MILITARY UNIFORMS.

Taranaki Daily News, 31 August 1916, Page 8

MILITARY UNIFORMS.

CHARGES ACAIX-ST WELLINGTON TAILOR, 'A QUESTION OF THREAD. . Wellington, August 30. The hearing of the charge against Abraham Levy for having committed wil''ul breaches of contracts for the supply of military uniforms was continued in the Wellington Magistrate's Court today, before Mr. L. G. Reid, S.M. The allegation is that the defendant used 'rotton instead of linen thread for sewing various garments contrary to the contract stipulations. Evidence was given for the prosecution by officers of the ;Defenee, Ordnance, and Supplies Department, with the view of showing that defendant had received a letter dated April 33, telling him lie must use linen instead of cotton for sewing the seams. Mr. P. S. K. Macassey, appearing for the Crown, stated in his opening address on Monday that under Levy's eontract there had been supplied up till the end of June 53,303 garments, namely, tunics, trousers, pantaloons, and greatcoats. Of this number, it was stated, 11,132 were rejected as having been sewn with cotton instead of linen thread. Mr. Macassey added that by using cotton, defendant coulcl e'lTect a .saving of £2B per month, or £l4O for the five months ending June. Mr. A. Oray, K.C.. with him Mr. M.' Myers, appeared on behalf of defendant. Benjamin Lewis, chief examiner for the ordnance supplies stores, was called. Mr. Gray: You or the Board wrote to Levy on the 2nd of May re the cut of pantaloons? Witness: I drafted the letter. You believe it w'as sent?— Yes. He came to sec you about it Jater. Did lie produce a letter from Mr. Myers, Minister of Munitions, to show that lie had carried out -his contract re pantai loons? Witness: That lias nothing to do with it. Mr. Grey: That is not for you to say. Further cross-examined, witness stated that Levy came to see 'lvim in regard to the matter of thread, and they then discussed the sewing oil of buttons. 11l the course of further "cross-examination, witness stated that he had an interview with Levy, during -which the latter had asked him what his opinion was in regard to facing'of seams. Witness replied that he would not like to say; 'lie did not know what view the Board took of it. William James Frost, clothing inspector at the Defence stores, said that Hie piactiee followed was that the contractor had to submit a sample of the garment of each of those for which his contract had been accepted. Two specimens were sent along. They were sealed, one being kept by the Department and the other by the contractor. When defendant's brother-in-law came along with a sample tunic, he said in reply to witness, that he had not been asked to make samples of other garments, which defendant lvad contracted to supply. Witness said to Levy: ' ; Xo\v, you know how you 'haveto put Knox's thread into this contract." Witness assured him the seams of the two sample tunics .were sewn with Knox's thread. Witness then detailed an interview at which Levy produced a letter of April 2S (drawing attention to the fact that linen thread must be used). Witness read the letter and handed it over to Lewis, saying: "I see Levy's in trouble with thread." Lewis replied: "He knows what the contract requires him to use." Levy then said that he was using Knox's linen thread. . Lewis then remarked. that he -would see the Board about the matter. Lewis had drawn Levy's attention' to buttons on tunics, which Lewis complained were badly sewn on, aw: Levy said lie would "go round to other places and see that tiicy were properly sewn on." Complaint had been made about the pantaloons being too tight at the knees and cut too straight. Witness showed hi rathe sealed sample, and Levy said 'lie would make the pantaloons an inch longer, with more room at the knees and more shapely. The case was. . adjourned until tomorrow. . .