TRENTHAM CAMP

New Zealand Times, Volume XL, Issue 9096, 15 July 1915, Page 9

TRENTHAM CAMP

THE ROYAL COMMISSION. Sir Joseph Ward asked whether persons who wished to give evidence before the Royal Commission dealing with the sickness of soldiers at Trentham would bo allowed to travel free to 'Wellington and have their expenses paid. If the matter had been investigated by a 'Parliamentary committee witnesses would have these privileges. The Prime Minister (Right Hon. W. F. Massey),said that Sir Joseph Ward’s request was a big order. There wore 7000 men in camp, and if all relatives were to have their fares paid It would mean a very great expenditure. He did not think this was necessary. Of course the expenses and fares of witnesses called by the Commission would be paid, but it would be necessary to place some limit on the number of witnesses who could be paid. Ho did not think the Government could go so far as thei right hon. gentleman had suggested. He took the opportunity of informing the House that the Government had arranged that Mr C. P. Skerrett, K. 0., of Wellington, should appear before the Commission to look after the interests of the men and their relatives. Sir Joseph Ward said that ho had been approached on behalf of people who lived in the South Island. They were poor people, and. could hot afford to he put to any , great expense. Mr Massey : "Did yon ask for railway fares or for expenses?” Sir. Joseph Ward: "For expenses. I think expenses should be paid. Ido not suggest that they should be extended to a large number of people." Mr Massey said that persons desirous of giving evidence should apply to the secretary of the commissi on, and if the commission decided to call them there would be no difficulty about their expenses. Mr T. M. Wilford (Hurt) sugacsted that the Commission’s advertisement should bo altered so as to notify intending witnesses that they should send their names, not to the secretary of the Commission, but to the counsel for the men, and their relatives. It had suggested to him by a man who wished to give evidence that it would be better for witnesses to see first the lawyer who was Ito. appear on their behalf. Mr Bkerrett would be required to lead evidence, and. it- was not right that the Commission should be allowed to examine witnesses before they had had the opportunity to nonsuit counsel. The Attorney-General (Hon. A. L. Herdman) said that every possible opportunity would be given to witnesses to communicate with counsel. People who read the newspapers would see that there was no difficulty in getting into touch with him. If there was any difficulty he would instruct the SolicitorGeneral to communicate to’the Commission that its advertisement* should U; alteredA CASE FOR CONSIDERATION. Mr Wilford called the attention of the Minister for Defence to a case which had just come under his notice. A man named Neville had called upon him in the morning. This man had been in camp at Trehtham, and there he was smitten by a stroke, by which he had become paralysed on on© side, and was rendered unfit for service. This man was obviously quite unfit for duty, and had been discharged. It was very doubtful whether ho would ever again be fit for work. The member did not suggest that the man’s illness had been brought about by the camp. Ho wanted that made clear. Still, he had become ill while he was serving as a, soldier at Trentham. and now, having been discharged, ho had to depend on a few friends for the money for his meals. What was the man’s position with re-; gard to a pension? What could be done about him? . Hr Allen explained that the man came under the Pensions Act of 1909, and he would have to come before the board. If he had conttraoted his illness through the Camp he was entitled to' a pension. The regulations made under the Act of 1909 had been found to be ultra vires, but steps were being taken to validate them. He wished to know whether the man had been before the board. Mr Wilford: "I do%’t think so.” Mr Allen: “Well, he should go before the board-” Such matters, when they were urgent, had already been brought before Cabinet, and payment with compensation there authorised-