PACIFIC BASES

Timaru Herald, Volume CLIII, Issue 22470, 4 January 1943, Page 4

PACIFIC BASES

Special Canteen Arrangements

Low Prices Charged

Prom the Official Wai Co-respondent with the N.Z.E.F.

SOUTH PACIFIC BASE, Dec. 12.

Canteen stores which included soldiers’ needs and comforts ranging from beer to toothpaste were ready to be drawn by units of the New Zealand Expeditionary Force as soon as they landed here. A canteen scheme, based on systems adopted in army camps in the Dominion and covering the entire force, was put into operation at the earliest possible moment, with the result that there was no need for the majority of the troops to go short of any normal requirements.

The force has a specially appointed canteen officer, who Is responsible for the ordering and delivery of stores and has a staff of six under his direction. The system adopted is that each unit establishes its own canteen and buys its stores directly from the canteen staff. Prices in the canteens are in most cases even lower than in New Zealand camps. Cigarettes sell at ten for 7 cents, approximately 5d in New Zealand currency. Two ounces of tobacco can be bought for 1/2. and a tin of fruit for 1/-, and a quart of beer for 1/6, with 3d returnable on the bottle. The stock comprises a wide range of articles, some others being patent medicines, brushes, toilet gear, sweets, statin"- v and fishing lines. The New Zealanders also discovered that, coming under the United States Army ration scale, they are entitled to a remarkably generous free monthly issue of soldiers’ comforts. The maximum issue consists of 600 cigarettes, a packet of matches, two packets of razor blades and a cake of soap. It depends naturally on the state of supplies. Playing cards are added to the issue occasionally.

The supply of beer is limited, and canteens are obliged to ration their stocks. Soft drinks will also be provided, as bottles become available, since the canteen staff has its own aerating plant, which turns ordinary fruit cordial and water Into a sparkling drink. «•

New Zealanders quartered within reach of United States Army camps also have access to the American post exchanges, where cigarettes are only half the price of the New Zealand brands because of their low cost in America itself.