SERVICE CANTEENS

Dominion, Volume 37, Issue 118, 14 February 1944, Page 4

SERVICE CANTEENS

Turnover This Year Of Over Two Million DOMINION AND PACIFIC 'Sales well over £2,060,000 are expected to be made this financial year, which ends on March 31, in canteens conducted 'by the Defence Services Canteen Board in defence establishments in the Dominion and the Pacific. The board's turnover has shown a progressive increase ever since its first canteens were opened within a few weeks of the outbreak of war, and the extent of tiffs expansion is shown by the fact that the turnover for the first complete trading year was £338,623. From its profits the board has already distributed £175,000 to the services for use as ships, regimental'and service institute funds.

Trading operations are restricted to New Zealand and the Pacific, canteens in the Middle East being subject to British control. The increase in home service personnel following the extension of hostilities to the Pacific and the subsequent opening up of conteens to cater for the requirements of New Zealand forces serving in this area has contributed no doubt in a large degree to the big increase in turnover. The board endeavours to stock its canteens with supplies that meet the normal everyday requirements of the men and women of the forces, its policy being to satisfy a demand rather than create The board is able to sell at prices generally lower than the ordinary retail charges. It buys the bulk, of its stock directly from New Zealand manufacturers, but if necessary imports on its own account. Material for making various garments, such as shirts and pyjamas, was recently imported from England, and manufacture arranged locally. Overseas the board also buys extensively from the American post-exchange organization, which is the counterpart of the Canteen Board. Operating Expenses.

All the expenses of operating the canteens are carried by the board, lhe serving staff totals .about 300, while there is an administrative staff of 20 employed aL the head office of the board in Wellington. The men employed in the canteens are'all returned servicemen or men unfit for active service. Recently a number ot women have been appointed to the canteen staff, and the board has found them an outstanding success in this class ot work. , , ■‘The board has met the bare conventional necessities of the soldier, and does not claim to do more than that, said the secretary of the board, Mr. J. H. Slater, who is its chief executive officer, in an interview. “The canteens carry a good representative stock, but the board is always open to receive suggestions to supply any other lines. The accumulated profits'of the board enable it to function without State help of any kind, and this money in effect provides its working capital. Its accounts are paid in accordance with commercial practice, usually on the twentieth of the month following delivery. The board has bought well and refrained from stocking inferior commodities to capture the soldiers’ trade, while its set-up has enabled it to meet practically every situation that has arisen.”