TRENTHAM ENQUIRY.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume XXXV, Issue 8203, 28 July 1915, Page 4

TRENTHAM ENQUIRY.

YESTERDAY'S PROCEEDINGS

WELLINGTON, July 27

At the Trentham Commission to-day, Captain Yoates, medical officer, said the men in the isolation camp were so badly guarded that they frequently nietothers isolated for other . reasons. It was really not an isolation camp. The hutments had he-en erected on ground which showed signs of having been old trench latrines. The tents should bavo been shifted at least once a^ month to ■ adjacent ground.. ■ Witness was struck off the camp strength on February 27 on the report of the Director of Mediwvl Services, who did not hold degrees as high as witness.-- Witness did not conceal the fact that he had a'grievance. To the Solicitor-General, witness said, ho had. threatened Colonel Purdy with a libel action and made charges against that oflic-or. He had been advised that tlie suggestions for improve: ments would not be well taken at sick parade. Tliore v.:as no place in. which sick "men might shelter while, waiting • to be examined. When ■epidemics broke out, there should be a further inspection then a sick parade. In a final statement, witness said that lie gave his evidence not _ from prejudice, but with a genuine desire to help men in whom.lie had always taken a great-interest, . The whole of the combatant staff worked -splendidly, doing their best to keep the camp clean. If it was not sanitary, it was not their fault, as it was overcrowded. There-, was' no ■ provision for training "medical officers in military work at the camp. . ' •:■:-.. ■•...;■•. .• • : ■-.-

Mr J. T. M. Hornsby^ M.P.; gave evidence regarding the case of Private Pearson.' 1 "Pearson did not want'to give evidence, as ho feared,the consequences.

The Commission intimated that.it would call Pearson.

Captain Stecle came before tho Commission again to. say bo had visited jßerhamporc Hospital. He now wished jto say it was not 'a whare in size, but I the conditions', pertaining to it. were I those-.df a. whare." * " . '

Witness continued to speak contemptuously of'the place, and the Judge told him there could be no further dis- N cussion. They could do very mucfe. bettor with the plans -''before them and the evidence of others than what witness chose to say about it.

William Charles Pollard, a brother of Private Pollard, of Cbristchureh. who died at Berhainpore Hospital, read letters from his brother' saying thatthey were sleeping' over; 80 men in a hut. Tho food was not cooked well. Mr Pollard said that the notification of his brother's serious illness was, received on June 20; 'Captain Harrison said that Private Pollard's condition was too serious to allow his removal to a private nursing home. He objected to civilian interference, which- would . npspt the whole organisation. ■ Thd. patient, the medical officer added, was in too critical a condition to he. removed. Witness then, said he would" like Dr. Thacker to see the deceased: That was like, a red rag to a bull! Captain Harrison did not know that Dr. Thnckev was at JBerhampore at-the time Witness; was speaking to him/ ■After- communicating with'the Hon:: R*. Beaton Rhodes, a consultation . wai? arranged between Drs. Herbert and Anderson. Witness alleged that -his brother had been /neglected as: f;ir'.:.is doctors .wore concerned. A doctor only visited iiijti once a day,-which, was not enough. Previously tho deceased, who was a strong, vigorous man. 29 years' of age. had never had a day's sickness.' in his life.

CVptnin Herbert Goldstein, M.B. ami Ch.B. of London University, stated that he had been in charge of the military ware] at the 'Wellington. Hospital since tho 14th inst. Ho gave particulars of cusps of scarlet fever which had.' been treated there.

William Frederick Solomon, a private of t]io. First Battalion of tlio Trentham Regiment, stated that ho left Christ- ■ church on May 23 to come into camp. Tho men wore given one pair of boots. lit 1 obtained a mattress by paying 2s for it. and.-proeu.rcd a quantity of straw from the store. The -quartermaster'sergeant was soiling-the'mattresses. Ho burnt his afterwards by order of , tho military authorities, and did not secure another one. "His present-camp was at .Rangiotu. On the night he arrived at Trent-ham, nearly SO 'men slept in the same hut, and until the sickness broke out there were 70 men sleeping in it. Men had to sloop under tho tables, of which, there .were four in tho hut. Draughts seemed to come up from the floors and play round -his body at night. The deceased, Pollard,whom he knew,: was 1 still waiting for his boots, a day. or ■tVv^o-.; after .arriviiigiiKraiiip: lie stated that he ha<| had liis feet wet for a day or two. Witness offered him his own hoots. lie had tried unsuccessfully on three occasions to get'information 'about Pollard's illness..- Witness explained that the custom,in obtaining tea was for the men'to dip.their iriugs in the "dixie," 3lon who had come back from hospital,''after'having sore throats, dipped their mugs in thesaine as the others, and this was going on still. The men had to.J>;uy their own soap, and, cv.en had to buy the tea towels with which to wipe the dishes. The men.were told to fold their blankets an;! put them on the palliasse, then to fold their coats and put them on the blankets. They had to do this when their coats were very wet, the order being that this must be dono whether the coat was wet or dry. -

The Commission adjourned til! tomorrow. - ;.,■ , ■■*■■.■•