STRONG SENTIMENT

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXIII, Issue 7451, 27 May 1911, Page 1

STRONG SENTIMENT

SCOTCHMEN AND THE KILTS DEPUTATION TO THE MINISTER OF DEFENCE. A deputation from tbo "Kilt Defence League,*’ accompanied by Messrs A. L. Horduiau. T- M. Wilfm'd, and D, McLaren, members of Parliament, interviewed the Hon. George FowUlis fActingXTinistor of Defence) yesterday to m go Hie retention of the kilt ns the uniform of the former Highland Rifles Cmnpauy. Mr Herdmau introduced tho deputation, remarking that Wellingtonians were proud of their .Highland regiment, and it tho Defence Department decided to continue the use of the Scottish national garb, it would be not only conferring a favour- on. the Scotch community, but keeping alive a corps of great value m the defence forces.

•'lt is almost superfluous for a New Zealander to point out to a Scotchman the necessity for keeping up a tradition of tlio nation/* declared Mr W c T/r* "I’d sooner suggest doing, away wilu porridge as a national dish. Ho urged the great value of fostering a sentiment, and hoped the Minister would rcplv that, being a Scotchman, . that was sufficient guarantee for the kilt. "PUT EVERYONE IX KILTS." Mr W. Dobson, an lion. Fecretary of tho "Kilts Defence League," stated that tho utmost enthusiasm was ehown by Scotchmen over the retention of tho kilt- They took the Minister’s word that the kilts were going to stay, but tho Highland Rifles were already out of existence. Ho saw n. notice in tho dril'shcd tho other day that four non-commissioned officers of the Highland Kifles had been drafted into other companies. In shooting and drill tho Highland Kifles had been the best in the battalion, and if General Godley would get an army as good. as them New Zealand would be all right. The regimental system which had resulted in tho abolition of the company spirit would do harm, because there would be no personal touch between the men and their officers. If General Godloy* was thinking of a full-dress national uniform for New Zealand, ho could do uo better than adopt tlio kilt. "STRONG FEELING." Mr .T. G. ’W. Aithen assured the Minister that tlio sentiment of the Scotch community was entirely against doing away with the kilt, and it was such a strong feeling that it would not give way. .Urging the .strength of tho sentiment in favour of the kilt, Mr Leu. McKenzie declared that, although ho was a colonial Scotclfman, he felt-just as strongly on it as one bom in Scotland; Only that day, at the Imperial Conference, Sir Joseph -Ward had declared that the Empire was held together .by. sentiment. There would' bo a parade cm Coronation Day. .but. if tho military were iu the unsightly khaki, would tho women and children-rush to see them? He suggested that without the spirit of the women being behind tho defence movement it was doomed. Mr D. McLaren spoke of tho tremendous ,feeling infavour of th© kilt. Tho protest was quiet, but determined. If the Government was going to carry out its defence scheme on the lines of compulsion, treating men as machines without regard to their sentiments and racial characteristics, it was not going to make a success of it.

i Mr Robert Fletcher suggested that there were sufficient Scotchmen ready to como forward to secure the success.of Highland companies if they were continued. A SYMPATHETIC ANSWERThe Minister assured tho deputation that, as a Scotchman, his sympathies were entirely with tho kilt. When ho heard of the agitation, ho mails a statement which ho thought was eatisfactoi-y and appeared to. ba satisfactory to the local Scotch Society. 'The question of providing full-dress uniform for tho Territorials was still some ■ distance off, and the first thing to do was to provide a garb in which the men could he efficiently trained. Ho had not understood that General Godley-was antagonistic to tlio • kilts, particularly if a battalion of Highlanders could be raised in each centre, which was not impossible under tlio new system. It was simply a question of finding money for a costume more expensive than khaki. ELASTICITY NECESSARY. It was represented to him as being absolutely necessary to have facilities for oasy transfer from one company to another. If (hat elasticity was to prevail, the kilt was a difficulty. Mr Wilford: Docs that mean that General Godley has to settle it? The Minister; ‘‘Ho has been brought oat hero for tho express purpose of organdsing tlio training of tho defences forces, and if General Godley advises that it is necessary that an officer shall bo transferred, it is no use the Minister saying it shan't he done, else wo will havo tho cry of political influence interfering with tlio duo training of the defence forces.” It would bo very satisfactory to have a full battalion in'kilts, because transfers, of men and officers could then bs made within tho regiment. He did not know that companies had been interfered with in wearing tho kilt on special occasivins. Air Herdman: Has General Gcdloy issued such instructions? Tho Minister: No, it has been purely a battalion order. Air Dobson asked if the Highland Rifles could be allowed to wear tho kilts in the Coronation Day procession, and. if ho would prevent men being drafted out of tli at company. ■ ■ The Atinistar: lam not going to interfere with the, drafting of men from one company to another, but I will soe that in tho. Coronation parado tho . Highlanders will have an opportunity of wearing their national costume.