MILITARY CANTEEN SCANDALS.

Dominion, Volume 7, Issue 1961, 19 January 1914, Page 5

MILITARY CANTEEN SCANDALS.

BRIBERY AND CORRUPTION * ALLEGED. CONTRACTS WITH LIPTON T S. By Telegraph-Press Association- Copyrlelrt , (Bee. Janitarj 18, 55 pm) London, Jamrarv 17 Procochiii/s in connection «ith tin, Armv cmtcen contracts scandals in iihicb si\ quartormaotors, two sergeants,., a '■>■ major,,-.- and -eight civilians aro charged that •in February, 1903 s and on . other occasions, they conspired that money should corruptly, bo given as, an inducement to favour Lipton's contracts,.-were.:., commenced ■..:;;:.;;.; ; .;- ',^-jSi, , -i.' ■-..i-.i-. . ■ (Rec.' January" : i9, r .':■■'-.■ Loridoiii 'January! , Mr. Muir, counsel for tho prosecution, outlined tho charges.. Keen rivalry existed between the : different.' firms to secure contracts ; .for,,which'a rental ;of fr6m £17 to £20 monthly was paid to supply the messes of one hundred men.* The duty' of making eomplafnts' as' to the quality of the provisions rested with the quartermasters, and the sergeantsmajor. Hence arose a system oi'; organised and persistent' bribery,. initiated by the conductors.of Lipton's milicanteens; :,i,The chief' witness would be Sawyer, \ a .former 'employee - : "of ; Lipton's, who was.instructed by ono Minto). i'oriiierly head• of-Lipton's./niilitarjv-de-partmeiit, lin 1908,^t0.-jsecuro-,the.\in-, iluenco of ..thej-. nun-eommissioncd'■ officers as :cheaply vasjpossible'.is. Tlie'■ caiv- 1 teen' business; yer, '■: who.. later. :o!itw.as,-''persoi!.ally J entrusted with the'ipayiheutsj..making* it' plain, thatiithe- hea(la:-of':.tho:;firmidesired-to conceal <,their''rcspons:bilit.v,£and were. prepared , !to repudiate.ithcir*'subordiii- 1 ate if ..anything were,, reycaled/ix'-i^igi ■ In -, self-protection *.* tli'e'S;s',il>ordinatos'obtained 'written authority, , -'! and i- when? wanted bribes-he. , had: ; io?go : to Miiito...'iOr-. Causfield, : >the.y.generall;manS ager. : ''%■•';%^K^XafSftt ; S^USSfi ■ Many-letters wore reatl, ,, detailing the: payments 'tq'.the .quarter-masters. -Saw-' yer, : in. a letter/ stated that'-.-..QHarter-; master , Armstrong. had clamoured : for £50 to seeuro/'a-contract , 'for.tho first battalion ■ at'rAklorshot;-.-.bHt-: SawycrUiad. recommended £20. !/;.■; <s?-'ifriot?-&£%is£' Pogtey, -inspector of- tho*'Colchester' branch, wrote to,the company saying that four: of /'tlKjipsorgeaivts-major had made up their...minds ..to atop.at nothing to .■get fresh j .WThe case at this : ."stage':was',a3ib.urncdij