N.Z. CANTEEN BOARD

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXIX, Issue 20858, 10 August 1942, Page 5

N.Z. CANTEEN BOARD

£IOO,OOO TRADE MONTHLY

SERVICE TO FORCES (P.A.) WELLINGTON, this clay. Established on the outbreak of war to ensure the provision of minor comforts of life for members of the armed forces in camp in New Zealand, the Canteen Board has developed into a business organisation with a monthly turnover of more than £IOO,OOO, or £1,200,000 a year. The expansion in the last year has been phenomenal, as can be seen by the fact that in the published accounts for the year ended March 1941 the turnover was only £338,623. In October, 1941, the board controlled 68 facilities and employed a staff of 141. To-day it controls 106 facilities and employs 200. The facilities include dry canteens, wet canteens, cafeterias, picture theatres, and hairdressing saloons. In addition to its own establishments, the board extends the benefit of its bulk-buying organisation to isolated units which run their own canteens. Goods are sold in the canteens at a price never more and, in most cases, less than that charged in outside shops. All the profit made accrues for the benefit of servicemen. £65,000 Distributed Up to the end of July, the board distributed £65,000 to the regimental funds of the three services. A substantial amount of undistributed profit forms the capital of the board’s organisation and enables it to function without financial assistance from the Government or other sources. An important feature of the board's work is that it ensures that members of the armed forces are not deprived of the opportunity of purchasing a reasonable amount of goods that are in short supply, such as cigarettes, tobacco, matches, razor blades, and chocolate.

The secretary of the board, Mr. J. H. Slater, said that there was effective supervision to ensure that members of the forces did not abuse their privileges by purchasing large quantities of such goods for civilian friends. A quantity, based on the number of men served, was allocated to each canteen. An endeavour was made to preserve a proper balance between the available supplies, the needs of the men and needs of civilians. Where necessary, he added, manufacturers had been most helpful in seeing that the services had first call on their output.