TROOPERS' CLOTHING

Dominion, Volume 8, Issue 2332, 14 December 1914, Page 7

TROOPERS' CLOTHING

COMPLAINT 'AND EXPLICATION,

The Wellington Committee of the Lady Liverpool Fund for the supply of clothing to the Expeditionary Forces, having resolved to clothe 500 members of the Wellington military area, sent in some time ago more than was necessary for the purpose to the Defence Stores for distribution. As Wellington men had not received these, an explanation was asked. The explanation sent by the Chief of the General Stall is as follows: —

"I find that the following articles were received from the Town Hall by the Defence Department: 1371 shirts, 1300 pairs socks, 742 cholera belts, 1000 woollen vests, 1022 jerseys, 501 Balaclava caps, 459 housewives, 100 woollen underpants,' 106 pairs mittens, 62 mufflers, 12 pairs braces, 8 blankots. In providing for the requirements of the Second Reinforcement draft . . .

all promises of gifts by the various patriotic committees were taken\ into account, and arrangements made by the Defence Department for supplying tho balance. However, some time after tho men arrived in camp, the gifts promised by. some of the committees nad not come to hand. ' In consequence, complaints' were made that the men were suffering through the fact of their not.being provided with a change of underclothing. Under the- circumstances the officer who was dealing with the matter decided to issue what clothing he had on hand to make good the deficiency, irrespective of the troops for which it had actually' been sent in. His intention, which has since been carried out, was to make later issues to the men deprived temporarily of tho articles sent in for them, from the gifts still due. The Wellington gifts were among the first to come in, and consequently a certain proportion of them was issued to men from other districts in order to meet tho temporary emergency indicated above. I am, howovor, assured that the Wellington men have not suffered, as all that was taken from them was made good from the gifts sent in by tho other patriotic committees "

From the brush of Mr. J. Douglas Perrott has been reproduced a tic picture which accurately ami aptly hits off the fine spirit New Zealand has shown since the outbreak of tho war. It is the painting of a bulldog of ferocious expression, tatooed, and wearing the huia feathers and tiki, with all fours planted firmly on the Union Jack, on which reposes in folds a New Zealand ensign. The colour scheme is good, and the printing-admirable. ,c Tho War Dog of Now Zealand" (To Toa) should prove popular.

Board the Wanganui river-boat and know what it is to live! For surely to bo so close to Nature at her grandest is to know what is best anil most beautiful in this world. Spend a week at Pipiriki or the Houseboat and return home refreshed, recuperated, with happy memories that will be treasured always. Particulars of the Wangamii River Service from A. Hatrick and Co., Wangamii; Cook's and Government Tourist Bureaux.—Advt.