CAMP COOKS.

Auckland Star, Volume LXX, Issue 246, 18 October 1939, Page 6

CAMP COOKS.

If statements made to me are correct, and I have reason to believe that they are, a position exists in both the National Reserve and the special force cooking staffs which seriously affects their efficiency. This position has arisen fiom the fact that there are working side hv side in the cookhouses civilian cooks on award rate wages and eniieted men on soldier's pay. The civilian cooks resent the presence of the soldier cooks, whom they regard as likolv to beat them for their joi>s. and the soldier cooks are not impressed with the fairness of unequal pay for equal work. I presume that the idea is to train soldier cooks so that eventually they will have full charge. I am afraid, however, that the change-over will be a slow process, as the civilian co<iks will take all sorts of care that the others do not learn any more than tliev can help, knowing as they -do that every competent soldier \vid replace a civilian. In the meantime, the service rendered to tlic ooklitrs will be seriously impaired and tliev will l>e the main sufferers. If there were less worry about, fancy diets and more attention to practical and efficient working- in the cookhouse it would 1-* all to the good. BYSTANDER.