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the rates on food for children who (by reason of lack of food) are unable to take
full advantage of the education provided for them in a elementary school of a
Local Authority, was limited to the produce of a half-penny rate, there is now
no statutory limit on the amount which an Authority can expend under the Acts.
They are moreover expressly authorised to provide meals during the holidays
and on other days when the school is not open. The necessary two annual
resolutions were passed by the Council on the 24th March.
An emergency Canteen Committee meeting was called for August 13th,
because of local distress caused by the war, and to consider the new powers
granted by recent legislation. This happened in the midst of the summer
holidays when most of the teachers were away from Edmonton. It was
decided:—
1. To give meals on seven days a week.
2. That members of the Committee shall attend at each school daily,
except Sundays, for the rest of the holidays from 10 to 11 a.m.,
to receive applications and issue tickets to carry on to September
5th, the date of the re-opening of the schools.
3. A notice of these arrangements to be placed prominently on every
school and in other public places.
Since August 16th, free dinners have been served at the following centres:—
Gilpin Hall, accommodating 200 children, September 1st to November 20th.
St. John's, ,, 130 „ September 28th to end of year.
Parish Room, ,, 250 „ September 1st to end of year.
St. Edmund's, ,, 220 ,, September 21st to end of year.
St. Michael's, ,, 220 ,, August 24th to end of year.
St. Alphege „ 100 „ September 1st to November 20th.
For the first seven months, 18,949 dinners were served at the centres
and 6,323 at the cook-shops, making a total of 25,272.
From the week ending August 22nd to the 31st December, the number
served at the centres was 78,725 and at the cook-shops 19,350, making a total
number of 98,075.
From January 1st to the end of July, the expenditure on food only amounted
to:—