“SHABBY UNIFORMS”

Manawatu Standard, Volume LVII, Issue 183, 5 July 1937, Page 8

“SHABBY UNIFORMS”

CONTINGENT AT CORONATION. CRITICISMS VOICED. Per Press Association. WELLINGTON, July 4. Pointed criticism of the uniform worn by the troops who represented New Zealand at the Coronation was expressed by Mr B. H. Wilkinson, of Oainaru, and other passengers who arrived in the Rangitikei from London on Saturday. Mr Wilkinson said the contingent from New Zealand was equal to the finest typo of manhood. It was most disappointing to find their uni* forms in sad contrast to those of othet units.

“It was a wonderful advertisement for New Zealand to send over such a fine body of men and a wonderful ges ture, which I feel sure was appreciated by the British troops and huge crowds with whom our boys were most popular,” lie said. “It was a great pity indeed that they weren’t given decent uniforms to wear.”

Ho said that when tho contingents were marching in procession on Coronation Day it was easy to see how shabby and colourless their dress was. It seemed to nil the New Zealanders that thcro was a very big mistake. “They couldn’t show themselves off as their position warranted and they couldn’t live up to tho advertisement. Tho Government must have spent a lot of money in sending them Homo for the celebrations, but all the glamout of seeing onr own hoys marching through the streets was lost as soon as they met the other troops. “Tho Royal Canadian Mounted Police wore hv far the most polished and neatest-dressed of the Dominion representatives. The Australians came a close second and they served to contrast sharply the drab uniforms of the New Zealanders. “Every soldier wore a tailored dress uniform of much better quality material than our men,” he continued. “Their poor uniforms wove talked about freely by the crowds who watched them march past, and they were tho talk of the boat coming out. 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 remarks. “Physically they looked perfect,” said a woman visitor to London, “but those awful uniforms robbed them of all their show.” “Wo felt mighty proud of our troops when we saw them swinging along and marching with the pick of the other soldiers,” said a Hawke’s Bay farmer. “We are still proud of them, but thenuniforms took most of the gold off their appearance.” MEN WELCOMED BACK. Per Press Association. WELLINGTON, July 4. At the reception the Mayor (Mr_T. C. A. Hislop) welcomed the Coronation contingent hack. The Minister of Defence (Hon. F. Jones) said that when lie farewelled the contingent in March, he formed a high opinion of the men New Zealand was sending away and, judging by the reports, they had worthily upheld the high reputation which soldiers from the Dominioq had gained on former visits to the Old Country. Tho selection of the contingent by ballot had been an unusual method, but the aim of securing as fully a representative body as possible had been achieved, and the men had been a credit to the Dominion.

Hon. W. Perry welcomed the men on behalf of the New Zealand Returned Soldiers' Association.