NEW ZEALAND'S PART.

Colonist, Volume LVI, Issue 13594, 8 October 1914, Page 5

NEW ZEALAND'S PART.

CONTROL OF CANTEENS.

PRIVATE PROFIT ELIMINATED

(Special to "The Colonist.")

Wellington, Oct. 7. The House of Representatives received'with satisfaction to-night an announcement by the Minister of Defence that the canteens on all the troopships will be taken over from the merchants, who were willing-.-to allow their stocks to be acquired at the-wholesale price. As each captain was interested in the profits, the Government would make them a voluntary payment of £25: each. One captain, who was to have drawn a larger share of the profits would' be paid £50. All the cash already taken at the canteens would, be paid to the Government, and the firms would be relieved of all commitments to ships' officers. Tlio ari'angement would cost the Government £1500 over and above the invoice price of the goods. The canteens would be run by a committee on each troop transport, appointed by the military commanding officer of each ship. Two Territorials would be as~ pointed to act as salesmen, and a permanent fatigue of six men would be! set apart for the canteen. The price I of the goods would be fixed by the! canteen supervisor. Payment would be I made by coupons issued by the officer] commanding, and the profits would be ,divided among the regimental funds pro rata according to units on each ship for the relief of distressed or; wounded troopers. !