MILITARY CANTEENS

Dominion, Volume 11, Issue 52, 24 November 1917, Page 12

MILITARY CANTEENS

SATISFACTORY BEGINNING MADE REDUCED PRICES AT FEATHERSTON CAMP Tho changing of a camp canteen from, civilian to military control involves a vast amount of detail work, to judge by tho experience of Foatherston Camp; tho task in fact might slip from well-ordered system to'something verging upon chaos, were it not under the supervision of officers experienced in this kind of work. Captain Fairbaim, the president, and Major Ryder and Captain Smith, tho other members of the Canteens' Committee, have pulled through the critical period without serious inconvenience to tho soldier customers. To-day, tho canteens at Featherston and Tauherenikau aro in satisfactory working order, and every day will see more lines rvailable at low prices and further conveniences provided. Tho .usual stack carried by the big canteen at Fcathcrston ranged in value from £5000 to £6000. It was natural, with tho expiry of the contract drawing near, that tho stock should have been allowed to run down, except in regard to articles in every day urgent demand. This wa ; s anticipated by the committee, and, while tho stock which was taken over amounted to only about £500, additional supplies of tohaeco, cigarettes, and refreshments were on tho spot when the canteen reopened as a Military concern. On tho first day, the object aimed at was to see that there was a sufficiency of tea, coffee, pies, and cakes, to be sold at 4d., soft drinks at 3d., and tobacco and cigarettes at Is. and 6d. respectively. These were regarded as the immediate needs of tbe soldiers, and tho men were perfectly satisfied with the way in which their needs were mot. There were, in addition, many lines of others sorts, and those were steadily added to, both in quantity and variety of stocks. The canteen bakery was kept mnning at full pressure, also the dining-room, which is in a separate building in the main camp thoroughfare, and the hairdressine saloons. Every part of this new military enterprise has been cicv.'ded with patrons since its inception, in the evenings especially, and tbe authorities are perfectly satisfied as to the success of the venture. To the civilian who is allowed to enter the canteen—only soldiers or friends who accompany them may do so without a pass—the most striking thing about it is tliat it is entirely a khaki concern. All the attendants are homeservice men, and their dexterity behind the counters during a rush, such as the middc.y one, showed that they_ were used to tho work, or were picking it up with commendable alacrity. The demand for refreshments was euormous and was met wit'i the promptitude which has always been a feature of tho camp canteens. The point is that there has been no falling off in this particular. Under the new system, only one day's supply—or estimated supply—is carried , on the canteen shelves. These are debited out every morning from tho bulk store, which occupies one end of the building, and accounted for every night, 'fbo goods are stacked attractively on the .shelves. The price of every line is plainly marked for purchasers to sen. Compared with city prices, most of those figures are surprisingly low—yet the_ committee, after one week's business, is convinced that thero will be a. • satisfactory working profit, and that the en n teen , funds, which are divided periodically among tbe drafts in camp, will lie no less than hitherto. As an all-round statement, it may be said that prices are a clear 25 per cent, lower than those charged previously. This mouns that the soldiers bave 2o per cent, more money to spend or to save. In the soft drinks department, there trill bo installed shortly a complete soda-fountain plant, by means of which the price of cool drinks mav bo even further reduced, and the variety added to. In other directions, too. efforts will bo made to keep down the cost price of articles. . The question of securing sufficient capablo mon to do the work in the cantcons and their accessories _is an important one, especially in view of tho fact that no men wlio nro fit for active service must be employed. ■ So far there has been no difficulty, except as regards skilled hairdressers. There is, at present, a slight shortage of these, but it is expected that this disability will ho remedied vory soon.