ALLEGED SALE OF GIFTS.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 16354, 10 April 1915, Page 5

ALLEGED SALE OF GIFTS.

TRAFFIC AMONGST THE SOLDI liltS. ALLEGATIONS AGAINST CANTEEN SUPERVISOR. INQUIRY REQUESTED AND GRANTED. (Pkb Unitki> Pukrs Association.) WELLINGTON, April 9. " There is no foundation for the rumours and insinuations that gift stutf is being improperly sold in the canteens, or that regiments are not getting what profits they should," says General Godley in a letter, dated 28th inst., addressed to the Minister of Defence. General Godley oncloses a report on tho subject from Major Hall (canteen supervisor), who states the position clearly with regard to'the'gift goods, a;nd asks for an inquiry into the allegations that have been made concerning his integrity. "Many useful gifts (consisting principally of tobacco, cigarettes, reading matter, and small' parcels of woollen underwear) arc coming to hand," adds General Godley. " These gifts arc carefully distributed to tho troops, and are much appreciated by them. I have instituted a completo system of recording tho receipt and assume of all goods, and the receipts of the representatives of the various units are invariably obtained for the gifts issued to them k? distribution. We are, however, faced with one difficulty, in that the men frequently barter gift tobacco, etc., for other articles with oamp traders, by whom they are retailed to others, giving rise to a suspicion that gifts are hefing sold instead of being distributed. lam considering the feasibility of stopping the traffic; altogether, but you will realise how difficult it is to prevent it." MAJOR HALL'S REPORT.

Major Hall's report is as follows:—" 1 have to report that the procedure adopted with all goods disembarked was to send the whole into the 6upply depot at Zeitun depot, from which stores all the canteen stores were delivered to the New Zealand Expeditionary Force at the canteen. Among the canteen stores I. found five cases of mullet, marked 'Donated to the New Zealand Expeditionary Force.' I immediately reported to the A.Q.M.G. that I had five cases of mullet which did not belong to the canteen stores,' and he instructed me to hold them for sale, and, when sold, distribute the value of the various regimental funds. As I am still holding two oases unsold I have not yet been able to carry into effect the orders given jne, but I hope to sell the balance in time to include the value in the next distribution, of the 'wet' canteen profits. With the exception of the five cases of mullet mentioned, no gift goods whatever have been received into or sold from the In' connection with the supposed sale of gift in tho canteen, Lieutenantcolonel Mackersy and another officer visited the canteen, and .told me that thev were looking for some gift goods that had gone astray and wore marked ' A.M.P.' I assured them that I had not received any gift goods whatever cxcept the mullet, "which I showed to them, and they left me, after I had invited them to inspect the canteen stores, which they did, and stated that they were perfectly satisfied. Stur-geon-captain, Craig (of the Auckland Battalion) also saw me, and told me that there were rumours as to gift goods being sold in the cantoen, and he personally would like to get to the bottom of it. I invited him to examine the canteen stocks, and at that" time I mentioned _ the circumstances of the mullet. I told him that these were the artioles mentioned to him, and he left apparently satisfied. As my honour and integrity are impeached by these continued rumours and statements, /arid as, in my opinion, the advice to tho Minister of Defence is a direct charge against me of appropriating goods for canteen sales to which I am not entitled, I must ask 'for an inquiry to be held at the earliest possible moment, and that the Minister of Defence be cabled to asking, fbr the name of his informant.."

Authority for this inquiry has been "ivon already. "