GIFTS FOR THE TROOPS

Dominion, Volume 8, Issue 2432, 10 April 1915, Page 9

GIFTS FOR THE TROOPS

NOT SOLD IN CANTEENS

The Minister of Defence (tho Hon. Jas. Allen) has received a letter from General Godly with rcferenco to the reports that gifts to tho troops had been sold in the canteens. Enclosed is also a report from Major Hall, Canteen Superintendent.

General Uodloy states:— "Thero is no foundation for the rumours and insinuations that gift stuff is being improperly sold in tho canteens or that regiments aria noT getting what profits thoy should. Many useful gifts, consisting principally of tobacco, cigarettes, reading matter, and small parcels of woollen underwear are coming to hand. These gifts are carefully distributed to-the troops, by whom they are much appreciated. I have instituted a complete system of recording tho receipt and issue of all goods, aud tho receipts of the representatives of the various units are invariably obtained for the gifts issued to them for distribution. Wo are, however, faced with one difficulty, in that tho men frequently barter gift tobacco, ctc., for other articles with camp • traders, by whom they are retailed to others, giving rise to a suspicion that gifts are being sold instead of being distributed, l am considering tho feasibility of stopping this traffic altogether, but you'will realise how difficult it is to prevent it." The report of Major Hall is as follows

"I have to report that the procedure adopted with all goods disembarked was to send the whole into the Supply Depot at Zoitoun Depot, from which source all the canteen stores were delivered to the New Zealand Expeditionary Fore© at the canteen. Among the canteen stores I found five cases of mullet marked 'Donated to the New Zealand' Expeditionary Force'.' • I immediately reported to the A.Q.M.G. that I had five cases of mullet which did not belong to the canteen stores, and he instructed me to hold them for sale, and, ■ when sold, distribute the value to the various regimental funds. As I ain still holding two cases unsold I have not yet been able to carry into effect the orders given me, but I hope to sell the balance in time to include the value in the next distribution of the wet canteen profits. With the exception of the five cases of mullet mentioned, no gift goods whatever have been received into or sold from the Olinteen.

In connection with the supposed sale of gift goods in the canteen, Lieuten-ant-Colonel Mackersy and another officer visited tho canteen and told me that they were looking for some gift goods that had gone astray, and were marked 'A.H.P.' I assured them that I had not. received any gift goods whatever, except the mullet, which I Bhowed to them, and tliiy left me, after I had invited them to inspect tbe canteen stores, which they did, and stated that they were perfectly satisfied. "Surgeon-Captain Craig, of the Auckland Battalion, also saw me and told me that there were rumours as to gift goods being sold in the canteen, and he personally would like to get to the bottom of it. I invited him to examine the canteen stocks, and at that time I mentioned the circumstances of the mullet. _ I told him that these were the articles mentioned to him, and he left apparently satisfied. "As my honour and integrity are impeached by these continued rumours arid statements, and as in my opinion the advice to the Minister of Defence is a direct charge against me of appropriating goods- for canteen sale to which I am not entitled, I must ask for an. inquiry to be held at the earliest possible moment, and that the Minister of Defence l>o cabled to asking the name of his informant." Authority for this inquiry, has been given already.