IN THE COMMONWEALTH.

Sun (Christchurch), Volume II, Issue 456, 27 July 1915, Page 8

IN THE COMMONWEALTH.

LIVERPOOL CAMP ENQUIRY. SOME SERIOUS ALLEGATIONS. SYDNEY, July 26. At the Liverpool Camp enquiry, Lieutenant-Colonel Perkins stated in evidence that he had urged the necesity "for a permanent medical staff, but he had only got three officers. Colonel Kirkland, Camp Commandant, stated that he had recommended the purchase of mattresses and the erection of a fumigating plant, but had received no reply. Mr Justice Rich interposed that the method of dealing with recommendations seemed to be an extension of the "Micawber principle." Colonel Kirkland further stated that there had never been a shortage of ball cartridges, but there had been a scarcity of "dummies." When he took over the camp he found an undesirable state of affairs. The parades showed that from seven to eight hundred men were absent daily without leave. It was nothing unusual for certain battalions to find all their officers absent except one or two. Witness said he thought a good deal of the sickness was due to drink. He had noticed incidents of immorality every pay day, but plain-clothes constables were now on duty. Witness said he knew that men had departed without sufficient musketry instruction, but they would receive it in Egypt. He considered that the facilities by which men obtained drink should be restricted. Colonel Perkins further maintained that reforms he had recommended had not been adopted expeditiously, owing to the centralisation of authority, he having to send requisitions to Melbourne, where the system insisted upon could not biit result in a breakdown. Pending a final report, Mr Justice Rich recommends the drainage of the streets, and that the huts be swept daily and sprayed weekly, and that the blankets be aired and sunned. HOSPITAL SHIP SCANDAL. SMALL ARMS FACTORY REMOVED. MELBOURNE, July 26. Major Dowse, Assistant Quarter-master-General of the Victorian Defence Forces, and Colonel Cascaden, Principal Medical Officer, have been suspended in connexion with the allegations regarding the hospital ship Kyarra. 0 MELBOURNE, July 26. The Government has approved of the transference of the Small Arms Factory to Canberra. The estimated cost is £92,100, and the work will bo completed in 18 months.