The New Zealand Flag

A bit of New Zealand Humor!

This article titled "Didn't Like Mutton", is from the August-September 1999 Guadalcanal Echoes.
The parent organization is the GCV, Guadalcanal Veterans Organization, which apparently
consists of anyone of any branch of the US Armed Forces who were involved in this 6 month campaign.
This issue was the last for Ted Blahnik as editor for he was retiring.
Ted was a survivor from the Battle of Kula Gulf.

DIDN'T LIKE MUTTON?

Dear Ted:

So Bert Mason (page 21 Feb/March Echoes) didn’t go much for our New Zealand mutton.
Well Bert, you have my sympathy, but heck, you Yanks were sitting ducks.

My wife and I have made many trips up to the 2nd Marines Div. Assoc. reunions in
different parts of the states and there is always one think we can count on. Most times
they will tell us how they enjoyed the time they spent in New Zealand in WWII, how
nice we were to them, what lovely milk and butter we had, how sweet our girls were, but
one thing they never miss “Oh that darned mountain goat of yours.”

But just hang on a minute fellows, spare a thought for us Kiwi's. In those days we had less
than two million people and over 70 million sheep. We couldn't ship them all out to starving
Poms (Ed:?) so what to do with those we were not able to eat ourselves?

And then: pennies from heaven, here come all those darned Yanks. Sure beef and pork would
have been lovely but you guys had two shows. I still reckon you were the best fed troops
in the world, Spam, spam and more spam. I really don't know what you had to moan about.

In the WWII Kiwi navy we victucents on 72 cents a day, then shipped out to the pom navy and
they lavished us with 30 cents a day! Beat that! Man what I would have given for a bit of good
old Kiwi mutton once in awhile. So, what say Bert. Count your blessings for those “good old days”.
You survived both the Jap bullets and Kiwi mutton, and I tell you that's some achievement!

Stan Martin

PS: Bert,
as an act of good will and nostalgia and to enhance US-NZ relations, I'd be happy to send
you a chunk of our best quality prime mountain goat. It has never tasted better. Drop us a line.