ARMS AND UNIFORMS

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXIII, Issue 7978, 8 December 1911, Page 9

ARMS AND UNIFORMS

DEFENCE PREPARATIONS

A PEEP AT THE STOKES. AVhile politicians are prating about (ho cast of liie defence scheme, and its more direct enemies are peregrinating from street corner to street corner with soap boxes, the scheme itself is being steadily proceeded with. Some people probably fail to realise what it means to inaugurate an entirely new- system of military defence. The necessary legislation came first, then the mapping out of tlie requirements in men and money, then the excitement of enrolling, ana now there is proceeding tho part, of which the public sec little and hear little, but which perhaps is tho mocat troublesome of all, and materially ths most important, viz., the arming and the equipment of the, men. This task is being carried out at tha Defence Stores in Buckle street, Wellington. It' requires a visit there to realise the thought, tho work, tho experience, Hint are necessary to carry out a big work of this description. When you enter tho Buckle street stores and eeo tho busy toilers and tho preparations icr tho distribution of arms and clothing over the Dominion, you realise that a big work is in progress. For instance, tho uniforms for the territorials have for the past week or two been arriving. So far ths outfits for about nine thousand men. in a more or loss state of completion, have come, to hand. These all have to bo sorted out ami shelved. They .are in graced sizes, an ingenious system of measurement, tho product of tho brain of Captain O'Sullivan, Director - of Defence Stores, has been applied, whereby almost any sized youth -can. bo fitted. Measuring has been proceeding in tho various centres. A form is filled up by the regimental quartermaster for each recruit, and these forms -are now arriving at tho depot. Next weak commences tho 1 task of sending out the uniforms. Each man.' 1 also gets an. overcoat, a felt hat ,and a forage cap. Every branch of the service will wear -putties instead of leggings. Tho uniforms in hand at present fill multitudes of shelves—indeed, the place wears the appearance of - a busy warehouse. Every article of clothing is tho, product of New Zealand mills. There ia absolute uniformity of colour, eo that the whole Now Zealand defence force, from the North Cape to tho Bluff, will,. on mobilisation, present no spectacle of detached unite, but one uniform whole. Distinguishing colour -badges and trouserstripes will mark tho branches of tho service, green denoting tho mounted, men, and red the infantry. The senior cadets will have neat blouses and long trousers. So far the uniforms in Mock comprise only a small portion of what yet remains to be handled. A now- brick, Wilding is in the later stages of completion for their safer storage. The felt hats are ths product of the National Hot Mills, Wellington, and are really a wry excellent article. Many largo packingcases are stacked in the yards waiting to bo dispatched with these goods to the territorial centres.

But this is only one branch of the industry. In other sheds are stacked camp paraphernalia, tents, marching outfits of the latest pattern, containing, in addition to bayonet, water-bottle, overcoat, etc., a handy trenching tool) bandoliers, field outfits, 'including tele phones , and heliographs; much leattei goods; service boots, which the depart meat is selling, at option, to the men at a low fee, and many other requisites.' Outside in the yard is a new pontoon bridge, lately come to hand, a r-at’hc-r bulky apparatus that has not yet boon: used. Elsewhere are stored transit waiter tanks, a sample transport waggon (from which others will be manufactured in the Dominion). Necessary appliances for the eighteen-pounder gums have also been coming to band, though the guns themselves liave not yet arrived. In other (Sheds are many largo black cases. These contain the service rifles. It is not permitted that -the public should know , what stock of thcea is kept. It is.a State secret that mot even an Opposition order for a "return” could cause to he divulged. Recently,, however, ten thousand were added to, the stock. Just at present workmen are spending busy hours cleaning up and u> specting the rifles that have been received from the old volunteer corps. Every Government am in the Dominion has boon called in, and as a result every, man will have ’ issued to him a moo clean rifle. It will 1m a new startover the whole Dominion. _ It. would grieve the heart of the military enthusiast to eeo the condition in which eomo of tlho rifles have been sent In. There is undoubtedly great need for the new quartermasters in the various regiments, to eeo that this sort of tilling does not recur Some of the Wellington corps have been rather bad offenders. The comparatively slow process of cleaning these arms has been tire causa of the delav in their reissue... Every nfic haa, 104 parte, and these parte are stocked in largo quantities. ' ,of tho DominionV ammunition etoro, also, the outsider can. know nothing. This much, however, is for public unlor-. mation, tlsiat every Saturday morning the Director of the . Defence Stores pro-' ; duces his ammunition •• balance book, to the Commandant, who then known from glancing over the page* c i how every packet has been distributed and how each part of the Dominion is etuTod. ; Tho Bucklo street stores do uot yet unseat the aspect of a Woolwich Arsenal. but tilings are very busy there;, tho will of foe .people is being given effect ‘to .it as rapid a irate as opportunity will permit; evidences aro offered of tho effective defence scheme now in active operation; and pleasing, indeed, is the outstanding fact that local industries are benefiting to an euoraions degree aom a new departure in defence t-heut, after all, is an admitted necessity.