"GET YOUR HAIR CUT."

Dominion, Volume 4, Issue 1225, 6 September 1911, Page 4

"GET YOUR HAIR CUT."

THE CAPTAIN AND THE REPORTER. LATEST PHASE OF THE INCIDENT. (By Telegraph.-Special Corre6Dondent.) Auckland, September 5. Tho /'Star" reporter, who wrote tlic article, from which a discussion recently aro.'P regarding the proper length of territorials' hair, had a further experience last night. The company to which Ihe journalist belongs wo.> (so he states in a further article) assembled alter ordinary I routine work a quarter of an hour earlier than usual. " Alter making a few general announcements (says "Culprit" in to-night's paper) the officer (Captain Shera) said that in reference to the article which had aplienred in the columns of the "Star," ho had received a communication from the olliccr commanding the district, asking for an explanation. He .then ordered all members of the company who were in any way responsible for tho slak'inents made (o step forward. Two mm marched out to the front. One had had his. hair cut decidedly short, but he explained that all he had done in the matter was to get his hair cut, as the result of Hie orders received from tho sergeantmajor. This man was allowed to return to his place, while the other was commanded to stand over in tho corner beside tho sergeant-major, and fate the company. The otlicer then" proceeded to criticise the article as a whole and in sections. He said that the statements had been circulated from one end of the Dominion to the other. T'Jiey had boon discusFcd in Parliament, and the matter- had even boon referred to General Godloy. It was not the wish of th-e offic6rs that men should l>; subjected to n criminal cut. In the south the subject had ovido-Mly been regarded in an even more serious aspect, and it was suggested that tlie Defeaco authorities wcro going to appoint a (orritori.il barber, who would clip the hair close. Captain Shera then attacked the headings of the original article, and likened the heading "Tenrilorial Terrors" to an introduction of a "penny dreadful" story, lie said that the article had brought tho forco into ridicule, and that he could not walk along the street in uniform without someone at the street corner advising him to cot his hair cut. As a result of the publication -of this story, said Captain Shera, authority had been given for Territorials to wear their hair as they pleased, but the scheme was just iu its primary stages, and they understood that this had been said only as a matter of policy. . The captain 'then stated that Staff-Scrgeant-Major Eobinson was in no way to blame for the orders that had been frive'n. He had personally instructed tho Sergcant-MajoT to speak' to the men on the matter. Perhaps the members of the company ■ were not aware that there was an order covering the siibject. There was not an order under the New Zealand Defence Forces (exceptiii", of course, the order given by General Godley as the result of the disclosures referred to) respecting this matter, but since- there was no such order the Territorials would bo governed by the Kind's Regulations, which provided under a certain section for tho length of- soldiers' hair. Someone had asked him if the wearers of long hair would jump on them (the. Defence authorities), and he had replied, that if one stood alongside, a long-haired person "they" would soon be hopping on to him. At this witticism a member laughed, and the majority did not. and tho captain, apparently thinking that the point had not dawned on the silent ones, said: "Oh, you will see it after a bit." Captain Shera continued to address the corps for some time, and when the order to dismiss was finally given the Territorial referred to was told that he would be wanted. Tho officers then entered their private room, and after the lapse of a minnto or so Ihe Scrgeant-Majar ordered him to come before tho captain. ' On entering tho room, not realising that he was a prisoner and was to bo treated as such, the Territorial removed his cap, but was at onco ordered to place it on his head again. Captain S/iera then told him to give particulars of this agitation complained of. It wm pointed out' that I no agitation had been mentioned. Asked ior an explanation of the article, the sapper said that, in conversation with a number of men, they had stated that they would not get their hair cut, and also that members of other companies had complained. ||And you criticised my orders?" 'Such was not my intention, but to attack principle." "Why did you not refer t'lie matter to mo beioro publishing it?" "Perhaps 1 should have, but it would havo mnde no dilVorcncc to the publishing of it, and as was stated tho matter was referred to tho Defence Office." Captain Shera: "I will want a written statement to-morrow." "If after being advised by my employers it is deemed advisable." . "It has got nothing to do with them. , " The captain then decided that the statement was to bo made there and then, and although tho prisoner protested that ho would like to.consult' his employers, Captain Shera said that tho statement was not to bo made in his civilian capacity, but as a sapper. The following statement was then signed under protest: "1 am solely responsible lor the article which appeared in the columns of the Auckland 'Star' on Tuesday, August 29, 1911, headed 'Territorial icrrors, Get Your Hair Cut'. The" statements therein contained in reference to tho remarks of other sappers in the No. 3 Company Nob- Zealand Field Engineers were addressed to mo in tho course of general conversation on tho matter, but the members, in speaking to me personally were speaking to mo as a sapper in .iie hemnt'oloro mentioned company and not as a representative of the press. 1 wrote tho article without the authority or command of any superior officer or of any officer in the defence forces. I take Hie whole responsibility of tho matter." ■ The sapper was then allowed to take his departure. , .