VOLUNTEERING.

Southland Times, Issue 22216, 8 January 1934, Page 3

VOLUNTEERING.

To the Editor,

Sir, —In your issue of January 5 appears a local on the efforts being made to attract volunteers for our defence forces. After having served in our volunteer, territorial and expeditionary forces I say the uniforms worn by us New Zealanders were no credit to our Defence Department while those worn by the Imperial troops were 100 per cent worse than ours. There was very little uniformity in colour or material and they were as ill-fitting as was possible. There is a lot more which could be written but which is better forgotten. Why not dress our men as the Australians dress their troops? That is a uniform, one any man might be proud to wear, all made of one material and made to fit the men. After being on active service and wearing a decent slouch hat our reinforcements looked like nothing on earth in the little narrow brim hats issued in New Zealand. I do not recommend red coats etc. as worn by the old volunteers but I do recommend the material and finish of the uniforms of those days. The Australian troops’ uniforms were a credit to their Defence Department and I do not think any volunteer worth his salt would object to buying his breeches and having a decent tunic and hat issued as we used to do. To the Defence Department I would say, “If a thing is worth doing it is worth doing well.”—l am, etc., Bth C.M.R.