NEW ZEALAND.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXXX, Issue 37, 30 September 1914, Page 3

NEW ZEALAND.

TROOPSHJP CANTEENS. EXPLANATION BY THE MINISTER FOR DEFENCE. [Per Press Association.] Wellington, September 29. In the House ol' Representatives tonight, in reply to Mr Sykes,

The Minister for Defence said that he had now heard rumors that excessive charges were being made to members of the Expeditionary Force at the canteens on board the troopships. Ho had made inquiries into the allegations. By way of explanation, he said the Defence Department desired to have canteens set up, but there was no time for the Department to do it. Consequently they approached the shipowners, but they declined. Subsequently the shipmasters came to an agreement by which canteens could be established. They brought the proposed prices to the Government, and as they appeared to bo the ordinary retail prices charged in Wellington he approved. He had a report from each ship, but had not been able to critically examine it. From that report he had noticed that is per quart bottle was being charged for aerated water. That was the usual retail price. Tobacco was sold for 8s per lb, some ui which was duty free. Complaint was also made that biscuits and cordials were too high-priced. These would be inquired into. It was not true that apples were being sold at 2d each, but he could not say whether they were being sold at the rate of 6d per lb. The charges w r ero the same on all the ships, except on the Limerick, on which the rates were cheaper. The Hon. J . Allen then proceeded to read a note from a report furnished by General Godley, in which he pointed out that the loss on aerated waters through breakages would bo heavy, especially in the tropics. He also stated that money sent as a free gift to the men had not been returned, but had been used in the camp, while the bases of apples w r ere on board the ships and would be distributed to the men on the voyage. It' was not true that stamps wore being sold at 2d each, while “salts,” which it had been said were being sold at 3d per packet, were given free by the medical staff. Continuing, Mr Allen said that ii anything approaching extortion was discovered it would certainly result iu the closing of canteens. Now that there was time to look into the question, h'e had approached the shipowners, with the result that five had signified their willingness to hand over the stores at invoice prices to tho Government, and let them run the canteens. The others had not agreed t<> do this, but if such an agreement can bo made., tbo proper thing to do was for the Government to take the' canteens ovex 1 and run them themselves. Those who were responsible- for running the canteens had not offered to do so. They had been asked to do it, and he did not believer they had "been exploiting tho men. This much he could say,that no ship would leave Wellington while injustice Was being done to members of the force that he could possibly remedy. Sir Joseph Ward pointed out that had the shins gone to siea before the matter had been brought up they would have suffered considerable disability. It w’as time to review the question. He had heard with amazement that any profit should be made out of tho men going to tho front. The whole canteen arrangements shorn cl have been undertaken by the Government. The Wellington retail prices were too high. Tobacco should bo supplied duty free. Goods should have been obtained at wholesale prices, and supplied to the men without profit, il the men.were asked to pay shore prices they should get shore pay.

The Premier said there was no intcntion on the part of the Government, the Minister, or the Defence Depart ,ment to make a profit out of the men. As, usual, tliere had been a good deal of'Exaggeration. Ho agreed that no profit should bo made. He hoped to hear that the contractors would give up their contracts, and let the Government carry them on. If not, the Government was willing to take drastic action, to prevent the men being exploited.

Mr Hanan held that the Government should have taken the work in hand from the first and prevented the complaints, wich .were raising a storm ol indignation in the country.

Mr Payne declared that it was disgraceful that the Tory Party should allow private individuals to make a prolit out of the troops. Mr Veitch pointed out that the position of the Imperial reservists upon the troopships was very hard. With thensmall pay they would not he able to buy anything from the canteens. Mr Robertson hoped that whatever prices were agreed upon there would ho no raising of prices after the ships had gone to sea. The Hon. ,T. Allen, in reply, said that the Government had no previous experience to guide them, except the shipment of troops to South Africa, and lie lioepd to do better than on that occasion.

STRICT CENSORSHIP.

Wellington, September 29. Whereas for the successful conduct of certain military and naval operations now being undertaken on behalf of His Majesty, it is in the highest degree expedient that secrecy should he observed with respect thereto, and whereas His Majesty’s Government, lias requested the New Zealand Government to take all necessary measures for securing such secrecy, Now, therefore, notice is hereby ' given to all loyal subjects of His , Majesty and to all other persons resi--1 dent in New 'Zealand, and more es- ! pecially to all proprietors, editors, and

I publishers of newspapers, and to all printers, that all such persons are hereby strictly charged and enjoined not to print, publish, or otherwise make known, without the express permission of the Minister for Defence, any information or statements concerning any of the matters following, that is to say :

(a) The names, destinations, situation, route, arrival, departure, or movements of any transports carrying or about to carry troops of the New Zealand military forces, or any other matters relative to those transpoits.

(b) The names, destinations, situation, route, arrival, departure, or movements of any ships employed or about to be employed to convoy or accompany any such transports, or any other ma.tors relative to those ships.

(c) Any other matters relative military or naval operations as to which secrecy is enjoined by any notice hereafter published in the New Zealand Gazette by the Minister for Defence. And although for ready and willing obedience to this order full reliance is placed on the loyalty of ail His Majesty’s subjects, nevertheless notice is hereby given to all persons that any disobedience will be dealt with by the military authorities in their absolute discretion as a serious offence against the public interest and the safety oi this Dominion.

Dated this 29th day of September 1914. J. ALLEN, Minister for Defence.