A WARNING ABOUT ARMY GREATCOATS

Dominion, Volume 10, Issue 3137, 16 July 1917, Page 4

A WARNING ABOUT ARMY GREATCOATS

PROSECUTIONS' FOR UNAUTHORISED USB. Tho wearing of military greatcoats by ex-inembors of tho New Zealand Expeditionary Force, members of the Territorial Force, and Senior Cadets, when in mufti, is becoming a general i-ractico (states a District Order), and it has been decided to enforce tho observance of the regulation which, makes it an offence to wear uniform or any part thereof except when on. military duty. Any person who wears a military greatcoat whon in plain clothes commits an offence. A Territorial is liable to a fine not oxceediug .£2 for each such ott'enco, recoverable on summary conviction; and the Military and Civil Police are instructed to instituto proceedings against all such offenders in future. Discharged members of the New Zealand Expeditionary Force cannot wear uniform without tho permission of the Adjutant-General or tho Officer Commnndinp; the District. "Many applications," it ie stated, * have been received from discharged soldiers, by various firms, to dye military greatcoats. Tho dyeing of military greatcoats is strictly forbidden, and all firms carrying on business as dyers have been so advised. Furthermore, it is not m tho interests of returned soldiers to have their greatcoats dyed, as parades will be held at a later date for tho presentation of medals or for other ceremonial purposes, at which they will be permitted to appear in -uniform. Tho greatcoat in an essential part of a soldier's uniform, and in the case of a discharged returned soldier, is his own property. Nevertheless it is a military coat, and ennnot bo worn for other than military purposes. As many military coats have been officially issued to members of the New Zealand Expeditionary Force with other than tho recognised pattern of military buttons, tho removal of military buttons, and tho replacement thereof with Tionmilitary buttons, docs not alter the fact that the coat is a military one." Instructions have been issued u> tho police to take proceedings acainst any offender on or after July U, 1017.