessary?’ I suggested that the responsibility of deciding this should rest with Mr Donald Marshall, the chairman of the school committee, and Mr. Miller, the head master. He said the Government would stand £25. I said, ‘Make it £so,’ and he said, ‘All right.’ So we telegraphed the head master as follows : —‘Board desires you to consult chairman school committee to ascertain if need for board to provide meals for school children during present distress. The board could loan a cookery instructor, and expend up to £5O if necessary.’ The reply came back : ‘The town was grateful. No immediate necessity. Suggest holding offer. Will wire occasion later.’ ” That exchange of telegrams took place about the beginning of this month. On Thursday another wire came to the board from tiie head master: ‘‘The time has arrived. Suggest beginning Monday, about fifty pupils. Children providing dishes and cutlery. Will assist to utmost.” Mr Wallace: I think we should now authorise the secretary to send Miss Ross to Kaitangata to organise the feeding of the children. I don’t suggest they should all be fed, but only such as need it. I think it is the best we can do. The suggestion was approved. It was decided to thank the Hon. W. Downie Stewart and the Government fop the ready acquiescence to the board’s proposal and for their prompt assistance. HELPING THE WORKLESS. At the weekly meeting of the Kaitangata committee set up in connection with relief work in Hie township a cheque for £26 13s 4d was received from the Kaikorai and Tramway Bands, proceeds of a benefit concert-, and the sum of £2 2s 6d from Mis Joan Smith, a Dunedin school girl, who had collected tiie amount from her friends. The mayor, who presided, stated that he had sent a personal letter of thanks to the thoughtful young helper who had shown such practical sympathy with the workless. The secretary stated that 17 cases of distress had been dealt with during the week, and 27 cases were recommended for relief in the coming week, one application being rejected. The Dunedin Methodist Central Mision has forwarded a cheque for £l2 to the Rev. Mr Bridge, of Kaitangata, for relief work. This is the amount of the collection taken at the special musical service arranired by the Rev. W. Walker and Mr C. A. Martin. WORK FOR THE WORKLESS. In relief of the crisis caused by the closing down of the Kaitangata mines the Public Works Department has alxjut two dozen men employed in the ChaslandsNiagara road works. It is the intention to employ about 46 men in all there, and th» final batch to complete this number will be sent on to the work on Wednesday.