"THOSE AWFUL UNIFORMS"

Hawke's Bay Herald-Tribune, Issue 143, 5 July 1937, Page 12

"THOSE AWFUL UNIFORMS"

-PreBS AsBociation.)

Severe Criticism of N.Z. Coronation Troops TALKED ABOUT AT HOME

(By Telegraph-

WELLINGTON, Last Night. Pointed criticism of the uniform worn by the troops who represented JNew Zealand at. the Coronation was |expressed by Mr. B. H. Wilkineon, of iOamaru, and other passengers who larrived in the Bangitikei from London ;on Saturday. Mr. Wilkinson said the ;contingent from New Zealand was lequal to the finesfc type of manhood. jlt was most disappointing to find their uniforms in sad contrast to those of other nnits. "It was a wonderful advertisement .for New Zealand to send .over such a fine body of men and a wonderful gesture, which I feel sure was appreciated by the British troops and huge crowda with whom our boys were most popular," he said. "It was a great pity indeed that they weren't given decent uniforms to wear." He said when the contingents were j marching in procession on Coronation Day it was easy to see how shabby and colourless their dress was. It seemed to all the New Zealanders there was a very big mistake. "They couldn't show themselves off ! as their position warranted and they ' couldn't live np to the advertisement. 1 The Government must have spent a lot ■ of money in sending them home for the i celebrations, but all the glamour of ] seeing our own boys -marching ^hrough the streets was lost as soon as they ■ met the other troops. • s ' The Boyal Canadian Mounted Police were by far the most polished ; and neatest-dressed of the Dominion 1 representatives. The Australians came a close second and they served to contrast sharplyithe drab uniforms of the j New Zealanders. t "Every soldier wore a tailored dress I uniform of much better-quality material than onr men," he continued. "Their poor uniforms wsre talked about freely by the crowds who watched them march past, and they were the talk of the boat coming ont. It is all most regrettable. In spite of that, however, on board the troops were very popular with the passengers. ' ' Other passengers who saw the Coronation procession agreed with Mr. Wilkinson 's remarxs. "It was bad enough, hearing Londoners say how colourless they looked and just as bad realising that it was," said a Dunedin ' woman who saw the troops. ! "Physically they looked perfect," ; said another woman visitor to London, "but those awful uniforms robbed them of all their show." , "We felt mighty proud of our troops when we say them swinging along and marching with the pick of the other soldiers," said a Hawkfe's Bay farmer. "We are still proud of them, but their uniforms took most of the gold off their appearance."