UNIFORMS FOR MEN

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXVI, Issue 20057, 2 October 1939, Page 12

UNIFORMS FOR MEN

ISSUE TO VOLUNTEERS SUPPLIES AT CAMPS HARDSHIPS ALLEGED Members of New Zealand’s special military force will not receivi an issue ol uniform and equipment, until after they enter camp, states an Auckland message. Those who have been advised when to report for entraining to Ngaruawahia, Trcnthnm and Burnham have been instructed to take a list of clothing already hi thenpossession, including boots nr shoes underclothing and socks, to use until the Ordnance Corps provides them with service kit.

It has already been the exnev l e , iv.e of many members of the National Military Reserve and other reserve units who have been called up for special duties that a complete outfi r of army clothing is not available. For instance, a number of men serving at various points near Auckland have suffered from foot blisters because their own socks, lacking the thickness of the service issue, have not been able to protect their feet when wearing heavy boots. This lack of army socks, underclothes and even uniforms—especially smart ones —-may not be overcome for some time. To cope with the sudden demand upon uniforms new territorial issues are being withdrawn from holders not in the special force, and contracts for the supply of underclothes and other items of kit are being let ns rapidly as possible. Ordnance Corps at Camps The reason for not issuing members of the special force with uniform and equipment when they report at the drill hail before entraining for camp L that the Ordnance Corps, in charge of the issue, is now established at each if the camps. Such items of kit as the following will, therefore, toe issued to the men after they reach camp:— Kitbag, blankets, boots, great coat, underclothes, shirts, jackets, socks, trousers, vest, haversack, holdall, badges, hat, hatband, identity discs, helmet, rifle, bayonet and scabbard or such other equipment appropriate to the special duties of the various units. Difficulty also has been experienced in another branch of organisation — that of pay. This has been particularly noticeable in the case of the marriage allotment. Many of the reserve men called up have not been 'n a position to maintain ordinary living commitments from banking accounts till such time as their first military pay was received. Additional Pay Staff As a result some wives have already experienced hardship in obtaining supplies and paying rent, and there has been at least one case of a reserve man receiving notice to vacate his fiat because he had fallen behind with his payments. However, the position has now been improved toy the employment of additional pay staff. Payment of men is being made weekly and the marriage allotment fortnightly. In one other respect some of the married reserve men feel that they have been subjected to hardship. Many of them have temporarily given up positions returning a far better wage than their military pay. on which it is difficult to maintain ordinary household payments and such other calls as insurance premiums. Making it more difficult for them to meet these commitments from their military pay is the fact that on leave they have to pay their own transport fares. Some of the men who have 'had to give their wives more than the Army marriage allotment to keep their homes going find that as much as 5s Gd a week out of their very modest pocket-money has to toe spent going home on leave nights, and there is a feeling among them that some arrangement could easily be made to relieve them of this additional sacrifice.