KIT AND CLOTHES

Wairarapa Times-Age, 10 July 1941, Page 4

KIT AND CLOTHES

REPLY TO COMPLAINT “ALLEGATION SHEER NONSENSE." STATEMENT BY MINISTER. (By Telegraph—Press Association.) WELLINGTON. This Day. “Thorough investigation of complaints that New Zealand soldiers in Fiji were being compelled to pay for replacement, of boots, clothing and other articles of their kit has been made by the Army authorities, both in New Zealand and in Suva," said the Minister of Defence, Mr Jones, last night. “The result shows that a great deal of smoke has been raised from very little fire." “Though trivial in itself, the original complaint, which was given wide publicity by the mayor of Lyttelton. Mr Sutton, was based on actual fact. The complainant had to pay twopence for a new towel.

“He omitted, however, to inform Mr Sutton that, as against the twopenny towel, his clothing card showed that he had received within a few months the following issues: On November 6. 1940. one waterproof cape, two badges, one hat badge, two cotton vests, two cotton drawers, two shirts; on December 10, one cadet belt and two drill jackets; on February 8, three pairs of socks, one pair shorts (making three pairs in all on issue), one shirt (making three on issue). All these were free.

“The complainant also neglected to advise the mayor of Lyttelton that, if the worn-out towel had been produced, he would have saved twopence. The issue would have been free. Clothing which has become unserviceable through fair wear and tear is replaced without charge. Nor did the complainant explain that an issue of two pairs of boots was made to him in New Zealand on June 15. 1940. and that he could have had renewals free by asking for them at any time from February 7, 1941. when army stocks became available. “After the mayor of Lyttelton gave publicity to. the complaint," said Mr Jones, “I asked him if he would supply the name of the soldier who wrote to him, so that an official inquiry could be made in Fiji. He agreed to do so, and the matter was investigated without delay, together with the allegation that some of our troops there are walking about in rags, as they refused to buy the normal issue of clothing.

“The inquiry exposed the allegation as sheer nonsense. Moreover, it disclosed a remarkable fact that the complainant denied that he had written to the mayor of Lyttelton, or had given any letters to take back to New Zealand for Mr Sutton. The soldier admitted that he had had to pay twopence for a new towel, but had never been called upon to pay for anything else. He also said that he did not know of any soldier who, had been going about in rags or with the soles out of his boots. “These are the facts of a thorough inquiry, and it is now left to the mayor of Lyttelton to substantiate the complaints about which prominent publicity was given in New Zealand and Fiji.” '