Newspaper Article 2009 – The Good Cheer Depot took care of less fortunate

The Good Cheer Depot took care of less fortunate

Historian Michael Fowler looks at how we coped with the Great Depression and the introduction of a soup kitchen

“Boiling hot vegetable broth with more or less unlimited bread”

During the 1930s Great Depression, the Hawke’s Bay Tribune (now Hawke’s Bay Today) reported the growing number of Hastings men unemployed each week (Maori and women were excluded).

Those without jobs rose from 644 in May 1932, to a peak of 958 in July that year. While these numbers may seem small today, the population of Hastings at the time was about 13,000 people.

Help was needed, which was not forthcoming from the government.

With the approach of winter in 1932, a group of Hastings businessmen feared the worse for its less fortunate citizens, and made plans in May to open a soup kitchen to feed the disadvantaged. Many people, such as orchardist Arch Lowe, were angry with the circumstances that had produced “ a soup kitchen in the garden of New Zealand”

Avoiding the term “soup kitchen”, (and to lessen social humiliation) the food depot was named the “Good Cheer Depot”, and was opened on Monday, May 16, 1932.

The executive officer in charge was James F Jones, and the secretary was Mr R D Sutherland. Brewer Edward Newbigin supplied land at 116 Market St North (now vacant as the previous building was destroyed by the 1931 earthquake) with R Holt & Sons and McLeod & Gardiner supplying the timber.

A local carpenter, Mr Lowe, built the depot over three days. The dining area contained plank tables and benches, and a cosy fire for the cold winter months ahead. Many Hastings businesses generously supplied groceries, and farmers donated sheep and growers gave vegetables.

The Good Cheer Depot, according to Mr J F Jones, would provide “a good, nourishing two-course hot meal, and be open for lunch between 12pm and 2pm, and 3.30pm to 5pm”. School children were encouraged to arrive soon after school to be fed before the adults arrived.

One of the guests in the first week was a reporter from the Hawke’s Bay Tribune, and he seemed a little bemused by a “soup kitchen” in his town, and described those present as “unfortunate patrons”. However, a glowing report was given by him, describing the meal as “plentiful, nourishing, and piping hot”. “Boiling-hot vegetable broth with more or less unlimited bread was followed by a great plateful of Irish stew with carrots and turnips added to the meat.” The quiet and decent manner of those dining was particularly striking, he commented.

In order to stop abuse at the Good Cheer Depot (which had happened previously in Hastings with 1931 earthquake supplies), meal coupons would be issued to the needy by people such as the Mayor, headmasters, church ministers, and the local Plunket nurse. Others could purchase a coupon for threepence (about $1.20 in today’s terms) from Mr A J Manson, the town’s unemployment officer.

When the Good Cheer Food Depot closed on October 1, 1932, it had served about 30, 000 meals.

But with the economy still suffering in 1933, the depot opened on May 22 under the control of superintendent Mr Alexandra [Alexander?] Ross. For the 19-week period until closing on October 3, 41,075 meals were served or delivered. Sixty per cent of the meals were given to children. The voucher system which operated in 1932 was used again. Firewood was also donated to needy families.

Mrs Betty Simon (née Ross) remembers her father telling her that many in town sneered at, and ridiculed the Good Cheer Depot. But her father suspected these families were in need and too proud to ask for help. When he identified them, they were issued coupons, and in some cases food was delivered to their house.

A later opening of the depot occurred in 1934 on June 12, and by the closure on September 14, 15,173 meals had been served, with only 169 meals for adults – the balance to children. Sick and needy families also had a total of 7772 ration packs delivered to their homes. Superintendent A D Ross carried on the work until November 10 after the depot closed, and distributed a further 2572 ration packs of food to families.

The Good Cheer Food Depot was not used as a soup kitchen when it opened on June 29, 1935, but for the distribution of provisions. Donations of 120 sheep, one bullock, and 475 loaves of bread were portioned, and given to families during that year.

A new initiative in 1935 saw vegetables planted in a Hastings Borough Council community garden in Willowpark Rd, and 4299 sugar bags of vegetables were given away at both the Good Cheer Food Depot and at Willowpark Road. In September 1935, 5000 lettuce, cabbage and 67,000 onion plants were distributed to needy families. Three tons of seed potatoes were planted by gardener Owen Shakespeare in October.

The last year of operation for the Good Cheer Food Depot appeared to be 1935, with a street directory indicating Jonathan O’Grady operated a second-hand dealer shop from the old Good Cheer Depot’s Market St building during most of 1936. The community garden in Willowpark Road continued for the last time that year.

The Good Cheer Food Depot building was demolished in September 1936 when Edwin [Edward] Newbigin employed builder H W Abbott to construct the existing building.

Furnishers Gill and Fenton became the ground floor tenants, opening for business on December 5, 1936. The following year the Heretaunga Club took possession of the top floor.

Photo captions –

BENEFACTOR: Brewer Edward Newbigin allowed the use of his Market Street land for the soup kitchen after the 1931 quake destroyed the building.
PICTURE: Jim Newbigin

HISTORIC: This building in Market Street stands on the site of the Good Cheer Food Depot.
PICTURE: WARREN BUCKLAND/ HASTINGS CITY MARKETING

RAMSHACKLED: This is what the soup kitchen’s building would have looked like, timber construction with corrugated iron. This King Street building was one of the last surviving 1931 temporary buildings and was demolished last year.
PICTURE/ MICHAEL FOWLER