STRICT CONTROL

Wairarapa Times-Age, 29 May 1942, Page 4

STRICT CONTROL

OVER AUSTRALIAN TROOPS ORDERED BY GENERAL STAFF. SUPERVISION OF DRESS & CONDUCT. (By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright) (Received This Day, 1.20 p.m.) MELBOURNE, This Day. Immediate action has been ordered by the General Staff to effect a substantial improvement in the appearance, bearing and discipline of members of the Australian military forces, particularly while on leave. No soldier will be allowed to go on leave if he is not properly dressed, or if his dress is untidy. The supervision of troops will be extended from parade in camps to railway stations and other places where they board transports, and action will be taken to ensure that instructions given regarding leave are complied with. Men on leave must wear only the approved uniform and must not weai’ summer dress except when authority is given for it. They must be shaven and, for hygienic reasons, must wear their hair reasonably short. The wearing of sweaters or pullovers instead of jackets, except within camps of training areas, is prohibited. All buttons on jackets must be kept fastened. Hats must not be worn on the back of the head. To enforce these instructions, the Provost Corps has been instructed to patrol zoned areas in large centres of population and to supervise special points. Soldiers not in possession of leave passes are to be detained. Any troops under influence of liquor, or who misconduct themselves in any way, will also be detained by the Provost' Corps. The personnel of the Provost Corps has also been instructed to co-operate with State police and give them all possible assistance to ensure ‘a rigid enforcement of the liquor trading laws and to prevent excessive drinking by troops in hotels.