BLUFF

Southland Times, Issue 23335, 20 October 1937, Page 15

BLUFF

MILK IN SCHOOLS DISTRIBUTION BEGUN A large number of parents gathered at the Bluff Public School on Monday afternoon to witness the initial distribution of the Government’s Milk-in-Schools Scheme, this being the first distribution at any school in Southland. The children from the Convent School marched to the school under the direction of Mrs L. Mortimer to receive their quota. Among those present were the Mayor and Mayoress (Mr and Mrs J. H. Doyle), the Hon. T. F. Doyle, M.L.C., and Mrs Doyle, Mr and Mrs Bell and Mr and Mrs Thompson (representing the Education Department), Dr Irwin, Nurse Tangney and Mr E. Sinclair (Health Department), Mr H. A. Ferguson (hon. secretary of the local Milk-in-Schools Committee) and members of the School Committee.

After the children had sung the National Anthem, the head master (Mr J. W. Lopdell) welcomed the gathering and expressed great pleasure at seeing representatives of so many Government and public bodies present, and also such a fine attendance of parents. The Government was voting a large sum of money for the distribution of milk and as a representative of the teachers he could give his assurance that the latter were heart and soul in the project and would do their utmost to see that distribution was properly carried out. The speaker apologized for the unavoidable absence of Mr P. F. Bailey, chairman of the school committee, and asked the Mayor to address the gathering. APOLOGY FROM MINISTER Mr Doyle read an apology for absence from the Minister of Education (the Hon. P. Fraser) and as chairman of the Milk-in-Schools Committee also extended a welcome to those present, the large number testifying, he said, to the interest being taken in the school. Residents could take pride in the fact that Bluff was the first school in Southland to begin distribution under the Government’s Milk-in-Schools Scheme. Great care had been taken to ensure that the milk was pure and up to standard and it was confidently expected that much benefit to the children, both physical and mental, would result. The Government had allocated the large sum of £72,500 for the scheme and he considered it an investment well worth while. One of the results, it was hoped, would be a diminution in mortality from tuberculosis.

The Mayor congratulated the head master and staff on the work of the children (which was proof that the former took a keen interest in their own duties) and expressed the thanks of Bluff residents to the Government for making the scheme possible. In conclusion, he voiced appreciation of the co-operation of the health officer (Mr E. Sinclair) in the activities of the Milk-in-Schools Committee, and the services of the latter, including Mrs Mortimer who represented the Convent School.

The next speaker was the Hon. T. F. Doyle, M.L.C., who thanked the committee for the invitation to be present and congratulated the school committee on its first ‘introduction of milk-in-schools in the province. A special word of praise was due to Mr J. Harrison, the supplier, Mr Doyle said. He had put in an expensive up-to-date plant and it was very satisfactory to know there was a resident with sufficient confidence in the town to risk the venture. Had it not been for Mr Harrison the committee probably would have had difficulty in obtaining regular supplies. Continuing, Mr Doyle said the vote for education this year was £3,745,000, representing an increase of £349,000 over that of last year, and £950,000 more than for 1935-36. This year the amount voted for health showed an increase of £145,000, half of which was for the Milk-in-Schools Scheme. Personally, he thought the latter justified the expenditure and he sincerely hoped, and believed, the scheme would be splendidly successful. Mr Doyle concluded by congratulating the children on their work. THE PERFECT FOOD Mr Bell, on behalf of the Education Board, complimented the committee on its initiative. All medical people agreed that milk was the perfect food, the speaker said. Physical development was as important as mental development. He hoped to see the proposed improvements in the Bluff school buildings soon carried out. Mr Bell congratulated both children and teachers on the work displayed in the school rooms, in particular stressing the excellence of the hand writing. Dr Irwin, medical officer of schools, urged children not to drop out of the milk scheme; as its benefits would be very valuable to them in the future. Mr Sinclair said the scheme was a very good one. His department was responsible for the inspection of milk to assure its purity and that the pasteurizing was properly carried out. Bottles and straws used were all subject to the most careful treatment and inspection to ensure absolute cleanliness. Mr Sinclair added his congratulations to the committee on achieving its objective. Nurse Sams (Dental Clinic) urged the children to keep on with the milk drinking habit and appealed to parents to co-operate in the good work by seeing that the children used no lollies nor other sweets.

The Mayor formally declared the distribution of milk open and stated that Mr Harrison at any time would welcome people who desired to inspect his plant. At Mr Lopdell’s invitation an inspection was made of the work of the pupils. This was arranged on the walls of the class rooms and the display was greatly admired and appreciated by all who viewed it.

It was noticeable that out of approximately 350 children only a very small percentage declined the milk. Distribution will be continued daily at 10 a.m.

LODGE DANCE

The annual dance of the Bluff 1.0.0. F. Lodge was held in the Town Hall. The hall was attractively decorated with streamers. A feature of the occasion was a set supper. Mr F. W. McDonald was M.C., while music was provided by Mr Cecil Dixon’s orchestra, with extras by Miss M. McLauchlan (piano) and Mr B. Mehaffy (violin). A Monte Carlo competition was won by Mr and Mrs L. Morrison.