SOLDIERS' BOOTS

New Zealand Times, Volume XL, Issue 9091, 9 July 1915, Page 3

SOLDIERS' BOOTS

To the Editor “N.Z. Times.” N Sir, —In your issue of the 7th inst.J a correspondent, “Obrdwainer,” opens, up the question “of tho'supply of foot-| wear to the soldiers encamped-at Tren-; tham, and, inter alia, ho has with the. best of intentions erred by misrepresenting certain facts of the case. He says the Old Country boot is welted, which is contrary to fact, for the boob adopted by. the Defence authorities in New Zealand is a fac simile of the English boot, with the exception that hob-nails are used in tbe soles instead of steel points, and that'colonial sole leather is used, the English greenhide Duros sole being unprocurable in tbs Dominion. ’ Now,, perhaps a little light on the subject may have the effect of remedying any irregularities that have cropped ,up in connection, with the matter. As stated the English regulation boot was copied, and, to my mind an error was made in. adopting such, for. I consider that a more highly efficient, design could bo used, that, would eliminate the uncomfortable back seam r ,in nthe present boot, and- suggest that even at this date, if the Government called for now designs, a better" model would bo submitted-, and readily .accepted by the Defence authorities. , I thoroughly agree with’ your- correspondent that work not--up to-the standard of durability is being foisted on to the Defence Deportment, and frankly assert that they themselves are , responsible for the continuance of such. Tho specifications drafted by them are indeed very drastic, and undoubtedly provide that the footwear-must be or tho highest quality, hut tho boots they,, accept and distribute at* Trentham uv many cases do not’ comply with their, own drafted specifications. 1 I know) that unscrupulous' manufacturers aroj prone to take advantage of tho iuspoc-; tion, therefore,'it behoves tho Defence authorities to strictly adhere to every, detail contained in tho specifications.! ’’Cordwainer” is right, about the usej of split as a front lining, hut the au-| thorities have power to reject same,. 1 as tho specifications -clearly-- provide, that only a grain leather - he--used, yot| some manufacturers are-using goat, m fact anything hut the Thread up to a certain strand is also specified to he used in the uppers, hub, I have seen boots distributed that contain cotton stitching, which undoubtedly is unscrupulous trading. Certainly kip is much' superior in durability te chrome, and realising the hard wear and tear these boots are subjected to, the authorities should insist that every, boot be rendered waterproof. Thera are various' excellent preparations op the market : that could be used oithef, in the course of manufacture or on the finished articles at approximately a cost of fourpcnce a pair. A boot repairing depot should b« established where tho men’s footwear would ba repaired free of charge., for the practice in vogue at the camp of wearing the boots without repair certainly is responsible for many of the colds contracted. 'Then, again, I understand that the contract price for the South Island is higher than the North Island price, which, to put it mildly, is unfair, and not justifiable, as the award governing tho trade is uniform throughout tho Dominion, and logically should apply to the contracts. It has been stated that the supply is unequal to the demand, which should not be allowed to continue, for firms whose tender prices have been a penny per pair- in excess of the contract price have been rejected; and if a strict inspection is adopted by tbe authorities demanding the best of material and workmanship tbe abuse which “Cordwainer” desires eliminated would be non est. Honing that the Defence authorities peruse the specifications drafted by themselves ■ .and enforce them with riaidity.—l am, etc., J. HUTCHISON, Secret a ry'Well i'ngt on Bootmakers Union.