UNIFORMS SHORT

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXVII, Issue 20135, 3 January 1940, Page 7

UNIFORMS SHORT

THE AUSTRALIAN FORCE COMPLAINTS BY THE MEN MELBOURNE, Dec. 19. Some privates of the Second Australian Imperial Force in camp at Puckapunyal, Seymour, 60 miles from Melbourne, have been hiring their uniforms to comrades without them, wht. wanted to go to Melbourne, looking like real soldiers. It is claimed that as much as 10s, or two days’ pay, has been offered for the use of a uniform for a few hours. This shortage of uniforms, which is reported also from New South Wales camps, is one of the problems that will confront the Minister for the Army, Mr. Geoffrey Street, when he visits Australian camps after the Federal Parliament rises in about a week. When the first drafts of the Australian Imperial Force entered Puckapunyal camp Mr. Street inspected the . men and said that they were the finest fighting material in the world. Subsequent complaints were made by the men, however, about their equipment and living conditions.

Uniforms are still a sore point with the men. More than three weeks ago Mr. Street said he had been informed that “every man has been issued with a uniform of some sort.” This and other claims by the Department of Supply do not agree with the experience of many of the men. Actually, a complete dress uniform has not yet been issued at Puckapunyal.

Until recently many of the men were using civilian clothes and boots, for which they received no compensation. The authorities say that the issue of working uniforms has been completed, but, even if that is so, many of the men are still compelled to wear civilian clothes while their working clothes are being dried and mended. However, the deficiency in socks, underclothing and handkerchiefs has been remedied.