At SH, there wasn't much money in the 70s until the prices started going up (1976?). Times were relatively rosy until 1982-ish (I moved to LA in early 1986). For a year or so to simplify food preps for several orgs with different food allocations eating at similar times, there were 3 food allocations an org FP Committee could choose from. I forget the amounts, but these covered:
- Full food allocation (good food, at least by SO standards)
- Medium (sausages and mash, for example
- Beans and rice
I'm not sure if I'm remembering the early or the later "poor" period, probably the earlier one. Mick Parkee and Ian Feldmesser were both in the galley at the Stables, and they worked hard to feed the crew. Beans & rice wasn't just plain beans and rice: one day it was soybean fritters with brown rice, the next bean loaf, etc. It was very creative, and I found it very tasty, far better than the sausage-and-mash level. I told them to pleeeeease write up a cookbook for others to use. Years later I spoke to Ian Feldmesser -- posted in the PAC galley -- and mentioned this in regard to the white rice and bean slop he had prepared. I forget what he said, but the create had certainly disappeared.
I was familiar with FP at the time. Yes, it was more important to send silly bits of paper to bad addresses than feed the crew well or buy toilet paper or even staples. I don't know if this could honestly be chacterised as a punishment, or simply one more example of Hubbard not caring at all about crew welfare.
Paul