SOLDIERS' CLOTHING

Dominion, Volume 13, Issue 151, 22 March 1920, Page 6

SOLDIERS' CLOTHING

THE ALLEGATIONS OP

WASTE

MINISTER EXPLAINS THE SYSTEM

NO UNNECESSARY DESTRUCTION

Allegations of the wanton destruction of serviceable soldiers' gear by the' Defenco Department were referred to by the Hon. J. G. Coates. Acting-Minister of Defence, in a statement made to a Dominion reporter. The Minister said that he had satisfied himself that due caro was exercised by the officials in the disnosal of the clothes. "When tho newspaper reports about wilful waste being perpetrated by Dcj fence officials in getting rid of soldiers' clothes were shown to me," said Mr. Coates. "I at onco made a personal inspection of this branch of the Department. I wanted to see for myself what was being done with the clothes, and to satisfy myself that the disnosal of the garments was not Miner on'on wasteful and extravagant lines, as had been suggested.. I went thoroughly into the classification of tho clothes. I saw and examined the garments which were put aside as fit for renovation, and those which were considered unfit for renovation, and' wero being cut up for rag merchants. Prom my inspection lam convinced that 'wanton destruction' of the clothes does not exist. The system that is being followed is. in mv opinion, satisfactory, that the elaborate checking that takes placo does not permit of any garment being condemned that could he cleaned up, disinfected. and repaired for use again. • "Apart from my inspection, I called unon tho officer in charge of the work of dealing with the clothes for a full report. showing the method of classification. the class of garments that was dealt with', and what was done with them, and complete statistics of each class. A few extracts from tho report will servo to show the arrangement carried out:— ' " 'Old clothing on being returned to the Defence stores is first of all checked with the packing list, and brought on ledger chargo as garments by numbers. The clothing is then sorted out into tw< classes, viz.: (a) Clothing fit for renovation: (b) clothing unfit for renovation through wear and tear or through it beinr in an insanitary conflihon. •'"The clothing fit for renovation (with the exception of hats, which go to the hatters who made them for renovation) is then forwarded to the Department's laundry contractors, for laundering, disinfecting, and renovating. After the clothing has with at the lnnndrv it then goes on to th© factory where'it is repaired, which may mean Hint new sleeve linings, pockets, stays, collar tabs and collar linings, and buttons are necessary) . "The clothing that is classified as unfit for renovation is laid out for inspection bv a board of "survey, consisting «f two officers, which board examines the clothing, and should the board consider that anv clothing that is placed before it for KjiTvey is fit for renovation it,ifl forwarded .to the contractor for that DOSft. '"As reeards nnlfo.rm clothing And underclothimr that are condemned by th« Board of Survey, a greater portion of the uniform clothing now disposed of as rags represents clothing returned ex transports. Prior to embarkation for New Zealand, returning troops were issued with renovated uniform clothing for nse as fatiene dress during th» voyage.. w> permit of the other good suit which -ley had in their possession on embarkation bfiinsr retained in pood condition for nso on arrival in New Zealand. As this uniform clothing was renovated in the first place ami then need as fntigue dress on board shin, it will be Tidily understood that nracticallv all of it would he "unfit far renovation on arrival in. New Zea-, regard bo underclothing tV) condition thereof has to bo particularly bod before it is disposed of as rags, inasmuch as the Denaytment TMiovntp* underelothin? which would not be fit for re-issire to troops, and issues it to prisoners of war, flisoosimr of the balance to the Prisons Department. A good deal of ■tho underclothine that is condemned consists ot garments discarded by h" °, transports returning to , Zealand left Ivinsr about tho ship and collected by ths 4 0.0. on arrival. ~ ~ ' "' Clothing that is condemned is weighed. The number, of articles ™ bv each board of survey is th™ struck off ledger chaTge, and brought ™ a produce ledger by weight under ■ tho fo - lowing headings'.-Greatcoats, old uniform clothing, hats and caps, denin , itul woollens The articles are then ripped up, and all uniform buttons are removed rom the jackets, greatcoato. 5 caps. Leather peaks are removed from the cans-and utilised in the D payment's boot factory for tip fillings; Hat and cap straps and cap wnea e also removed, and. aw b [ tions aro pood are disposed of to tho JJe this ( purpose- to wording of the resolution of the employees as published in the dai y sale This suggestion is, of course, en feiy' incorrect! . The disposing of unserviceable clothing as rags, y on renovating of clothing fit for reiiovat on have been proceeding concurrently du wilf be'ciear from the indication I have given that the process followed in the whole matter' is and ouite the reverse of what lias been renresented. The tabulated schedules too long for publieation-which have heAi submitted to me, show that every effort is being made to recompense tho Department in its initial outlay for clothin "i very much regret that application was not made earlier for a supply of clothing for tho members of the Railway Union at Addington . Had prompt action teen taken by this branch of the "Public Servico employees no doubt its wants would havo been satisfied, as was tho case with some, other branches of the service employing, thousands o£ hands before tho supply for sale ran out. I should like to say that any accredited representative of the Press or representative of anv association or union interested will be permitted, on communication with me. to make .a personal inspection of the method employed by the Defence Department in dealing with tho clothes referred to."

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