NOTES AND COMMENTS

Pukekohe & Waiuku Times, Volume 9, Issue 518, 30 March 1920, Page 2

NOTES AND COMMENTS

BOOTS "BILL iWACSEY'S

Throughout the New Zealand Divi

I .''ion the meaning of the words, "a psir of Hill Massey's." was the do. si-ription applied to the line serViceaiile boots issued to all non-eonnriis-sioced ranks. The fact of the boots h'h gso known was and is rather a o mplimont to the Premier, and c n,;> about Ihnslv: Mr Massey, while ii si ei•tine: the troops in Trentham l--d"'iig 1 h>' eariy days of the wsu\ a.-kid the men the now familiar (| -.estion. "Are there any compia'.ils'.'" There was only one, which i' is that they had no second pair of h ■■ ■ lo change into when the ones i! '•; w« .<• weaving . ;l ,t wet. "Ver\ v. 'l!.'" replied iln- Premier, "if boots a i' available yon shall have second piii-i." Within a short time the h nis arrived, as a result of" Mr Mess< y's elforts on behalf of the men. thm »h not he. but Sir .James Allen. \\ is then Minister for Defence. With h's anrivalled aptitude for nicknamii y men and things appropriately . even it net according to the best of King's English the Diggers straightway called the hoots "Hill Massey's," h ■ which term they are still known fir and favourably. "Bill Massey's" were n it eypctly the kind of footwear to I t en 1 on polished lino, Brussels or I Persian carpets, or for manoeuvring i i'i mil delicate and artistic drawing i'< hi i furniture, but for the accursed Ia id cobbled mad', of I'Yanee, and I shell-torn battle zones they wcyo stij p M'i ir to any other kind of boots ii ad', and reflected no of credit i. i vow Zealand manufacture. For j |i.ii:!i and style 1 lie Knulisb and Am- '• erican boots take pride of place, but | fir hard wear and tear the "Bill I ftias-icy's" variety are unsurpassed.