EGYPT CANTEENS

Grey River Argus, 16 January 1941, Page 5

EGYPT CANTEENS

WELLINGTON, January 15. Mr Fraser made available the following extract from a letter received by a well-known Petone resident from his son who is serving in a New Zealand Artillery unit in Egypt: “This place will do me, Dad —we have th e best tucker here that I’ve had since the beginning of the wm.” (He was called up the night war was declared). ‘"The canteens We have ar e called ‘naafis.’ You can’t conceive how cheap everything is--for your 100 akkas a week you can H’- 2 iik ( . a lord. I've had some wonderful feeds in the naaii’ canteens. A feed of 3 eggs and chip : and tomatoes costs 3 akkas (or about 7d). I had pork chops and chicken tonight—that cost 4 akkas (10d). You can’t conceive how cheap everything is. I had a hair cut the other night for 2 akkas—and whil e I was hav ng it a boy dusted my hat and another one shined my boots for an admtional akka. You should have seen th'shine on the boots. We get 20 smokes for a shilling, and 8 oranges for 2ld (1 akka). I’v ( . been managing to put away about S a day.”