377
large inroads on the Canteen Fund, and it was with a view of covering the expenses of new Messes or of improving the equipment of existing Messes that the surplus of the Chundah Fund was transferred.
12. The Europeans and Chinese have had Messes for a long time. Now the equipment for these Messes was originally furnished I am unable to say, but from time to time when breakages are reported and new articles issued, they are paid for out of the Mess Funds.
13. The Mess Funds are administered Departmentally, and you will observe in the monthly pay lists submitted to you, that all the men who are members of the Messes have the amount of their Mess accounts stopped from their monthly pay.
14. The Captain Superintendent of Police in asking that the surplus of the Chundah Fund should be used for establishing Messes for the Indian Members of the Force reported that the Messes which have already been started had had a most beneficial effect on the health and conduct of the men.
15. Shortly after the grant of the surplus was made, the Captain Superintendent of Police went on leave and I understand that the whole sum of $437 still remains in the Bank intact, to the credit of the Mess Fund pending his return.
I have, &c.,
(signed)
Hilgrove C. Nicolle.
(3)