Jack Tar's Food.

Timaru Herald, Volume XIC, Issue 13450, 23 November 1907, Page 2 (Supplement)

Jack Tar's Food.

AN IMPROVED MENU

. Some very interesting facts are given in the report issued of the Cuinmittt-e appointed to inquire into the question of canteen and .victualling arrangements in tho Navy. • The daily allowance in the United States navy for victually the men- is Is 3d: per head, while in the British-navy the aowtoximate'" dai'iy cost- of - the ration is only lOd per head. The Committee, however, seem, to take it.-,for..granted that the price of food :is the same in, both cases, which may or : may . not. be the case . It appears, however,..that an■ increse of only Id, a day, in the cost, of the seaman's dietary Avould • involve an additional change to. the nation, on present numbers, of over £150,000 per annum. In view, of these figures the Committee have, conceived it their duty rather to suggest, waysand means by which' the best possible value, may be obtainable by the men witliont exceeding tlie present cost ofthe; ration, than to propose - any incrense in that cost, and they have adopted this principle the ' more readily in ■ that,although the present allowance ,is not enough for luxury, the evidence obtained l does not-show-'."that, it .is inadequate.' under proper arrangements, to provide the men with, a, sufficiency of good-plain food. , The .following are the chief recommendations made by tlie ( Rominittee :—, ~ A: standard government- ration (value ap-' pioximately 6d per diem) together, with a messing allowauce of. 4d' per diem to take the place of the official ranon .{value approximately lO.d per diem), . and of the savings system, vwhich. the Committee- consider is cumbrous and out of. date: , The messing 1 allowance to be available, not only for expenditure on luxuries in the canteen, but also for taking up Government. provisions ,on board, . in addition x to the standard ration. That a new t.vpe of biscuit, such n,s that used by the .Army and the leading steamshin companies, should be adopted. _ iTJie existing stocks of present type of biscuit, the Commiltee say. crtuld be used for issue to men under,punishment)^- ' That- the present ration of- fresh meat, ; Jib., be reduced to which, is the quantity ; almost universally taken up in the fleet.- . • That, the present allowance of lib. of fresh vegetables should be retained, and that provision should :be made for- issuing a ration of ilb. of potatoes . whenever possible. to accompany the salt pork or pre » served dinner ration: ' i That the ration of tea be increased from foi!: to ioz.,: and sugar from ooz. -1o -40?..-.-It. is proposed,- in accordance with thc : views generally expressed in- the rypovtr from the fleet, that, tlie ration of jamshould be .reduced ; from 2oz. to .10z., ; and that 'the present rule under, which the ration-' on -two ? days • a '-week . is.: restricted?, to-marmalade should be abolished. - 1 Although the issues to the fleet arc, •ibout 1i200,0001b. of. jam r>er annum, the introduction of the • ratioij: lias not proveo.. so ponular l as was originally ■ anticipated. It appears that tlie younger mer. ■ he-jam is : most-appreciated, but. that th«-.i present allowance is ■in excess; ; of ; the requirements- of- the older . men. ,-' •; The recent* allegations- with .regard -to, American tinned, meats .have; - as.: might be - expected,' had" a, considerab'e -,effect uporthe minds of, the men, and although nr ( preserved . .meat of - XJnited • States oriffii" is now issued in the fleet, a prejudice has been- created, .with., regard to <supplies, of • this :kind, and little.of them, are r, taken ,up., -The Committee, recommend- that the issn< nf preserved meat shall b ( e confined-to ; d-av- per-.: week in ■ the ens-e- of sea-goinp •ships in" harbour; but shall remain as- a( ; present in the case of ships at sea.