§ 59. Mr. WALTER GUINNESSasked the Under-Secretary for War whether he is aware that the present standard form of agreement between commanding officers and contractors for the tenancy of regimental institutes contains a clause under which 4d. per man daily messing allowance is to be spent with the contractor at retail rates; and, seeing that such supply of groceries for messing at the same retail prices as apply to the smallest purchases by individuals over the counter deprives regiments of the whole advantage which might be expected from collective messing, whether he will take steps to discourage such arrangements?
Mr. BAKERThe regulations provide that the commanding officer shall obtain the men's messing supplies through the regimental institute. It should, however, be remembered that the contractor has to allow 10 per cent. rebate on all such purchases.
§ Mr. W. GUINNESSAre not the prices arrived at on a retail scale; and does not that deprive the individual soldier of the whole benefit of collective housekeeping?