FEATHERSTON CAMP.

Lyttelton Times, Volume CXVII, Issue 17095, 18 February 1916, Page 8

FEATHERSTON CAMP.

“A HOME FROM HOME.” DR THACKER’S VISIT OF INSPECTION. “ The visit which 1 paid to the Featherston camp has been one of the grandest experiences of my life,” said Dr Thacker, M.P. for Christchurch East, to a ‘Lyttelton Times” reporter yesterday. ‘‘You must know,” continued the doctor, “ that I went there as a keen critic, ready to search every little hole and corner to fitkl fault, for 1 am out to serve the boys who rtre serving us at the front, and in my official capacity, quite apart from what 1 consider is my duty as a medical practitioner, I am determined to do the utmost on their behalf.” “ "Well now,” said the doctor, ‘ Ii was at first surprised and then my surprise turned to real joy, for as a resuit of my visit, I must say that under the able direction of Surgeon-General Henderson, who v-as brought to New Zealand as a result of the deliberations of the Trenthani Commission, the camp at Featherston is up-to-date in every respect and is one that may be considered second to none.”* Dr Thacker said that in company with Dir J. Payne, M.P. for Grey Lynn, and Dir C. H. Gilby, of Christchurch, he paid a visit to the camp on Wednesday. He had received numerous complaints regarding an outbreak of illness and disquieting rumours were flying about; in fact, the rumours had spread extensively throughout the North Island and to a lesser extent in the. South Island. People were becoming fidgety. As a result of the visit Dr Thacker found no reason for any alarm. lie had seen signs of gastro-intestinal trouble, but this was due to the season of the year, to decomposition of horse-droppings and to microbes getting into food. Another likely cause was the. galvanised water pipes which, having a jute lining. had not been flushed out sufficiently before the water was used for drinkiug purposes. The main water supply of the camp, said Dr Thacker, is obtained from a river and runs along an open channel. This water is not intended for drinking and notices to that effect are placed all over the camp. A well has been sunk for drinking water and a tank has been erected holding 5000 gallons. which is kept filled continuously. The" waiter supply for the camp is ample. Tepid and hot and cold shower baths hare been installed, which at one end can be used individually by officers and men and at . the other end there is a fine open arrangement by which sixty men can have a shower at once. The flooring is of concrete and the general hath house arrangements are up-to-date, and complete. There is a copious supply of hot water, which comes from the power-house, where also is generated the electricity for power purposes and camp lighting. The hutments and dining-rooms are lighted by electricity; in fact, the whole camp is most completely served in this respect. A marked feature of the camp, is the almost total absence of corrugated iron. The hutments—the men’s quarters—are wooden structures, all thoroughly well ventilated, both by windows in the sides and by overhead appliances. Though it was an extremely hot day when the visit was made on Wednesday. Dr Thacker .remarked that the hutments were delighfuliy cool. The hutments are so constructed' as to be occupied by twenty-five men in one half and twenty-five in the other, with a central division containing a stove and plenty of strong wire netting about the walls, with hooks for holding wet clothes and boots. Nothing could be better. The model was excellent. At- Trenthani last year, when the epidemic occurred, the hutments were smaller with poor ventilation and lacking in. conveniences, while, seventy,, eighty and even one hundred men were crowded into them.

The bedding and stretchers arc thoroughly up-to-date, and, said Dr Thacker, the c.arap commandant. Colonel Noel Adams, nas issued strict instructions that on every third day the whole' of the bunks and bedding is to be taken out into the camp streets and well aired and sunned. The streets are twice as wide as those at Trentha.m and aro macadamised. He noted with pleasure that rubbish carts went round and gathered refuse-' thrown in waste barrels which were placed at the end of the hutment lines. The whole camp was clean and tidy, and Dr Thacker noted that the men went about their work whistling and in cheerful mood —a most healthy and encouraging sign. The men were enthusiastic about thqir quarters. One who acted as spokesman said to him: “This is a bogie away from home.” It was grand to. hear these words, showing that the men were well satisfied with their quarters and camp life. The cool stores for meat and the cookhouse had been visited. Everything was up-to-date and clean. He took special note of the milk supply and of milk puddings. The milk was all pasteurised and was carefully inspected, particularly before being sent to men in the hospital. He .also saw plenty of green vegetables, though he was given to understand that the men could do with more. Dr Thacker said that the season in the digtriot had been good, and grass, fruit and vegetables were abundant and'of excellent growth and quality. He believed that the matter only wanted ventilating among the people and they would gladly supply the camp with all its requirements in that line. There was n cookhouse for each dining-room, and each set of hutments had a dining ha.ll. At the end of the cook quarter was the slaughterhouse, and a day’s supply was kept in the cool stores. Meat had just arrived at the cookhouse when lie was' there and. he was able to examine it at. first hand. Ho considered it the best he had seen in the country, and the men told him that they thoroughly enjoyed the mutton ancl beer served out to them.

All the buildings were visited. The staff offices were at the main entrance. Though the camp was not yet quite out of the hands of the Public Works Department, everything was most satisfactory. At the canteen he found a wonderful supply of commodities, and he found that prices were most reasonable. In the canteen there was seating accommodation 'for 300 people. Everything was clean. It was like a great, up-to-date American bar, showing good organisation. The hospital was visited and here again he was most agreeably surprised. The building was similar in construction to the open-air rotundas at Trentham and at Pukeroa (Rotorua). Tho number of patients was small, sixtyfive. The infectious cases—-practically measles—were treated at the Featherston racecourse. The men at the hospital were all in a state of convalescence. About thirty were sitting at table enjoying a good meal, while the others were in bed resting. Dr Gunn, who is in charge, has a staff of six officers. He told Dr Thacker that the recent epidemic lasted for about twentyfour hours only and it was checked as soon as the men affected wore put to bed and placed on milk diet. Ihe matron is Nurse M’Nie, pue of the Maheno sisters, who has just replaced Nurse Flohr. The camp dental saloou teas under the. control of Captain Hurst-house, who had a staff of ten dentists. M hen Dr Thacker made his call' the staff was engaged fixing teeth for the Tenth Reinforcements. Captain Hursthouse said that loflO fillings had . been done iu the saloon. Tho time occupied in

that work had taken fourteen days, so, remarked Dr Thacker, the people cam imagine that the dental staff has not been idle by any means. Captain Hursthouse was willing to attend to the teeth of all recruits from any part of the Dominion to enable/ them to get on with their service training. There was no need for recruits waiting on the “temporarily unfit” list .to delay. If they would obtain permission to go to Featherston Captain Hursthouse and his staff would attend to all teeth troubles quickly. In concluding his remarks, Dr Thacker told the reporter that at- the Featherston Camp he had met Colonel Allen, Minister of Defence, and had expressed to him his pleasure and gratification at the general completeness of the camp. He suggested that water carts were required to keep the dust down on the roads adjacent to the camp, for the traffic was very heavy. The “ fly swatting ” was carried 1 out under the direction of Professor Kirk. His aim was to out off their supplies —“ Just as in cutting off their supplies will the Allies eventually destroy that other pe?,t—the German blow-fly, which is such an undesirable creature, ' said the doctor.