ARMY CANTEENS.

Wanganui Herald, Volume XLIX, Issue 14194, 19 January 1914, Page 5

ARMY CANTEENS.

THE BRITISH SCANDALS. ALLEGED BRIBERY AND CORRUPTION. OFFICERS AND CIVILIANS CHARGED. Frees Association—Telegraph—Copyright LONDON, January 17. In connection with the canteen summonses, six quartermasters, two ser-geants-major, and eight civilians are charged with that, in February, 1903, and on other occasions, they conspired that money should be corruptly given. Mr Muir, the prosecuting counsel, outlined the canteen charges. He said keen rivalry existed between different firms to secure contracts, for which a rental of £l7 to £2O monthly was paid to supply messes of a hundred men. The duty of making complaints as to the quality of the provisions rested with the quartermasters and sergt.-majors. Hence a system of organised bribery was initiated by the conductors of Liptons’ military canteens. The chief witness would be Sawyer, a former employee of Liptons, who was instructed by Minto, formerly head of Liptons’ military department, in 1903 to secure the influence of non-commissioned officers as cheaply as possible. The canteen business grew rapidly under Sawyer, who later on was personally entrusted with the payments, thus making it plain that the heads of the firm desired to conceal their responsibility. Subordinates obtained written authority. When Sawyer wanted bribes he had to go to Minto or Caiisfiekl, the general manager. Jinny letters were road detailing payments to quartermasters. Sawyer, in a letter, stated that Quartermaster Armstrong clamoured for £SO to secure a contract far a First Battalion at Aidershot.

Sawyer recommended £2O. Pcgley, inspector of the Colchester branch, wrote tiie company saying that four sergeantmajors had made up their minds to stop at nothing to get fresh contractors unless well paid,. The hearing was adjourned.

In connection with the above, the prosecution is expected to prove a most sensational one, and to reveal a widespread system of graft. The Times of November 29 reported that as a result of the special investigation which had been conducted with a view’ to testing the accuracy of allegations niade in various quarters as to the existence of a system of bribery and corruption in regard to the conduct of canteens in the army, information had been laid before the Army Council, in consequence of which the Council had given orders, in the first instance, for the convening of a general court-martial, before which charges would be preferred against Cue following:—Hon. Major and Quartermaster F. Walker, Guards’ Depot; Hon. Captain and Quartermaster J. Fowles, Ist Battalion Irish Guards; Hon. Lieutenant and Quartermaster G. R. Burton 4th Hussars; Hon. Lieutenant and Quartermaster T. Potter, 3rd Battalion Argyll and Sutherland Hightlandcrs; Hon. Lieutenant and Quartermaster W. J. Armstrong. Ist Battalion Norfolk Regiment. All these officers passed through the ranks, and three of them have war service attaching to their names.