WAR CANTEEN FUNDS.

Taranaki Daily News, 24 July 1922, Page 5

WAR CANTEEN FUNDS.

A STRONG INDICTMENT. AGAINST WAR OFFICE. feu . ■ '■ : By Telegraph.—-Press Assn. —Copyright. Received July 23, 5.5 p.m. London, July 21. In the House of Commons, Colonel J. Nail (Unionist) initiated an outspoken attack on the War Office in connection with the war canteen funds, alleging that an attempt was being made to defraud exservice men’s widows and dependants of funds which were morally theirs. It was iniquitous that balances due to the men who contributed to the profits made during wartime should be reduced by two and a half millions sterling. The loss was made in peace time, in winding up canteens.

Lord Wolmer said that if the canteens had been liquidated in May, 1919, there would have been £4,000,000 more for ex-i service men.

Sir L. Worthington-Evans (Secretary for War) said he understood the expeditionary force canteens had made a paper profit of £10,000,000 in cash, and the other assets were subject to the realisation of the stock. It was in the case of realisation of those other assets, at a time when the market was glutted, that depreciation, rather than loss of stock, occurred, and a lower price was realised than was anticipated. The turnover of the canteens was £160,000,000. He thought the loss on realisation of that big sum was not large. He had desired an enquiry, because he wanted the ex-service men not only to have this money, but to know whether it was the right sum. He proposed the Select Committee should sit during the vacation to inquire into the matter.