BREECHES OR TROUSERS?

Dominion, Volume 11, Issue 61, 5 December 1917, Page 8

BREECHES OR TROUSERS?

9 ; THE BRITISH PRECEDENT. 'A little light is thrown upon th« camp question of breeches versus "slacks by illustrations in military journals published in the United Kingdoni. It is quite true, as has been pointed out by the military .authorities hero, that tho regulation trousers, ; turned down over the top of the puttees below tho knee, aro worn by ' O.T.C. cadets and by the officers oi Rome important regiments in Britain. But an examination of the pictures provides evidence that the "slacks" aro better cut than those issued to tie men in the New Zealand training camps. They aro fuller in the thighs and tho fit of the puttees suggests that the material is lighter than tho serge used in this country. It may bo mentioned, in this connection, that there is a consensus of opin-' ion among officers who have been at tho front that trousers turned down over tho puttees make a better garment for marching and for trench work than the breeches. Thoy nover bind at tho kneo. Their appoaranco is another question. It is not sug- , gested by the men in the training camps that they should bo allowed to proceed to the front in tho breechos that they buy hero for the sake of , neatness and smartness.