DIET OF TROOPS

Otago Daily Times, Issue 24420, 4 October 1940, Page 9

DIET OF TROOPS

THE INDIVIDUAL COST MINISTER GIVES DETAILS HIGH STANDARD OF MEALS (From Our Parliamentary Reporter) WELLINGTON, Oct. 3. A cost of £3O 2s for clothing and equipping each soldier entering camp for training with the New Zealand Expeditionary Force was quoted by the Minister of Defence (Mr F. Jones), when showing the expenditure on defence in the Finance Debate in the House of Representatives to-night. After outlining the work that had to be done on the outbreak of war, Mr Jones said that up to date 22,000 men had been trained for overseas service and the reports received from overseas mentioned the good training received. Mr W. J. Poison (Opposition, Stratford): Good training? The Minister: Yes. The cost of clothing a soldier, the Minister continued, was £l7 ss, and his equipment cost £l2 17s. From what he could gather, the men were certainly well clothed. Costs again entered into the feeding of the men, of whom there were approximately 10,000 in camp. They would eat daily 12 2501 bof bread, 15.0001 b of meat, 25001 b of butter, 1250 gallons of milk, 25001 b of sugar, 10,0001 b of potatoes, and 50001 bof vegetables. Every care was taken to give a varied diet, and very few complaints were received. A splendid improvement had been made as far as the food and variety of the menus was concerned. . Mr S. G. Holland (Opposition. Christchurch North): What is the cost a man 3 “Not more than Is 9d,” Mr Jones replied. “ More often it varies between Is 6d and Is 9d a day for three meals. There is no surprise that the men look so well after they have been in camp for a while.” , Mr Holland: There are no complaints about the food. Do you think the men are fitter to-day through better food than they were in the last war. Mr Jones: I cannot say. but I think they measure uo to the men of the last war. I think they get a better chance with a better diet and scale more. Attention is also paid in the camps to the welfare of the men. . The Minister said that sufficient volunteers were available for the 4th and sth Reinforcements. Further expenditure was being incurred in equipping these men and also in the supply of clothing for men going overseas.