HOW CAN NEW ZEALAND HELP?

Dominion, Volume 8, Issue 2436, 15 April 1915, Page 7

HOW CAN NEW ZEALAND HELP?

Sir,—Your excellent and suggestive leader of a few days ago should lead .■to some practical and helpful results. Equipment of our men at the front is one feature at. the present time that is receiving no attention or consideration by the authorities. The men are well equipped; when they leave our shores, but after that the local authorities appear to be done with the question of providing equipment. The idea of maintaining the numerical strength of the Force at the front is beyond praise, but the equipment of the men should also be provided for as far as is humanly possible. Clothing, boots, and saddlery could all be made here in quantities sufficient to keep our men's wants fully supplied. There is no difficulty with the clothing manufacturers, and very little with saddlery. The boot question is rather different, But a factory capable of turning out 12,000 pairs per month could be fitted up and in full work inside three, months. We have a gentleman in New Zealand of tho same technical qualifications as the Official. Adviser to the British War Office, who has tbc advantage of a far wider practical knowledge; and there' are plenty of shoemakers, no longer working at tie trade, who would return to it under the . special circumstances. An outlay of £10,000 to £12,000 would carry out the whole scheme. The provision of this portion, of the men's , equipment would be of considerable relief to the British authorities, and would free an equal amount of labour in- England. We cannot manufacture arms and ammunition, but we can render equally useful service.—l am, etc., 'ARGUS.