"GET YOUR HAIR CUT."

Dominion, Volume 4, Issue 1219, 30 August 1911, Page 4

"GET YOUR HAIR CUT."

INDIGNANT TERRITORIALS. (By Tclccraph.—Special Correspondent.! Auckland, August 29. When, a staff-scrgcant-major startled the members of a local Territorial company recently with tho laconic, but peremptory remark, "I see a number of you men art* wearing your hair too lons—get it cut," it was thought that tho observation applied only to those who were o\er careless in permitting excessive growth. Since their hair was not unduly long, not straggling into their eyes, or down the back of their collars, the majority of the members felt quite at oaso on the matter, but to their surprise and annoyance such remarks were made at the usual parade of the company last night as to , cause the subject to assume a serious aspect. Tho corps was assembled in parade order, awl divided into halfsections, and the ficrg rant-major proceeded to examine different squads. Tho remarks addressed to (lie men before the inspection were brief, and to tho point. "A 'lot of you men have not got your 'hair cut yet. You can never bo soldiers with hair liko that. It does not matter about the girls. Get it cut," Each niau was (hen subjected to a searching examination, and there were fow that were not rebuked for wearing their hair "far too long." To an ordinary observer, tho hair of tho nven in question did not seem excessively long, mid in the cass of Bomo of thoso who came under tho officer's censuro it looked decidedly 6hort. It would appear, however, that a closo crop is to bo insisted upon under tho new scheme.

Seen by a "Star" representative after parade, members expressed great indignation at the treatment that had been meted out to them, and several stated boldly that they were not going about with a "convict cut" just because they hod to go to drill onco a week. _ A member whoso hair was "too long v accompanied a reporter to a well-known hairdresser's; shop this morning, and was examined by an expert, who stated (hat his hair was much shorter than was usually worn. Inquiries made at the Defence Office elicited the information that according to tho regulations hair was to be worn at a rcasotnblo length. Men could wear their hair as they pleased ordinarily, but had to have it of proper length on parades, which occur oiieo a week. Of course, on the interpretation of "proper length" bangs tho whole talc.

The question \ras asked at Gcncr.il Headquarters, Wellington, not very lons ago (apropos of a paragraph which had appeared in a country paper), as to tho r exact; purpose of Hie regulation referring to tho length of tho hair. It was then ixmited out tlmt tho regulation was intended to apply, in its official strictness, only to officers and non-commifisioncd officers of the permanent staff. ; It is, of course, expected that territorial soldiers will not insist upon coming on pnrado with an unreasonable mop of hair, but that all ranlcs in tbe citizen army will innko it a matter of personal pride to present a smart appearance on parade.