RED TAPE UNCLOTHES AUSSIE EX-SERVICEMEN

Chronicle (Levin), 17 April 1946, Page 5

RED TAPE UNCLOTHES AUSSIE EX-SERVICEMEN

(Rpeeial Australian Correspondent.j.

POLICE BALK ARMY'S EFFORT, TO HELP

Received Tuesdav 7.10 p.m. SYDNEY, April 10, Discharged. servicenien who find it impossible to get civilian suits are at a loss to understand t-heir porition when forced to ivear un'ifo rms in everyday life. Last December the Minister of Army, Mr. Forde, announced that dischargea suldiers who were unable to buy suats would be allowed to weai' uniforms ror six months. The arniy uuthorities- staie that niany men who applied and ptoveU that they wero unahle to obtain other clothing, were issued with' pernnts. These permits are still being issued and the demand for them is great. The police view, however, is tliat the Army Act forbids the wearing of a uni'form and badges after discharge. This w-as the position befbre the war and as far as the police are concerned, there is nothing on the books to alter the situation. Tlie niatter eame to a liead recentUy when a nian was charged by tlie police with illegallv wearing. a uniform. lie was fined oue shilling in the Central Police Court by a sympatlietic magistrate. In his remarks to defendant, the magistrate said that if he cotitinued to wear the uniform, the buttons- and l\orlrvoc nuict Kp AfflllV

hadges niust r>e removeu. m any servivemen, troubled by clothes shortages, lieaved a'Sigh of relief at this dec-ision and a 11' was well until the Army Department issued- a couuterblast. "When discllarged men wear a uniform they shouhl wear it complete with buttons, badges, unit patches aild ! decorations- and treat it with the re- j spect that its history and traditions de j nrand, " said an Army spokesmaiu Ap j parently if fcliis is done tlie dischargen J soldier is safe from everybody but the I police. Constables wall coutinue to en | foree the existing law unless the ex- , soldier concerned can produce an army j authority. Even with the pennit in hi* ! pocket he may not be safe for U is questionable whether the Army de.hrt inent can so arbitarily dispose of ihe Defence Act. The police hold' that once a soldien is i marclied out of the army he becomes a discharged serviceman aud so cann-at wear a uniform. The Rupplv department has added to the ex-servicemau 's eonfusion and growing annoyance, by stating that Sydney outfitters, have ample stocks of slacksj and sports coats to allow all servicemen to wear civilian clothes immediately on discharge. lnquiries at shops and clothing manufacturers' preinises rev^l' that is not tlie ease. The quarterly quota of tliree hundred stock size suits delivered at oue siiop yesterdav, lasted exactly four hours. Men who are not stock sizes liave two altem'atives. They can either get a cheap suit after a vt'ai.t oi' three months, or a better quality oue' in the niatter of six to eiglit months time. This i's oue reason whj' the eoldand rainy weather which set in two days ago,'has fiiiea Hvdney streets with well worn sloucti hats and. milStary greatcoats bearing . ntarks of past ca-mpadgn's.