Colonel HOPEasked the Secretary of State for War whether, in order to vary the rations issued to the troops at home, oatmeal or rolled oats could be issued in lieu of bread saved on rations on the same principle as flour is now issued; and whether an equivalent ration of coffee could be issued in lieu of tea saved?
§ Mr. FORSTEROatmeal can already be drawn instead of bread on the basis of 2 ozs. oatmeal for 4 ozs. of bread. It is not considered advisable to issue an equivalent of coffee for tea. The weight to be issued, to get an equivalent in food value, would have to be nearly doubled and, as the price of tea and coffee per pound does not much differ, considerable extra expense for the public would be involved.