Free milk at Randwick School

Randwick School in Moera, in June 1935, was the first school in New Zealand to provide students with free milk  

Randwick School opened in 1929 with 233 pupils. The principal, Mr. A. E. Werry was concerned at the malnourished and hungry young children attending the school. The Mayor of Lower Hutt, Alexander Roberts, offered to pay for a free supply of milk for the school for the next three years. This cost him 600 pounds a year and by his request he was an anonymous benefactor.

The aim was to improve the to improve the health of children generally and specifically to strengthen their teeth and bones.                

Lower Hutt Labour M.P. Walter Nash heard of the scheme and organised for the Health Department to monitor it.

The success of the scheme in improving the children’s health prompted the government, in 1937, to introduce free milk in most schools throughout NZ. Alexander Roberts discontinued funding the free school milk at this point.