IMPROVEMENTS AT TRENTHAM

New Zealand Times, Volume XL, Issue 9093, 12 July 1915, Page 3

IMPROVEMENTS AT TRENTHAM

To the Editor “N.Z. Times.” Sir, —I ask the courtesy of your columns in order to make a few suggestions which, it carried out, would do much to reduce the alarming amount of sickness at Trentham military camp. i In the first place the camp site, if skilfully handled by the military authorities, should give satisfaction. Under a rather thick layer of clay and stone, there is a very fine bed of free shingle and sand. Nearly all the sickness in camp is caused through not converting the camp grounds into a huge network of filter drains not less than, three feet deep. This absolutely necessary work could be done by the men themselves. If deep drains were everywhere opened up they could be filled again to the surface with the huge stones which have been cast into the mud pools. The spoil taken from the drains could be used in the making of properly crowned roads. At present fh© socalled roads have no adequate filter drains, while many of them (the roads) are foolishly made by simply forming a flat track of stones through the germ-laden sludge which continues to well-up to the surface.

In the hutments calico at least one yard wide should be carefully tacked to the floor and up the studs. After many years of camp life, I am more than satisfied this simple remedy would take away from the sleeping men the principal draughts which are now doing so much harm. Between the long hutments, huge filter drains should forthwith take the place of the many stagnant surface drains now used as giant spittoons per medium of the hut windows. No tents should remain to block the meagre currents of air between the hutments.

In that portion of the- camp where the men live in tents a very great improvement could bo made by raising the ground level in each tent not less than six inches. Many of the new wooden floors have been placed over a cavity in the ground which is certain to become damp and unhealthy. A wooden floor on a raised, dry earthen fonndation, with the tent fastened always in fine weather to the wooden floor and not to the ground, will give entire satisfaction.

The men themselves should be given plenty of exercise on the neighbouring hills, where ti-tree and bush produce a - superabundance of pure, fresh air, and where the miasmatic atmosphere of the camp and drill grounds does not go.' At present the camp is entirely at the mercy of the elements; hot or wet weather must, unless filter drains are everywhere laiddown,, increase the more serious cases of sickness. —I am. etc.,, “TRENTHAM REGIMENT.”