TERRITORIAL UNIFORMS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XLVIII, Issue 14691, 27 May 1911, Page 8

TERRITORIAL UNIFORMS.

KHAKI BEFORE THE KILT.

[BY TELEGRAPH. —PRESS association.]

Wellington, Friday. A deputation representing different Scottish organisations, including the Highland Rifle Corps, waited on the acting-Minister for Defence (Hon, G. Fowlds) this afternoon to urge that the Department should continue to permit the kilts to be worn by Highland corps. Mr. Herdman, P., in introducing the deputation, said he was given to understand that if the Department did not permit the use of the kilt mafiy members of the Highland Rifles would leave the company. He also pointed out that the Highland Rifles had sent an order Home for a supply of kilts.

Mr. Wilford, M.P., said that if kilts were abolished the Department would strike at the sentiment which brought about readiness to serve in Empire matters.

Mr. Aitken said the sentiments of all Scotsmen were" cntitrely against doing away with the .kilts, and that sentiment would not be trodden upon, and would not gi\e way. The Minister, in reply, said he had nothing to add to what 'had already been said in the newspapers. He understood from a letter he had received from the secretary of the association that the matter was ended. The deputation must see that they could not, from the military point of view, have one company in a bataJlion dressed differently from all the others. At the present time, the question the. Department had to face was the provision of a working dressthe khaki dress. When once they had encompassed that difficulty, and the country had more money to spend the question of providing a full-dress uniform with kilts, or in any other form, would come up for consideration. There would be no special interference in the meantime, he added, with the company's wearing of the kilts. They could wear them when suitable opportunities offer, and as far as possible he would see that on Coronation day the Highlanders would parade in their kilts.