THREEPENNY MEALS

Waipa Post, Volume 44, Issue 3183, 28 May 1932, Page 5

THREEPENNY MEALS

SELF-SUPPORTING EFFORT AT HASTINGS. A food kitchen, at which a twocourse hot meal is obtainable at a cost of threepence, was opened in Hastings on Monday of last week, and already is proving a great success, according to advices from that centre. The scheme is self-supporting, and that there is a demand for such an institution is., shown by the fact that the daily number of meals served has steadily increased each day. On the first day 51 hot dinners were served to adults and children, but in four days the number had exactly doubled. It appeared as though there were a certain amount of shyness at first among those unfortunate enough to wish to patronise the kitchen, but any such feeling has now* disappeared, and the kitchen is freely used as a means of obtaining a hot and nourishing dinner, either free or for the payment of threepence. The idea of opening the kitchen was put into effect by a committee of businessmen, but only after long consideration of the need of such a course, and of its w-isdom. There can be no doubt that there was a very acute need, and that there are many in the town who would not otherewise be able to procure the comfort of a hot dinner during the cold days of winter. Coupons of a value of threepence each are supplied to the Mayor, to the Welfare Officer, to the clergy, the schoolmasters, and to other properly authorised persons, and are issued by them. If a resident wjsh.es to contribute a hot meal, or a number of hot meals, he merely sends along any petitioner to one of the holders of coupons and stands the cost. It is a far more satisfactory method than that of distributing indiscriminate sums to those who have to make pitiful requests for a dinner, and one has the assurance that one’s little contributions go into the right channels. A paid cook is engaged, but the daily supervision is carried out by one or another of the committee. Breakfasts have now become necessary, and a few- call in to get them. Dinner at mid-day is the nonular meal, and the kitchen is largely patronised at that time. The most appealing service rendered by the kitchen, however is the provision of an early twocourse hot evening meal to school children selected by the martens and teachers and fed under their supervision. There are sadly large numbers of. such children and all douht of their n°ed is dispelled bv the assurances of those who are in a position to know their domestic circumstances.