N.Z. UNIFORMS AT CORONATION

Press, Volume LXXIII, Issue 22136, 5 July 1937, Page 8

N.Z. UNIFORMS AT CORONATION

"Colourless and Drab'

DRESS CRITICISED AND MEN PRAISED

(I'RESS ASSOCIATION T*L«aaAU.) WELLINGTON, July 4. Pointed criticism of the uniform worn by members of the New Zealand Coronation Contingent was expressed by Mr B. H. Wilkinson, of Oamaru, and other passengers who arrived in the Rangitiki from London on Saturday. Mr Wilkinson said the contingent from New Zealand was equal to the finest type of manhood, and it was most disappornting to find their uniforms in sad contrast to those of other units. "It was a wonderful advertisement for New Zealand to send over such a fine body of men and a wonderful gesture which, 1 feel sure, was appreciated by the British troops and the huge crowds with whom our boys were most popular. It was a great pity indeed that they were not given decent uniforms to wear," he said. When the contingents were marching in the procession on Coronation Day it was easy to see how shabby and colourless their dress was. It seemed to all New Zealanders that there had been a very big mistake. They could not show themselves off as their position warranted, and they could not live up to the advertisement.

Contrast With Others

"The Government must have spent a lot of money in sending them Home for the celebrations, but all the glamour of seeing our own boys marching through the streets was lost as soon as they met other troops. The Royal Canadian Mounted Police were by far the most polished and neatest dressed of the Dominion representatives. The Australians came a close second, and they served to contrast sharply the drab uniforms of the New Zealanders. Every soldier wore a tailored dress uniform of much better quality material than our men. Their poor uniforms were talked about freely by the crowds who watched them march past and they were the talk of the boat coming out. It is all most regrettable. "In spite of that, however, on board the men were very popular with the passengers." Other passengers who saw the Coronation procession agreed with Mr Wilkinson's remarks.

"It was bad enough hearing Londoners say how colourless they looked and it was just as bad realising that it was true," said a Dunedin woman who saw them.

"Physically they looked perfect," said another woman visitor to London, "but those awful uniforms robbed them of all their show."

"We felt mighty proud of our men when we saw them swinging along and marching with the pick of the other soldiers," said a Hawke's Bay farmer. "We are still proud of them, but their uniforms took most of the gold off their appearance."