Story: Eating

Food for the unemployed, 1930s

The economic depression of the late 1920s and early 1930s was a period of great hardship for many New Zealanders. Going hungry was a common experience at a time when there was no national system of social welfare. This impressive display of food was collected by employees of the Shell Oil Company (who called themselves 'Shellites') for distribution to unemployed people.

Using this item

Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa
Reference: O.020623
Photograph by Frank Giles Barker

Permission of the Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa must be obtained before any re-use of this image.

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How to cite this page:

Kerryn Pollock, 'Eating - Getting enough to eat', Te Ara - the Encyclopedia of New Zealand, http://www.TeAra.govt.nz/en/zoomify/38614/food-for-the-unemployed-1930s (accessed 25 April 2024)

Story by Kerryn Pollock, published 5 Sep 2013