SICK SOLDIERS.

Greymouth Evening Star, 2 July 1915, Page 5

SICK SOLDIERS.

REPORT ON TRENTHAM CONDITIONS. SIX HUNDRED CASES NOTIFIED. SELECT COMMITTEE OF INQUIRY PROMISED. [By Xeiegrapb—Special to the Star.] WELLINGTON, This . Day. Members ’ of the House of Representatives showed keen interest in the report on Trentham conditions promised to the House yesterday afternoon by the Minister of Defence. Some visited the camp during the morning so as to make themselves acquainted superficially with the state of affairs. Dr. Thacker, of Christchurch East, came prepared to thrash out the matter in the House. No debate' was possible on a Ministerial statement and the whole matter will be investigated by a Parliamentary Select Committee. The Hon. Jas. Allen stated that the Chief of the General Staff, Col. Gibbon, in consultation with the Director of Hospitals and the Camp Commandant. had prepared a report which was in the main in answer to a soldier’s letter published in Auckland. It was alleged that there were over 600 cases in hospital in Wellington. The actual figures, however, were; Racecourse hospital 12 cases measles, 241 other cases; Kaiwarra. measles 195; Berhampone, measles 21; Wellington Hospital, measles 42, other cases 32; Dr. Hard’s house, 39; Heretaunga, golf club house, general cases 13; Mrs. Duthie’s, Heretaunga, 'general cases 8 ; totals, measles 309; other cases 295 : grand total 603. Dr. Valintine stated in regard to these cases that there wore only seven serious ones of which five were in Wellington Hospital and two on the racecourse. Replying to the allegation of lack of proper arrangements for medical inspection, the report stated that sick inspection takes place daily at 8.l!) a.m. and 5.15 p.m. Four large marcmees were available tor the men who paraded sick, hut they preferred to wait in the onen. Generally there were four medical officers in attendance. hut doling the past few davs the»’e v'ovo only three n« one was sick. It h‘>d been found vtossibTe to have five nvodfivd offleevo irt •tHendance that day fTlmv^d;,an/1 w Ion" was neces l ci.r ti, o the two da’'v nannies. Answer in" th<- allffi*ation tlmf fiso *""n inrn difV on FridST, Ton" J-Oc, a,..,]1 that nr’v ~0„0,a,.,t cVfi on that date T"«t—.-l of finvu l.oiro' no T"edlm.t o'hoo , „ dav Fan+ah, ran'..in - af tl,„ c 1 " 4 " T 4 -hcoln 4 »l.- fai«o +r> estate that sick men were in every tent, as no sick man was allowed to remain in a tent, hut had to be removed to hospital if unfit for light dutv. Every man has two complete changes ctf clothing, and there was no reason why men should lie in wet clothes. The Director of Military Hospitals was ox the opinion that the hospital accommodation at the disposal of the authorities in Wellington Hospital is ample for serious cases, which cases only are sent to that institution for treatment. As soon as the money for Trentham camp hospital was subsci’ibed bv the people of New Zealand plans were got out and submitted to the Health Department and oth experts, and contracts were immediately let for the building. However, the contractor is now behind hand with In’s contract, and is paying a daily forfeit. Everything possible is being done to hux-ry the contract up. THE HUTMENTS.

The Minister added that he personally asked for certain information, as a result of which he found that forty men’s hutments were completed, five were under contraction; and eleven were still to be built. There were twenty-four officers’ hutments completed and these were all that would bo required. In view of the parmanent increase in Trentharn camp specifications for fifteen more men’s hutments were being > prepared. There were 251 boarded-floor tents and 218 were unboarded. The furniture in these tents was being moved into the huts. The Minister also gave details of the distribution of nurses and sick and orderlies.

NO DISCUSSION. Aftar reading the report, in conclusion. the Minister of Defence remarked that lie thought these details wore a full answer to criticisms in the newspapers and also the criticism of Dr, Thacker - . Dr. Thacker: I shall move that the report lie on the table, and bo printed. Mr. “Speaker” called the member’s attention to the fact that lie could not move suclr a motion.

Dr. Thacker remained standing, but many Government members sharply reminded him that he should sit down.

Mr. Payne; Why are you ordering the man to sit down?

Dr, Thacker: Will the lion, gentleman give me an opportunity to speak? 1 have been prepared to make a speech on the Address-in-Reply but I suppressed it, and now I want, with the indulgence of the House, to make a clear definite statement.

Mr. Speaker stated that the member would have ample opportunity to make a statement, but on the present occasion a Ministerial statement had been made and was not open to discussion.

Sir Joseph Ward suggested that as there was a strong feeling of unrest about, the whole matter it was a, mistake not to allow the House to discuss the statement. People ot all sorts had approached him bringing matters under his notice in regard to the Trentharn camp. It was 1 highly desirable to freely discuss these matters in the interests of the men who were going to fight for us. If there was anything wrong that had contributed to the sickness and deaths ot these men, then in the interests of the country it must not he burked.

The Minister of Defence: Why do you use that word.

Sir Joseph Ward: I won’t if the hon. gentleman is touchy. He re-' pea ted his advice to the Government to freely allow discussion. MR. MASSEY’S OFFER.

“Speaking on behalf of the Government, I am.prepared to-give the House every possible opportunity of inquiring into the state of things at Trentham, either in the shape of a Parliamentary Committee or in any other way suggested,” said the Prime Minister. Mmbers; “Members why not disco ‘s it now.” The Prime Minister answered that the statements made were by laymen only and not by experts. Dr. Thacker: “I am not a layman. The Premier went on to say that he visited the camp on Sunday. » Dr. Thacker: “You ought to have been out before.” (Government members : Order ! Order!) Mr. Massey < “This is a serious matter and it is quite useless to discuss it now because we have no evidence from experts. I want the public to know exactly what has taken place at the camp.” The Premier’ went oh to saw that he met n number of the men on Sunday and be heard not a single complaint. He .didn’t

say that the state of things .at the camp was perfect. He didn’t like to see so much ipud, but with the: weather experienced it was not possible to avoid mud with so many men in camp. Members- should approach the subjects, quietly and calmly, and if there waa blame let them find out who was to blame and throw it on the light shoulders. (Hear ! Hear!) If, necessary he was prepared to give members a Royal Commission or a Parliamentary Committee, or any other means by which evidence could be heard. A SELECT COMMITTEE. Later in thoxsitting the Prime Minister, who had been in consultation with ■ Sir Joseph Ward;’ 1 "announced that next Tuesday he would move to set up a committee of nine members to consider all matters relating to , the provision for the sick at Trentham, the committee to have power to call for persons, papers and reedrds ; three to be a quorum. He intended consulting the Leader of the Opposition as to the representatives of that side of the House on the committee, and he had arranged with the Minister of Defence that he would not act on tha committee, as to a cei’tain extent he was a party in the proceedings.