A WARNING ABOUT ARMY GREAT COATS.

Taihape Daily Times, Issue 220, 18 July 1917, Page 6

A WARNING ABOUT ARMY GREAT COATS.

PROSECUTIONS FOR UNAUTHORISED USE. The wearing of military great-coats by ex-members of the New ' Zealand Expeditionary Force, members of the Territorial Force, and Senior Cadets, when in mufti, is becoming a general practice (states a District Order), and it has been decided to enforce the observance of the regulation which makes it an offence to wear uniform or any part thereof except when on military duty. Any person who wears a military greatcoat plain clothes commits an offence. A Territorial is liable to a fine not exceeding £2 for each such offence, recoverable on summary conviction; and the Military and Civil Police are instructed to institute proceedings against all such offenders in future. Discharged members of the New Zealand Expeditionary Force cannot wear uniform without the permission of the Adjutant-General or the Officer Commanding the District. "Many applications," it is stated, "have been received from discharged soldiers, by various firms, to dye military greatcoats. The dyeing of military great coats is strictly forbidden, and all firms carrying on business as dyera have been so advised. Furthermore, it is not in the interests of returned soldiers to have their greatcoats dyed, as parades will be held at a later date for the presentation of medals or for other eeremonial purposes, 'at Which CTTey will be permitted to appear in uniform

The greatcoat is an essential part of a soldier's uniform, and in the case of a discharged returned soldier, is his own property. Nevertheless it is a military coat, and cannot be worn for other than military purposes. As many military coats have been officially issued to members of the New Zealand Expeditionary Force with other than the recognised pattern of military buttons the removal of military buttons, and the replacement thereof with non-mili-tary buttons, does not alter the fact that the coat iis a military one." Instructions have been issued to the police to take proceedings against any offender on or after July 14, 1917.