TROOPS IN EGYPT.

Taranaki Daily News, 22 May 1916, Page 3

TROOPS IN EGYPT.

.THE POSTAL ARRANGEMENTS. ABOUT THE BULLY BEEP. (From Our Own Correspondent.) Wellington.RMay 18. Recently Mr. B. McCalhun, MjP., placed before the Minister for Defence a report regarding his recent visit to Egypt. Mr. McCallum drew the attention of the Minister to various matters which he considered required attention. He lias now received a reply. "The difference in pay of post office officials was known to me," says the Minister. "It arises from the fact that some men have been specially requisitioned from the Post Office, and receive half of their Public Service Pay; tlie others volunteered for military service, and have been drafted into the postal service in Egypt, with the result that they receive only their military pay. This matter has been several times discussed, and I hope to avoid any inequalities in the future.

"With regard to postal arrangements it is proposed to send an experienced Director of Postal Service to 'iigypt, and a gentleman has been recommended to me by the Postal Department for that position. . . It is very gratifying to see from your letter of April 24 that great content and cheerfulness exist among our soldiers in Egypt. It is also specially pleasing to know that the training our men are receiving in New Zealand is most satisfactory. "I note what you say with regard to placing certain hotels in Egypt out of hounds. Such a course of action was considered advisable by the General Officer Commanding at the front. It is quite impossible for me to judge at this end, and I am confident that General Godley would not make such an order unless it was deemed to be absolutely necessary. . . With respect to saluting while off duty, to my mind it is very essential as part of the discipline of the soldier that he should carry out this obvious duty. "The meat supply has been under consideration from time to time, and letters have been sent to Egypt with respect to the tinned meat from South .America. I am sorry you had a sad experience with the 'bully beef. So far as I can gather, Dr. Buck wanted you to realise some of the privations of the soldiers at the front, and therefore put you on 'bully beef and biscuits./I trust that you have not suffered materially thereby.. "The question of commissions has, J think, been satisfactorily settled. Tile other matters mentioned in your letter will be referred to headquarters here for consideration and report."