SOLDIERS' CLOTHING

Evening Post, Volume XCIX, Issue 69, 22 March 1920, Page 8

SOLDIERS' CLOTHING

ALLEGED WANTON DESTRUCTION

.A statement was made by the Hojn. J. G. Coates (Acting-Minister of Defence) ' yesterday regarding the alleged wanton destruction.of serviceable soldiers' clothing. ■ ■' ;

The Minister stated that as a result of a personal examination, he was satisfied that due care was exercised by the officials in the disposal of the clothes. Prom his inspection, he was convinced that "wanton destruction" of the clothes does not exist. The system being followed was satisfactory. The elaborate checking did not permit of any garment being condemned that could be cleaned ,up, disinfected, and repaired for use again. An official report would show the arrangement carried out:—

"Old clothing on being returned to the Defence stores is first of all checked with the packing list, and brought on ledger charge as garments by numbers. The clothing is then sorted out into two classes, viz. : (a) Clothing fit for renovation ; (b) clothing unfit for renovation through wear and tear or through it being in an unsanitary condition. The clothing fit for renovation (with the exception of hats, which go to the hatters who made them for renovation) is then forwarded to the Department's laundry contractors, for laundering, disinfecting, and renovating. After the clothing has been dealt with at the laundry it then goes off to the factory where it is repaired, which may mean that new sleeve linings, pockets, stays, collar tabs and collar linings, and buttons are necessary. The clothing that is classified. as unfit for renovation is laid out for inspection by a board of survey, consisting of two officers, which board examines the clothing," and should the board consider that any clothing that is placed before it for survey is fit for renovation it is forwarded to the contractor-for that purpose."