LOOKING THE PART

Evening Post, Volume CXXXIII, Issue 54, 5 March 1942, Page 8

LOOKING THE PART

HOME GUARD UNITS

SERVICE DRESS ISSUE

From its "civilian army" appearance the Home Guard is taking shape as a military unit. This conies about by the provision of uniforms. Good progress is being made with the issue of service dress to units, the general bearing of which is being improved considerably as a result. The uniforming has been taking place for some time, and already many Home Guardsmen in Wellington and, elsewhere are now in khaki. The uniforms, in the main, are those which have been used by other units now being provided with battledress. They are, of course, renovated, and, though in many cases not the perfect fit, the issue of them supplies a long-felt want. The process of issuing and fitting is carried out expeditiously as the uniforms become available, and it does happen that the issues are'sometimes astray in size. However, where the try-on shows that the uniform is not according to the measure of the recipient the issuing authorities are ready to correct the faults. As far as possible, the object is to have the uniforms of the Home Guard smart as well as serviceable. The big thing is that the uniforms are coming forward steadily, and they are being distributed in various parts of the Dominion, on<? recent issue being of 1000 to units in Auckland. Other gear and equipment are also being issued from time to time, and in the distribution the importance of the task of the units is taken into account. When completely outfitted, those battalions well forward with their training will bear comparison with others which have not been faced with the same difficulties as the Home Guard.