MILITARY CLOTHING SUPPLIES.

North Otago Times, Volume CIV, Issue 13660, 31 August 1916, Page 2

MILITARY CLOTHING SUPPLIES.

WELLINGTON MANUFACTURER BEFORE THE COURT.'-;'

(Per Press Association.)

WELLINGTON, August,3o. •Further evidence for the Orortu ; was heard at the Magistrate's Court before Mr L.'G. Reid, S.M., to-day in a-caae in which it is alleged that Abraham Levy, clothing maniifactnrer ( of- Wellington, wilfully committed bre&qhes-'of contracts..for.lhe supply of military uniforms to the Defence In all there are eight charges in nature, the divers dates being/23rd, 27th, and 20th June, 4th, 6th,'-7fh| Bth, and 11th July. .. ■ .. . >. . . ".. ,

Informations' were laid 1 by/.'.'A, M. Adams, in charge of the New Zealand Military Supplies Purchase Office. . The prosecution alleges that-defen-dant used cotton instead of linen thread (which is. stipulated; in 'th'6'Jcontracts), for serving certain of the garments delivered, the contention being that cotton is not durable enough- for'the wear and' tear to which.. the uniforms ? are subjected.' „. . •. . . ,'■• ■„;'"' • .•■, Mr P. S..K. MacCassey,r:appearing for 'the .Crown, ; sttited'?in'!,lp opening address on' Monday' that; under Levy'« contract, there had; been (supplied'; up till the end'of June 53;303< garments, namely, .'tunics, ■ trousers,■:pantaloon), and great coats. Of this'number,it was 9tated,jll,l32-were'rejected■as''haying been sown with cotton' 'instead of linenthread. .'/.'.',»■

Mr:MacCassey'- added that'by-using cotton defendant could effect a<saving of £2B a month or £l4O for five months ending-June.. . v •■ ",- ■ '•'• • Mr A. Grey, K,C,,'<wit-h'him'MriM, Myers, appeared on' behalf of 'defendant. 'Benjamin Lewis, chief-examiner! for the Ordnance Supplies Stores; was call' ed.' ■ . .- ... ,'■ ■>' • Mr Grey: You;or the t -board : wroteSto Levy on the-2'nd'May re-lhejcnt'of'tlie pantaloons'.' . '• v' Witness: -, I.drafted < the; letter.'.-/.''. ; /Mr Grey: You believe it was sent? Witness: Yes. He came'''tosee'i.yon about it., : . ..., r ,-• • Mr Grey: Later did he. producer letter from tlie'llon. A.;;M.,Myers,'.Minister of.'Munitions, to .show, that'he-had carried out his contract re pantaloons? .Witness: That has nothing'to'.do'with ■if ...... • ■-..;.-■'■•'--v -. *

Mr Grey: That is not .for you to'say.* In further- cross-examination, witness stated that Levy eame to him'inlregavd to 'the matter of thread and they then discussed the sewing on- of 'tlie buttons, . ..'•.;■; ,; ; .'• ■•:

In. the course of further cross-exam-ination, witness' stated' that' interview with Levy, during •which:the latter said, he •asked him what : ion Ms in regard to .the facings ofitae seams, Witness replied'that he,would not like to say. He did'not know what view the 'board took of'it.' William James Frost, clothing, inspector at.the Defence Stores,,said that.th'e practice followed was that, a contractor had to submit sample garments:of ;eieji of those for which his contract' had been accepted. Two samples were' sent along, They were:sealed, one 'being kept by the department and the-'oth'er by the contractor. When defendant's brother-in-law came along with- a sample tunic, ho said in reply lb witness, that he had not been asked .to \ make samples of the. other garments .which defendant had contracted • to supply, Witness said to Levy :■"" Now you- know how you have to put Knox's thread into this .contract." Witness'' assured' him 'that 'the seams, of the two were sewn with Knox's .thread,, Witness then detailed : an' interview', 'atTwhich Levy produced the letter, of .SBth. : April '{drawing attention to; the 'fact ■ that linen'thread must be used).' [Witness read the letter .and .handed it oyerHoTMr Lewis, saying: "Isee Levy's in trouble with the thread." Mr Lewis replied: "He knows what the contracts:require him to use." Levy 'then; said ,th'at k.e was using Knoxs linen thread! 'J{p Lewis then remarked .that he would>ee the board about the matt'eer, Mr had drawn Levy's the buttons on the tunics, -which 'Mr. Lewis complained' were badly sewn on, arid Levy said he would'"'Go'round i .to:thß other places and see that they • were properly sewn.on. 0 A complaint;.h{|(j been made about the- pantaloons being, too tight at thp knees; and the cut too straight. Witness showed him.a'sealed sample and Levy, said he would ! ''maie the pantaloorts an inch longer,,' with more room at the 'knees, and ' mors shapely. : . The case was adjourned until to-mor-row,