NEW ARMY HEADGEAR

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXVIII, Issue 23863, 14 January 1941, Page 6

NEW ARMY HEADGEAR

STRAW HAT EXPERIMENT 2ND BATTALION'S ORDER RELIEVING FELT SHORTAGE Straw hats will shortly be worn by men of the 2nd Battalion, Auckland Regiment, who last week entered camp at Kensington Park, Whangarei, for an intensive training course of three months. 'J'he hats are on order and are expected to be issued within the next few days. The hats will be the same shape as the familiar felt peaked hat, which was recently largely replaced by forage caps. These caps were introduced mainly for the purpose of helping to relieve a shortage of felt, and the same object is behind the order lor the straw hats. Another reason for their issue is that they will provide the troops with protection from the sun not offered by the forage cap. This will be the first time they have been issued in New Zealand. It is not yet known whether a similar issue will be made generally to all units of the Territorial Force now in camp, although other units apart irom the 2nd Battalion have also been issued with the forage caps, and it is possible that the Whangarei issue will be made at the battalion's own expense. Suggestions for the manufacture of straw hats to Army pattern were recently transmitted to Wellington, but it is not known whether a decision on the matter has been reached.