TARTAN FOR 2,500,000 MEN

Cromwell Argus, Volume L, Issue 2648, 17 November 1919, Page 3

TARTAN FOR 2,500,000 MEN

J There was iin amusing interlude in (he *JL tlou>c of Coimnons on August 12, when Mr £* Forstcr (Financial Secretary to the War S Office) gave ;i definition of "tartan." The V word ""tartan," lie sail, meaning tartan J trousers, was a technical term applicable *£[ to a particular make of material, irrefcpec■B tivc of color. His own trousers were made H of tartan. V A Scottish member asked if the light J lion, gentleman would place his trousers at the disposal of the Disposals Hoard. ii Mr Forslcr: Thai is ;t practical imposM .ibilitv. (Laughter.) 0 The question and answer were suppleJ meulary to a statement made by Mr Forster in the House subsequently in reply to fa Mr Wallace, the member for the DunfermBj I line Hurglis. yj j .Mr Forsler said the quantities of stocks j j of cloth declared *' surplus," small as I hey "j '' were in comparison with the stocks in hand. |j would be sufficient, if placed on the market, )g) j to do away with the existing shortage of > I cloth and bring the pwee of men's suits down wit ii "' a run." , In round figures the quantities were: i Yards. K I Oreatcoal cloth 1,798.000 ? j Soi-e for jackets 5.325,000 1 j Tarl aii (for trousers) 5,109,000 £ ,' Whipcord and other material for | ' lircwhes 2,016,000 r | Ordinary grev flannel 2,567.000 j Itlue hospital ~erge 644,000 S I The item of 5,109.(525 yards of tartan . I for trousers provoked some commeul anions g I members of I lie House of Ominous, and a ii was asserted that it w;i> sin'oienl to pro- \ \ide 2,500.000 soldiers with tartan trousers. \ ' The .'locks have lately been handed over ' ■ t" the Ministry of Supply, but it does not | appear that any of the material has been