NEW ZEALAND UNIFORMS

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXIV, Issue 22777, 10 July 1937, Page 17

NEW ZEALAND UNIFORMS

RESENTMENT AT CRITICISM] i COMMANDING OFFICER'S REPLY [by TELEGBArH OWX CORBESrONDENT] WHANGAEEI, Friday That the uniforms of the New Zealand Coronation contingent were illfitting and shabby was denied by Major H. G. Carruth, of Whangarei, who commanded the contingent on its return trip to New Zealand. "To describe them as shabby is absurd," said Major Carruth. " For the first time the British line regiments were in blue. All the Dominion and colonial troops were in khaki. The New Zealand contingent was issued with three uniforms, one of khaki drill and two of khaki serge. One was for general purposes and one for _ the Coronation. They were fitted by tailors and alterations were made to secure a good fit. I heard no suggestion in England that the members of the contingent did not look smart. They did. "The people of England remembered the New Zealanders of the Great War, when they were always in khaki, and it is an insult to the New Zealand Expeditionary Force to say that the uniforms were shabby," said Major Carruth, who added that while on the Rangitiki on the return voyage he had heard no complaint whatever from the passengers, and when . he read a criticism in the papers he was amazed.