CANTEEN PROFITS

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 3, Issue 206, 30 August 1940, Page 2

CANTEEN PROFITS

AUCKLAND STATEMENTS REPLY BY THE! MINISTER "The statements made arc liable to create a wrong impression that the canteen money is handled by the Internal Marketing Division," said the Minister of Defence, the Hon. F. Jones, when replying to comments made at a meeting of 4 the Auckland Metropolitan Patriotic Committee. Mr Jones also discussed canteen profits and general administration. "I would lik 3 to correct that impression and make it quite clear that the whole of the canteen ac- 1 tivities and profits are controlled by tlie Canteen Board, of which I am chairman)" Mr J,ones said. "I am present at meetings where all allocations of profits are considered and dealt with. "The working details of the canteen organisation, while being under the control of the Canteen Board, arq more directly supervised by the Director of Internal Marketing, Mr F. R. Picot, who is also a member of the board. "It is very wrong to suggest that a charge is made for the use of t>j' camp theatre at Papakura," Mr Jones continued. "This particular theatre is employed six nights a week screening pictures as part of the canteen activities. It is therefore obvious ihat the board is not in the position to hire the theatre nor has an approach ever been made to the board along this line.? I am at a loss to understand) where such a suggestion could originate.

"It is not considered advisable the whole of the profits should be allocated in any particular period, but rather that the surplus revenue should be held in a trust account available for distribution at intervals, not only to troops who leave the country, but also to units of the local defence forces, which have con tributed in a considerable measure to the profits," Mr Jones said. "The total funds are solely the property of the Canteen Board in trust for the men and are in no way absorbed as departmental revenue. "I would emphasise that operating and purchasing costs are kept down to a minimum and the prices charged in the canteens are upon a basis competitive with the lowest prices. In many instances goods, and especially services, such as hairdress ing, pictures and photography, are made available at prices below the usual retail figures."