TWO PIES A WEEK

Auckland Star, Volume LXXII, Issue 301, 20 December 1941, Page 5

TWO PIES A WEEK

FROM CAMP BAKERY

N.Z.E.F. IN MIDDLE EAST

(N.Z.E.F. Official News Service.)

CAIRO, November 29.

New Zealand soldiers in the main Middle East base camp and hospitals can now count on two pies per week, one meat and one fruit, from their own camp pie bakery. The factory, in a new building near the original camp bakery, was opened last week by Mrs. B. C. Freyberg. wife of the G.0.C., in the presence of the New Zealand High Commissioner in Lonaon Mr. W. J. Jordan; Brigadier A. S. Falconer, D.5.0., M.C., and commanding officers. Mrs. Freyberg pressed the button and set in motion the new up-to-date machinery, which had been brought from England.! Since then 4000 pies a day have been coming out of the four big ovens for distribution to units. j

Mrs. Freyberg referred to the importance of variation in soldiers' rations, pointing out that a well-fed soldier was a good soldier. The High Commissioner, Mr. Jordan, congratulated all those who had been concerned with the establishment and construction of the factory. He added that he would make a point of writing to the Prime Minister and telling him of the splendid spirit of goodwill and co-operation which existed between all ranks of the New Zealand Expeditionarv Force, one exemplification of which was this splendid building and installation.

Brigadier Falconer expressed regret that Major-General B. C. Freyberg was unable to be present, for it was in his imagination that the pie factory was first born over 12 months ago, and it was he and the High Commissioner who had negotiated the purchase of the machinery in England.

The bakery is under the control of Major W. A. T. McGuire and is operated under the direction of Captain J. K. Palmer. Sergeant T. Redmond is in charge of a staflf of 24. all trained bakers, pastrycooks and butchers. The equipment is complete, covering electric mincers, cold storage rooms, electric mixers, pastry rollers and cutters, shaping and topping machines, and an endless belt on which pies are filled. At full capacity 10,000 pies a day could be pro?"?ed. The four ovens each hold IOUo pies. Baking is so arranged that every man in the camp will receive one meat and one fruit pie per week. It is proposed that eventually other edible commodities will be produced, including delicacies for sale at the New Zealand Forces Club