CANTEEN SCANDALS.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LVII, Issue 224, 1 March 1915, Page 3

CANTEEN SCANDALS.

A-"JOLLY OLD BURST-UP" PROMISED. GIFT GOODS SOLI) IN CAMP. Christchu",h, February 25. A private writing from Zeitoun camp, Cairo, to his mother at Sockburn, complains of the manner in which letters intended for the troops go astray. The gifts, too, that were presented to the members of the expeditionary forces before they left these shores have an unpleasant habit of turning up ill the canteens, where troopers, often find they have bought "gift" goods.

Private- Leaman writes:—"You know all that gift stud' which was given to us. Well, all we have had so far ha.--, been two sticks of tobacco, two cakes of soap, and'one bottle of drink. We have suspected all the time ,*,al; wo were, buying gift stuff in the canteens, but il is all coming to light, now. The othei day a trooper bought a tin of tobacco, and on opening it he found a note from the Sew Zealand lady who had given it. The matter was reported to headquarters, and there is going to be a jollv old burst-lip over it, and somebody; will be getting into a nice bit of trouble. I It is being discovered now that not only are many of the gifts to the troons missing, but also that (lovermn'ent's goods are not turning up. Tn one case alone it is reported that 250 saddles are missing, lmt we h'av,- not ascertained for certain whether it is true. Anyway, tl,ie military authorities are not giving out any more clothes or gear till they find out wlmt is missing." Another member of the expeditionary force writing from Zitun camp, also complains of canteen scandals. Referring to the conduct of the canteen, lie writes:—'Tn any case someone will have to give a few explanations when we get back. We can buy the same lemonade out of our own canteen litre for 21,1, while on the troopship we had to par .Sd a bottle. Then one trooper bought a cake of chocolate, and inside it was a note saving it had been presented bv !'u Auckland lady. The same thing happened with a rake."