TRENTHAM’S TROUBLES

New Zealand Times, Volume XL, Issue 9094, 13 July 1915, Page 5

TRENTHAM’S TROUBLES

NAPIER BOY’S SAD EXPERIENCE discharged fob weakness FOLLOWING ILLNESS. npigr boy, who volunteered for active service, returned last week to Napier, having been discharged for medical unfitness as the result of illness contracted in the camp at Tiontham. He had a sad story to tell, a story of utter callousness and criminal neglect. In an interview with a Napier “Daily Telegraph" reporter, the “returned empty," all his strength-having been removed by lack of consideration and fair treatment, stated that he had gone through a heart-rending experience. Ho did not desire publication or his name, because now that he is gaining in strength and had to work for his living, ho thought that he might be prevented from securing a position if he was called upon to attend the Commission as a witness. His story, however, is quite a dependable narrative, as the outstanding features are such that they can easily bo proved should the necessity arise. The story is told not for the sake of complaining, but for the protection of volunteers who may go there in future. SHAMEFUL NEGLECT.

“When I arrived at camp,” said the rejected volunteer, “I discovered that I had to pay' two shillings for a cover to put my bed straw in. I had to wait for three days to got a pair of boots and the camp clothing. Then I got a heavy cold on me, and I attended the sick parade three different times. I never heard of the marquee that Mr Massey has spoken about, and nobody could tell mo where it was. I had to wait out in the open with a very high temperature for hours on each occasion, standing in the mud and rain. Some of us managed to get a board to sit on, and that was the only support they could secure. 1 got better somewhat, but a week later 1 a very had throat, and was feeling ill again. My temperature went up abnormally, and when I attended the sick parade the following morning I had to wait out in* the bitter cold —it was always cold down there—for two hours and a half before the doctor reached me. Some of my mates could hardly stand on their feet, they were that weals. “I was ordered to bed in the hospital, and went there. Dr Ferguson told me to get back to my hut, as I could not be admitted till 1 p.m. I went back and then made a second visit to :the hospital at the appointed hour, 'but I could not get to bed—on the floor —till' 3 p.m. I had an awful cold, and my coughing kept me sleepless for three nights. My temperature was then registered as 103. HOSPITAL HARDSHIPS,

“They all slept on tho floor, which Was swept twice daily. No care was ilaken to prevent us being affected by tlhe dust, and the conditions were most uncomfortable- Wo could get no handkor chiefs, nor rag as a substitute, and every day we all bought newspapers instead. There was 'nothing to spit in, an id after using the paper as a handkerchief we put it to the further use of J a spittoon. I had a patient next to me with the measles. The case was repoited at 9 a.m., and was not removed till 3 p.m. Everybody had to wait, waif., wait. Nothing seemed to be done promptly. I was afterwards told to go to ilhe tea kiosk, and I had to walk there, after finding out where it was. I was. from three to five days without a wash'- I gradually got better, and was put to light duty, which proved too arduous, and I was relieved of it— I was extremely weak, and had to again parade with the sick. MORE DELAY. “I. waited from 8 a.m. till 11.45 a.m. to be -examined, and the doctor said that I was very weak; pneumonia threate.aed me, and l would have to bo discharged. Next day I was ordered homo, lint I could not get my dis-charge—-there seemed to be too much red tape everywhere, and I had to wait till my discharge appeared in the orders. I was so weak I decided to try and get atway, but nobody seemed able to help me under the colonel. I interviewed hiitu, and my discharge appeared next day. GOVERNMENT GREED.

“I felt happy in spite of my weakness, and _as quickly as I could I got ready. I’ went to hand in my property, and was then told that b would have "to part with all of the kit and articles that the Napier ladies gave me. Now, I went down in one of the shirts presented with the kit, and they would not let me keep it on —everything had to he surrendered to the greedy .officials. The Napier boys were the only ones to have kits presented to them, and the Government find kits for the others. Our kits were the better, and had a lot of extras in them, but the> Government claimed the lot. I was left with only my coat, trousers, boots, and hat, and I was discharged because I was medically unfit! I borrowed a jersey from a mate and socks from another, but my civilian clothes were that dirty through my having had to work in them when I first got to camp that I was more like an outlaw than anything else. I went to Wellington—they did manage to pay my faro —and bought sufficient clothes to go home with.” The invalid concluded by stating that tho hutments were much more unhealthy than the tents. That was because "of the had workmanship. They were so draughty that sometimes it was impossible to keep a candle alight in the centre of the floor. Ho also said that the Trentham Rogihiont (Lord Liverpool’s Own) who were put into the huts, provided 75 per cent, of the hospital cases. Ho had no fault to find with the food, although it could bo easily made much better. Ho added that whilst in the hospital the orderlies would only give him his medicine once in ten or twelve hours instead of every three hours as prescribed.