FOOD FOR THE ARMY

Southland Times, Issue 23945, 11 October 1939, Page 8

FOOD FOR THE ARMY

Scale Of Rations At Burnham COMMODITIES BOUGHT BY THE TON BALANCED DIET FOR TROOPS While the registration, medical examination and disposal of recruits is the most important aspect of mobilizing New Zealand’s Special Force for service at home or abroad, other branches of the Army Department have heavy responsibilities. The Supply and Transport branch for example (states The Christchurch Star-Sun) has to carry on housekeeping on a huge scale. There are 2500 men at Burnham. They must be fed and, it is the responsibility of Supply and Transport to see that they do not go short.

Marketing for the Army cannot be carried out by a quartermaster-sergeant with an extra large shopping basket. It is purchasing on a much greater scale, and orders have to be based on a predetermined scale of rationing. Potatoes offer an excellent example of how this system works- Each man is estimated, to eat one pound of this staple vegetable a day. There are 2500 men. Result, eight tons of potatoes a week-on the camp order. Where the housewife deals in pounds, ounces and dozens, the Supply and Transport branch deals in tons, hundredweights and gross—yet the Army must be just as careful of amounts and quality as the housewife with her modest order. All foodstuffs are carefully watched and the Army has the benefit of the Dominion Laboratories of the Department of Scientific and Industrial Research in testing quality. Meals in camp are'planned to give the greatest benefit to the men by a balanced diet. The scale of rations fixed by the New Zealand Military* Forces is one of the most generous for any army in the world—even higher than that for the Imperial Army—but it leaves no margin for luxuries and menus must be drawn up within the limits of the scale. GREEN VEGETABLES One item of diet on which emphasis is placed is green vegetables, and these are provided in quantity. The meal that causes most concern is, peculiarly enough, breakfast. Porridge has a permanent place in this meal, but a meat dish is also provided. This can be only stew, chops or sausages, and it is difficult to provide any great variety. Medical opinion is that a heavy meal with a basis of meat is unsuitable for the middle of the day, as it results in lethargy. Dry rations are the rule for this meal, but the kitchens deliver their best for the evening meal, when there are meat and vegetables and a pudding, Following is a specimen menu for one day:— Breakfast: Porridge, rissoles, bread butter, jam, tea. Lunch: Bread, butter, jam, cheese, tea.

Dinner: Soup, corned beef, carrots, parsnips, potatoes, bread pudding. Burnham is at present being stocked with foodstuffs, and the officers carrying out this work must be always two or three days ahead of requirements. That is why orders are of such large dimensions, and in the goods to be supplied are such impressive items as 25,0001 b of fresh vegetables, a truck of swedes from Southland, a ton of pressed meat, 238 cases of jam, more than 50 chests of tea, eight tons of flour, eight tons of sugar, more than 17,0001 b of butter, 60001 b of cheese, a ton of salt, 30 gallons of Worcester sauce, and a ton of rice. Items such as pepper, treacle and golden syrup are ordered by the hundredweight. BREAD, MILK AND MEAT Supplies of perishable goods come in each day from Christchurch. These include 600 loaves of bread, upwards of 200 gallons of milk, and about a ton and a-half of fresh meat daily. All these supplies are based on the rationing scale for the individual man, which, among other things, sets out as daily issue ljlb of bread, IJlb of meat, three-quarters of a pint of fresh milk, lioz of flour, loz of oatmeal, 4oz of jam, 2oz of cheese, and so on. It is not only feeding the men in camp that keeps the supply and transport branch busy. Men on their way to camp from distant centres must be looked after. If a draft is on its way from Nelson, arrangements must be made for the men to eat at Blenheim, Kaikoura, and Christchurch on the way down—they are in the Army now, and the Army must look after them. One aspect of their present duties that delights transport and supply officers is the splendid work carried out by the Public Works Department at Burnham. The kitchens and serveries are a model, and although it may take the cooks some little time to familiarize themselves with the system, ultimate results should be excellent.

TWO SOUTH AFRICAN BRIGADES FORCE OF 6000 MEN FOR SERVICE (Received October 10, 6.30 p.m.) LONDON, October 9. The Ministry of Information announces that the South African service battalion will consist of two brigades of 3000 men each. Additional volunteer battalions are being formed for training. MR PIROW TO CHALLENGE EMERGENCY LAWS (Received October 10, 6.30 p.m.) JOHANNESBURG, October 9. Mr O. Pirow, who was Minister of Defence in General J. B. M. Hertzog’s Government, will challenge the war emergency regulations next week when he applies for the release of persons interned. The South African Parliament will be called if Mr Pirow is successful.

BRITISH CASH CREDIT TO POLAND

(British Official Wireless)

(Received October 10, 6.30 p.m.) RUGBY, October 9.

According to the answer to a question in the House of Commons, the amount of the cash credit of £5,000,000 which the British Government granted the Polish Government which has been used up to the present is £294,250.