UNDERFED CHILDREN

Southland Times, Issue 21220, 22 October 1930, Page 5

UNDERFED CHILDREN

THE MILLERTON ALLEGATION.

DISCUSSION BY EDUCATION BOARD.

(Per United Press Association.)

Nelson, October 21

The recent allegation that school children in Millerton were starving owing to the slackness of the coal trade was the subject of a discussion at a meeting of the Nelson Education Board to-day.

The subject arose out of a letter received from the Millerton School Committee forwarding a request from the Miners’ Union asking for free books and one good meal daily for school children. The secretary (Mr H. J. Thornton) explained that when he had received the letter he had communicated with the Department, asking for permission to grant one meal daily for a fortnight if it was found necessary and had received permission to do so.

The chairman (the Hon. W. H. Mclntyre) said that he had investigated the position. He had met the school committee and asked for definite cases where children were going to school underfed. This could not be done, said the speaker, and tho statement was only a general one made by the Miners’ Union. If children were going to school without meals it meant that younger children were also suffering and he had wired to the Department asking that a child welfare officer be sent down and one left Wellington last night. The union was not at first in favour of this being done. "I do not think there is any real justification for saying that tho people of Millerton are starving and I think it is a slur on the parents to say that children are going to school without a meal,” continued the chairman. “In my opinion it is a mere gesture on the part of the union to galvanize the Government into action to prevent the importation of Newcastle coal and in my opinion, the means justifies the ends, but in the meantime the Education Board is not going to be stampeded into establishing a precedent by supplying free meals.” Mr F. W. O. Smith said it was inconceivable that such a state of things existed.

The chairman added that there were certainly a number of families who were not very well off and not able to buy stationery. It was stated that about £4 10/- was required for the purchase of material and it was resolved to grant this sum. It was further agreed to supply stationery to necessitous cases brought under the board’s notice.

Mr E. Trevena (to the chairman): You are thoroughly convinced that there are no cases of actual distress? The chairman: No case of actual starvation.

Mr J. H. Harkness (Westport): It is the first I have heard of it.

Mr Smith: It comes as a shock to us that New Zealand families are said to be starving. The chairman: A finer looking and more contented crowd of children could not be found anywhere. Mr Trevena: It is a serious statement to make and we should be fully satisfied that there are no actual cases of distress. To the chairman: Did you get the headmaster’s opinion on it? The chairihan: Yes.