THE VOLUNTEER MOVEMENT

Lyttelton Times, Volume CIV, Issue 12323, 13 October 1900, Page 2

THE VOLUNTEER MOVEMENT

ITS EFFECT ON LOCAL INDUSTRIES. A STIMULUS TO TRADE. The impetus given 1 to the volunteer movement 'by the South African war has caused quite a large number of mounted rifle corps to spring-into existence in the country districts of Canterbury, as well as in other parts of the-colony, and this has had the effect of stimulating local industry to no'small extent, as the uniforms, caps, boots, leggings, etc., required have, in all cases, been made locally. This has caused , a good deal of work both in the clothing and boot factories, and the employment of a number of extra hands, as well as the using up of a quantity of our local products, in the shape of wool, leather, etc. All the work has been turned out in a style which reflects credit on the makers, and' it also serves to show that even in the matter of military uniforms and equipments there is not the slightest necessity to go out of the colony to supply the wants of our troops. Tq order to give some idea of the extent to which local industries have benefited by the “boom” in volunteering, a representative of this paper waited yesterday morning upon some of the manufacturers who had had'the contracts for supplying uniforms and; equipments., Mr Sercus, manager of the Kaiapoi Woollen Company, after showing the reporter samples of the various materials used in the manufacture of uniforms for the Rough Riders Contingent, produced a letter which the company had received front a war correspondent in South Africa, in which he stated that the uniforms of that corps were much superior to those worn by Tommy Atkins, and that they were wearing splendidly. The company, Mr Hercus started, was now laying itself out to supply all necessaries for military uniforms 1 , and everything that could be made in the colony -was turned out here, while in the matter of officers’ decorations, hats, helmets, etc., these were

being imported in lairge quantities. Besides doing a good deal of work for the various contingents which went to South Africa, the company had already supplied the following ten mounted corps with uniforms, all of which had been made to measure;—Christchurch Mounted Rifles, Kaikoura, Waimakariri, Amuri, North Canterbury, Ellesmere, Malvern, Marlborough, Takaka, Hastings and Napier Mounted Rifles, while amongst the. infantry corps fitted out were the Kaiapoi, Imperial, Limvood, Feilding ahd Stoke Rifles and the Taranaki Guards. In the matter of the mounted corps, the equipment included kliarki jerseys to suit the uniforms, as well as Very serviceable waterproof capes and overcoats. They had 1 also turned out a number of cotton kharki uniforms, the stuff for which, however, had to be imported, but all the woollen kharki and the jerseys a'cd capes -and coats bad been made from web woven at tbs Kaiapoi mills. The officers’ equipments now in stock include all decorations, as well as Sam Brown belts, swords, etc. Messrs Ballantyne and Co., who have in charge of their military department Mr F. Creswell, Captain of the Christchurch- Citv Guards, also turned out a number of woollen kharki uniforms for the Rough Riders, and they are in receipt of a congratulatory letter from Major Jowsey, who says that not only have the uniforms supplied by the firm worn better than those of other corps, but they are also very, smart in their appearance. Ibis firm has gone into the military business in the same thorough manner which has characterised everything that it has taken in hand, and this department now employs a special staff. Amongst the corps uniformed by the firm are the Canterbury Yeomanry Cavalry, which has just adopter! kharki, as well as the Ashburton, M’Kenzie, Studholme, Gust and South Canterbury Mounted Rifles, the Christchurch Civil Service Corps and the whole of the South Canterbury Rifle Battalion, while several other corps are now in treaty for uniforms. The kharki and the jerseys which accompany each uniform are turned out at the Oamaru Woollen Mills, and are of excellent quality, while the saddle-cloths are of a special :.pattern, the Web being woven in such a manner as to He on the horse without curling as is the case with doth woven in the ordinary manner. Messrs Ballantyne and Co. make everything connected with the uniforms, including the service caps, but find that the hats and helmets cannot be turned out here to advantage, so in order to keep as much work in the- place as possible, these are imported in the rough and finished and trimmed at their workrooms. The firm used to depend upon the Defence Office for the supply of decorations and officers’ equipments, but as it wag almost impossible to get things from there when they were required, it is now importing and stocking all military requisites, including Sam Brown belts, /swords, etc. It is also making a speciality of officers’ mess dress, and very smart these uniforms look. In addition to the corps mentioned above five of the Wellington corps are being- fitted out from Dunstable House.

It wJI thus be seen that irrespective of the South African Contingents, nearly 4000 men have been uniformed from Christchurch, while at the commencement of next year, it is more than probable that the whole of the Canterbury Battalion will require new uniforms, as it is intended to adopt-kharka and to dispense with the present blue uniforms.

’.ln. the matter of boots and leatherware Mr H. Pannell has had some large contracts on hand to supply boots and leggings, and the men speak in -very high terms of the manner in which he. has turned out the Work. Amongst the corps fitted out by him are the Canterbury Yeomanry Cavalry, the Ashburton,.Walmate, M’Kenzie, Amuri, Malvern, Cust, Tuapeka, and Christchurch Mounted Rifles, while for the C.Y.C. and Ashburton Mounted Rifles he has also supplied the wallets, these being the only corps in the province which possess them. In addition he has made a number 6f bandoliers, cross and sword belts, as well as jack and -dress boots for the officers. All these articles have been made from locally tanned leather, which seems to suit the purpose excellently.