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8
This matter was, previous to my appointment, brought to
your notice in the report for the year 1926, and is a matter about
which I feel quite strongly.
I am still prepared to recognise the difficulties which confront
you, but do believe that year should not follow year without this
matter being dealt with in a radical way.
Provision of Meals.—The same arrangements for the provision
of meals obtain for 1929 as obtained in previous years, and, having
regard to the fact that we can no longer look upon the provision
of meals as a purely temporary measure, I think the time has
come when the temporary building in which the children are given
these meals should be replaced by a better and a bigger building.
I wish to pay the highest tribute to those who are in charge
of the children. I think a very high level is indeed reached not only
in the meal as such, but also in the way in which the children are
given an opportunity of taking the meal under advantageous
circumstances; but the building available is so small and the
general amenities so inadequate that those who are responsible
for looking after the children do not get any real chance of obtaining
results commensurate with their efforts.
The problem of catering for children who stay behind at
their ordinary elementary schools for their mid-day meal is not
a very real one, as the following table shows. It must, however,
be remembered that where the children who remain behind are
few in number, there is oftentimes the more need for supervision,
and although it might appear at first sight that the public gain
from the supervision is hardly commensurate with the effort, it
cannot be too often emphasised that correct table manners are far
more necessary in after life than many things which find a prominent
part in our scholastic curriculum.
There is, perhaps, nothing which limits a man's activity and
tends to develop an inferiority complex than a feeling of awkwardness
when in company at mealtimes, and in addition slovenly