Mexborough & Swinton Times – Saturday 24 May 1941

Meals at 3 ½ d

Wombwell Councillor Wants Explanation

A statement by the Clerk (Mr. C. Ellison) that during the previous month mid-day meals had been provided at the Jump School feeding centre at an average of 3.66 d. per head, was discussed at a meeting of Wombwell Education Committee on Monday.

Coun. R. T. Preston said the cost of food was on the increase, and hoped they were not complimenting themselves on their ability to cut down the price of meals to children.

The Clerk said that during the previous four months the average price per meal had varied from 5.1 d., 6d., 4.6 d. to 3.66 d.

Mrs. E. Mellor, who supervises the centre, said the simple explanation was that during the previous month they had been using up food stocks. When food was plentiful they took the precaution of getting in a good supply of dried food, and they were now using it. She had told the workers at the centre not to use from stock until it was absolutely necessary. “You can be assured,” she said. “that for many months at any rate the children will not go short.”

The Chairman (Mr. H. Hallsworth. J.P.), said some months ago they received a lot of bills, and during other months there were no bills to pay. That alone accounted for the variation.

Coun. E. Wainwright said if Coun. Preston had no proof that the meals were being curtailed he had no right to make the remark.

The Clerk said it was not a question of finding out how little they could supply the meals for, but of how much they could supply. Food was rationed, and they could not get meat ad lib. There was no shortage of food at their feeding centres.

The Committee decided to suspend the provision of meals at Jump on Monday and Tuesday in Whit-week, and the supply of milk at all schools during the whole of Whit-week.

The Clerk said they hoped to be able to open the new feeding centre at King’s Road School, Wombwell, next Monday. They would open with 121 children from King’s Road, Park Street, and the Modern School. When they had seen how it worked they hoped to extend the scheme to take in John Street, Barnsley Road, and eventually St. Michael’s R.C. School. When the Clerk informed Mrs. Mellor that meals were to be taken to the Modern School in containers by two older children, Coun. E. Wainwright said, “I think the boys and girls who are older ought to come down and show the others an example. I think it would be useful if they could sit around and mix with them.”

The Chairman said it was a question of accommodation. If there had been room available the Modern School pupils would have gone to King’s Road.

The Clerk said that at the outset the price per meal would be 4d. per head. The parents of most of the children would pay for the meals.

Coun. Wainwright reported on the development of the new youth movement, and said most of the young people seemed to be interested in physical training, cycling, and other athletic exercises. A number of the boys wanted to have a dance band of their own. Another youth social and rally was to be held on Wednesday of next week. “It will mean hard work,” said Coun. Wainwright, ” but I feel that the youth movement will be a success in this district.”

School attendances for April were equivalent to 88.26 per cent as against 88.38 the previous month, and 89.69 in April of last year. Topping the list were Park Street Juniors 93.39, King’s Road Juniors 91.07, Hemingfield Junior and Infants 90.74, Park Street Infants 90.62, and Jump Council Juniors 90.62.

Regarding vacancies for C.A. teachers at Broomhill and King’s Road Infants’ Schools, the Committee decided to interview Miss Margaret Allen, of Swinton, Miss Joan Watson, of Mexborough, Miss Dorothy Garside, of Sprotborough, and Mrs. Prendergast at present on the staff of Jump School, on Friday. May 30th.

The Clerk explained that the County had relaxed their ban on the employment of married women teachers during the war.

It was decided to appoint a helper for Barnsley Road Nursery School at the same meeting.