SHEEPSKIN COATS

Dominion, Volume 8, Issue 2537, 11 August 1915, Page 3

SHEEPSKIN COATS

1 FOR' THE MEN AT THE DARDA- , NELLES. The coming winter in the northern hemisphere is not' being forgotten by those who are attending to the comfort of the men in camp and at tho front. The Lady Liveijool Committee in Wellington is to provide 1000 sheepskin under-coats by September'.ls—pariof an order of 15,000 to'be ready by thai dato for shipment to the front. r Tho .Wellington committee, working-under Hrs.'Luke, at the Town Hall', have already "made a start with the work, and yesterday afternoon submitted a ~ sample coat to the inspection of interested people in the Mayor's room. Unlike the Germans and Russians, : the sheepskins .used are. in the form of dressed leather (basil). Of this material, armless jackets are bein" made, opening up the side and , on the right . shoulder. Dome fasteners are at present being ' used, as the. means of -'buttoning" up the jacket (which descends to the'hips); irnt it is .thought that these give way i too easily,, and that it. might be "better to supplement the fasteners with eyelet holes,oso that .the,coats could,be-laced up, or do away with the "domes" altogether. ■ . The leather jackets are to be worn under the uniform coat, or over, as best tliey servo the conditions in the trenches, but whichever way they may. be worn, 'they 'should' prove stout rc- ; sisters of cold and wet. The committee is paying 2s. 6d..a skin for the leather ; aiid it takes, two • skins to make the jacket, so that thecost of a coat willamount. to about 6s;j ' with the labour thrown in gratis. The : coats are being made in three sizes, so that every, physical type of soldier may be aocommodated. It is understood that the sheepskin coats to be served out to; the troops in Flanders will have the wool adhering, " bu£ clipped: fairly .< .close-. to; tho' t'skin. Mr. Walter Nathan haa already donated the cost of fifty coats. . . '