New Zealand

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LVII, Issue 258, 10 April 1915, Page 5

New Zealand

GIFT GOODS. IMPROPER ACTION DENIED. REPORT FROM GENERAL GODLEY. By Telegraph.—Press Association. Wellington Last Night. " There is no foundation for the rumours ami insinuations that gift stuff is •being improperly: sold in the canteens or that regiments are not getting what profits they should," says General God-, ley, in a latter dated February 28, addressed to the Minister of 'Defence, General Godley encloses a report on the subject from Major Hall, canteen supervisor, who states the position clearly with regard to the gift goods, and asks for an inquiry into the allegations that liave been made concerning his integrity. I _ "Many useful gifts, consisting prjncipally of tobacco, cigarettes, reading matter and small parcels of woollen underwear, are coming to hand,' addsf General Godley. " These gifts are carefully distributed to the troops, by wTiotn they are much appreciated. I liave instituted a complete system of recording the receipt and issue" of all goods, and the receipts of the representatives of the various units are invariably obtained for the gifts is'sue'd to them for distribution. We are, however, faced with one difficulty, in that the men frequently barter gift tobacco, etc., for other articles with camp traders by whom they are retailed to others, giving rise to a suspicion that gifts are being sold instead of being distributed. I am considering the feasibility of stopping this traffic altogether, hut you will realise how difficult it is to prevent it."