IMPORTANT DEFENCE MATTERS.

Colonist, Volume LX, Issue 14546, 26 October 1917, Page 7

IMPORTANT DEFENCE MATTERS.

Our Parliamentary Correspondent.)

Wellington, Oct. 25. The Minister of Defence was asked 1 in" the House of Representatives to- | day by Mr \V. H. Field (Otaki), wheI ther JlO would take steps to prevent tho recurrence of such experiences as had been recounted in a soldier's letter which he liad received. Among v number of complaints, the soldier stated: "Sergeants are supposed to re-, ceivo "second saloon fare, but don't get equal to steerage and privates' food. Beyond a word the butter is absolutely rotten, and literally stinks." The member .urged the Minister to do all he could to prevent such shameful providoring -as -seemed to be sometimes experienced on a transport catered for by a shipping company. - ! Sir James Alien, replied that the matter had been under consideration. Some bad- butter was supplied to one vessel by a Wellington firm which he named. This caso.had. been referred to the Crown Law Office, which had reported that there were no grounds for action. "But," said the Minister, to an accompaniment of marks of approval, "I .will not let the matter rest there."