CANTEEN STORES

Wairarapa Times-Age, 6 January 1943, Page 5

CANTEEN STORES

CATERING FOR SOLDIERS’ REQUIREMENTS. AT SOUTH PACIFIC BASE. (Official War Correspondent.) A SOUTH PACIFIC BASE, Dec. 12. Canteen stores which included soldiers’ needs and comforts ranging from beer to tooth paste, were ready to be drawn by units of the New Zealand Expeditionary Force as soon as they landed here. A canteen scheme, based on systems adopted in army camps ,in the Dominion and covering the entire force, was put into operation at the earliest possible moment, with the result that there was no need for the majority of the troops to go short of any normal requirements. The force has a specially appointed canteen officer, who is responsible for the ordering and delivery of stores, and has a staff of six under his direction. The system adopted is that each unit establishes its own canteen and buys its stores directly from the canteen staff.

Prices in the canteens are in most cases even lower than in New Zealand camps. Cigarettes sell at 10 for 7 cents, approximately 5d in New Zealand currency. Two ounces of tobacco can be bought for Is 2d, a tin of fruit for Is, and a quart of beer for Is 6d, with 3d returnable on the bottle. The stock comprises a wide range of articles, some others being patent medicines, brushes, toilet gear, sweets, stationery and fishing lines. The New Zealanders also discovered that, coming under the United States Army ration scale, they are entitled to a remarkably generous free monthly issue of sodliers’ comforts. The maximun) issue consists of 600 cigarettes, a packet of matches, two packets of razor blades, and a cake of soap. It depends naturally on the state of supplies. Playing cards are added to the issue occasionally. The supply of beer is limited, and canteens are obliged to ration their stocks. Soft drinks will also be provided as bottles become available, since the canteen staff has its own aerating plant, which turns ordinary fruit and water into a sparkling drink. New Zealanders quartered within reach of United States Army camps also have access to the American X’s, or post exchanges, where cigarettes are only half the price of the New Zealand brands because of their low cost in America itself.