“FREE KIT.”

Hokitika Guardian, 29 December 1917, Page 1

“FREE KIT.”

By the grant of “free kit ” to the Navy “ Jack ” obtains a concession which lie has long sought from the Admiralty. In a succession of Lower Deck “ Magna Chartas ” this boon has been earnestly craved for some years pa.st, and its coming is all the more welcome because it is : unexpected. Always “ Jack ” has deemed it a great injustice, certainly it was an anomaly, that while the soldier and the marine wore what could be described as “ the . King’s Uniform,” since the State provided it free, the sailor has had to purchase his own clothing, at a cost of several pounds yearly, out of his anything but princely pay. What used to annoy him even more than this was that although he had to buy the clothes his superiors frequently ordered them at their own pleaaure, poor “ Jack ” having no voice in the matter.

In the brave old days each captain of a warship used to dress his crew to suit his own fancy. When continuous service, and a uniform “ rig ” as a corollary to it, came in, this custom did not wholly cease. Even until re "cent years -it has obtained in some degree. A bluejacket moved from ope ship to another had to get himself a new cap riband. And as different captains had different, ideas of what constituted “ uniform,” he often had to purchase some now clothing as well; 1 "

There exists in the Navy an old custom known as “ muster by open list.” When this is ordered each man has to step into a chalked ring, give his name and rating, and submit himself to inspection generally. Should the mustering officer not be satisfied with a sailor’s appearance, he would order, “ Put this man down lor a new jumper,” a new pair of trousers, or whatever else he deemed necessary to make the man look smart. The officer ordered, and against his fiat there was no appeal—but the bluejacket paid. He could not help doing so, as the money was deducted fiom his wages. At “ captain’s inspection ” lon a Sunday morning also men were often “ put down ” for new clothing [in this way. A commanding officer | must, of course, see that his men are properly dressed. The liardship came in when a “ faddy ” captain ordered sailors to purchase new garments merely because those they tvore did not conform to his ideas of what cut ” should be, though in other ways they might be perfectly good and of regulation pattern. “ Free kit ” means the end of this vexatious custom, if it means any tiling at all. Although it is smart and natty, a bluejacket’s dress Appears to be of a quite workmanlike simplicity. Yet the official list shows that, counting “compulsory” and “ non-compul-sory ” articles “ petty officers and men dressed as seamen ” (bluejacket ratings, in ever}-day language) have about one hundred different things in their wardrobe. These range from jumpers (tunics) to cholera belts and all cost money. Having these issued to him. frefe, instead of being compelled to purchase them, will make a considerable difference to “ Jack’s ” pocket. And to the numerous ratings who are not “ dressed as seamen ’’-—such as writers and others—the financial gain will be greater still.