Canteen Contracts

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LVI, Issue 77, 26 January 1914, Page 5

Canteen Contracts

HOW THEY ARE OBTAINED. A COMMISSARIAT SCANDAL. By Cable— Press Association-Copyright t Received 25, 5.5 j>.m. London, January 24. - Two further canteen summonses have J been i-Mied against u subordinate civil--5 ian and Lieutenant-Colonel Whittaker, - wlio was stationed at Malta with the r Duke of York's Light Infantry. Lieu- ; tenant-Colonel Whittaker retired in lyoo. > Mr. Muir. K.C., continuing the prosecution, said that among the documents - was a letter signed "James Rossness," i formerly Upton's manager at Malta, and addressed to Minto (formerly head of Liptun's military department) on Ouiber IS. 1005. wherein he says: "Whittaker writes 'to-day for his sixj monthly cheque. I suppose the eon'tract requires renewal." Evidence would be given showing that when Lieu-tenant-Colonel Whittaker went to Sheffield, he made a fresh contract, Abnormally favorable to Lipton's. Mr. Muir added that the financial position of the military defendants was not such as to place them beyond temptation by wealthy tradesmen, and the subordinate civilians were, all servants of the wealthy corporations, with choice between obedience to orders and ioss ol position. The persons primarily rei sponsible were. Minto and Cansfiela, the former being the controlling wind.