Soldiers as "Paying Guests."

Kaipara and Waitemata Echo, 17 July 1914, Page 8

Soldiers as "Paying Guests."

Every licensed victualler ta, on demand made by the military authorities, compelled to furnish board and lodging for any soldiers quartered upon him. This demand can be made whenever soldiers are travelling on duty (as during manoeuvres, etc.) in districts where barrack accommodation ie not available. Such military guests come before civilians ; and, if necessary, the latter have to give way to them. The landlord who refuses to furnish "billets" for His Majesty's troops does so at the risk of losing his licence, in addition to incurring other heavy penalties.

The various sums which a publican is allowed to charge soldiers who happen to b© quartered upon him are fixed by the War Office. They are so moderate that they leave no margin for profit. Thus, lodging and attendance have to be given for 6d., breakfast for 4d., dinner for Hid., and supper for 2£d. If the guest is a cavalryman and brings his *horse with

him, the landlord must provide for-

age and stabling for Is. 9d. per day. When officefc are "billeted," the rates are a little more liberal, since 2s. a head can be charged for lodging and attendance, while food is an extra. The composition, as well as the cost, of the meals to which soldiers are entitled when they i.ecome "paying guests " is also settled by the War Office. Thus, breakfast consists of six ounces of bread, a pint of tea, and four ounces of bacon; dinner, of one pound of meat, eight ounces of bread, eight ounces of vegetables, and one pint of beer or minerals ; and supper, of six ounces of bread, two ounces of cheese, and one pint of tea. Billeting arrangements are generally left to the police. Once a /ear the Chief Constable of a district draws up a list of all the lijensed houses in his neighbourhood and settles the number of soldiers and horses that each can accommolate. A constable who allots a. billet improperly, or refuses to give i billet when demanded, is liable to Lie fined £10. On the other hand, in officer or soldier who commits vi oii'ence in respect of billeting is liable to be cashiered oi» imprisoned.