BUTTER FOR ARMY

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXIV, Issue 22695, 6 April 1937, Page 13

BUTTER FOR ARMY

MARGARINE REPLACED NEW MARKET CREATED OTHER MILITARY REFORMS ENCOURAGING RECRUITING [from ocjii own correspondent] LONDON, March 17 Another "market" for butter—and New Zealand butter at that, it may be hoped—is to be opened up. The British Army is to have its ration of margarine supplemented by butter. The announcement was made amid cheers yesterday by Mr. Duff Cooper, Secretary of State for War, in a statement on Army reform. "For many years," he said, "the soldier's ration has been sufficient fox only three meals a day, while a sailor has always enjoyed four. 1 am now glad to say that in future the soldier will enjoy the additional meal and will no longer be expected to go to bed hungry. 1 am glad also to be able to announce that at home stations his meals will bo rendered more palatable by the substitution of an ounce of butter for an ounce of margarine, and that the butter will be supplemented by half an ounce of the latter commodity. Jt has also been decided to increase the daily ration of enlisted boys by an issue of milk or in other suitable ways, and the cash allowance for messing abroad is being increased A Popular Decision How the butter will bo supplied to the Army—whether by - contract or purchase in the open market —is yet to bo decided. The change over will be a popular move, and the High Commissioner, Mr. W. J. Jordan, is particularly pleased with the news, since he has advocated the change many times during his short stay in England. There wero scenes of unrestrained enthusiasm when Mr. Duff Cooper made his announcement, and tho Socialist Opposition l joined the Ministerial cheers. Mr. George Griffiths, M.P. for Hemsworth, stood up and clasped hands above his head in the manner of a boxer entering the ring. As Mr. Duff Cooper admitted, the Army partly owes tho concession to Mr. Griffiths. For nearly two years Mr. Griffiths has referred to the matter at least once <1 week. He has put supplementary questions on the subject in season and out of season to practically every member of the Government from tho Prime Minister downwards. His grievance became a standing joke. But his method proved effective. When introducing the estimates of £82,000,000 for the Army, Mr. Dull Cooper admitted that Britain was not a militarist nation, and that the Royal Navy and the Royal Air Force somehow create a superior glamour which attracts recruits, while recruiting for tho Regular Army is very bad. More Home-like Barracks "Recruiting during the last year has been worse than in the previous year,'" ho said, "and it is of urgent public importance that there should be a very substantial improvement to furnish garrisons to maintain peace and order throughout the British Empire." Territorial recruiting has greatly increased, but, with new demands upon them, the Territorial establishments have also increased, and as a result the total establishment is 20,000 short, rather worse than before. The Minister admitted also that a young fellow should " 'list for a soldier" to-day only if that decision opened up an attractive career. That raised the question: How to make tho Regular Arinv attractive as a career? Mr. Duff Cooper announced many new concessions which altogether should make the Regular Army attractive. All stoppages out of pay for kit and equipment are to cease. The recruit, attracted by the rates of pay, will in future be certain that he will receive that pay, without deductions for pith helmets or such items of equipment.

The new recruit will find barracks more home-like than they were, and will have radio and other amenities in his canteen. His chance of being promoted to commissioned rank will be increased because, said Mr. Duff Cooper, "recruiting sergeants to whom L have spoken are unanimous that the type of young man joining the Army is superior to any type which they can remember. Increased Prospects "I have no doubt that among these young men are many who, after a few years of training, are well fitted to take commissions. Increased prospects of taking a commission will encourage recruiting." 'J'ho scope of training is to be extended so that men who join the infantry will not continually have to march up and down barrack squares, but will have a chance to study the most recent mechanical inventions, such as tanks and anti-aircraft guns, and thus interest themselves in skilled work. Training will be given to any soldier leaving the Army after his service to equip him for a job in civil life. A scheme is being worked out by which retiring soldiers, if they have no work in sight, can attend occasional training centres under the Ministry of Labour to learn a trade and be treated during their period of instruction as unemployed civilians in receipt of unemployment pay.