FIRST BEER SOLD

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXVI, Issue 23507, 18 November 1939, Page 12

FIRST BEER SOLD

NARROW NECK CANTEEN WELCOME BY SOLDIERS PAPAKURA ON MONDAY PURCHASES WITH TICKETS Auckland's first wet canteen was opened yesterday at Narrow Neck. It seemed that everybody went inside but one soldier in hospital who had an injured leg. There was no milk bar, but one will bo installed later. Papakura's wet canteen will bo opened at 4.15 p.m. on Monday. Ngaruawahia will havo one on tho following Monday. Other soldiers in war-timo posts near tho city and personnel of Hobsonvillo Air Baso will not have to wait long for theirs. All arrangements for tho salo of beer are being made by tho Marketing Department, officials of which visited Narrow Neck yesterday to watch the opening of the canteen. Control of behaviour is in the hands of the Army itself and Narrow Neck dispensers were all sergeants. 14 Ounce "Handles" Purchases wero mado by 6d tickets bought in the dry canteen. For this amount the troops received a "handle" containing Mo/,. It is intended shortly to introduce a 7oz. measure as well, for which 3d will be charged. At Papakura the soldiers will buy tickets at the door of tho canteen, which will be placed in a temporary building until tho permanent ono is erected. Draught beer only was sold yesterday. It was drawn from kegs and passed through a refrigerator of .special type so that all beer was chilled. It was not broken down but was of normal strength. The Opening Ceremony The canteen was opened at 4.30 p.m. and closed at 5 o'clock to give tho men plenty of time to go to mess. For tho time being the hours havo been arranged for this period and for three moro hours from 6 until 9 p.m. Arrangements at Papakura and Ngaruawahia will be slightly different but the final closing hour will be 9 o'clock. Narrow Neck's canteen was given a spontaneous welcome. It was opened with ceremony, the camp commandant, Major G. H. Clifton and officers attending and having the first "handles." After that there was some competition , among other ranks for the distinction of being the first Auckland soldier to have a drink in a wet canteen. However, while there was no doubt about the way the camp regarded the innovation, there were no excesses and general opinion was that tho canteen will prevent rather than encourage intoxication.