TRENTHAM INQUIRY.

Colonist, Volume LVII, Issue 13826, 22 July 1915, Page 7

TRENTHAM INQUIRY.

[United Press Association.]

Wellington, July 21. Evidence given .'before the Trentham Camp Royal Commission . tJiis morning dealt mainly with stores and requisitions ' for blankets. .

One of the -witnesses, Robert Williams, an accountant in the Defence Stores, stated that the non-delivery of blankets on May 29th was due to an error on tho part of the storeman, who believed there were sufficient blankets in camp at tho time. No investigation had been made of the statement that supplies iv excess of requirements had boen / sent to the camp. Mr Justice Hoskiug. Is there a periodical audit of supplies to see what supplies there should be? Witness: Not that I am aware of. His. 1-Jonour: Would not such an audit be desirable?

Witness: Yes; I think so. Witness produced the camp requisition for 6000 blankets, and tiio order to tho storeman i-or that ivumber. It was the practice to prep.lie supplies when tho stores ■ department was notified that men were going into camp, but the camp stores could not always take the goods at one©. Boots of certain sizes were in short supply at one time, because tho contractors could n-jt supply the extra number required. Tho manufacturers were now keeping pacewith all orders. To Mr W. -Ferguspij: It was not a faii that he authorised a short supply of blankets being sent to the camp. Neither was it correct that the department had at other times used its discretion in complying with requisitions received. Dr Frengley produced a letter from tho Health Department, dated lltSi August, 1914, offering to the Defence Department, during the war, the services of officers and sanitary inspectors especially for service in camps. Colonel Robin replied that they were not required at that time, but fhat advantage would be taken of the offer if occasion arose. In February Colonel Robin approached Dr. Valintine on I'lie subject; "Witness did not know what arrangement was irado, bub he was not aware of any Health Department _ ofhcers being made use of by the military authorities, except that. Dr. Makgill went int.) camp. There had 'been two cases of scarlet fever among the soldiers in the Wellington Hospital, but he had received no notification, thoiigli one might; have gone to the District Health Officer. In reply to other questions, the witness said" that when the; first troops wore bein^r sent away cases of measles wero found on the ship. Colonel Will asked him to arrange for the receptioa of these, and lie accordingly secured the City Council's fever hospital, lhen Colonel MoGavin, principal medical office:' of tho Defence Department for Wellington district, said the men must go into hospital. Colonel ,P»rdv supported Colonel McGavin. and Colonel Will wished witness to take the cases. -\s there was this dispute, witness said lie would do no more m the matter. Dr Martin; Then you were anxious, and willing to help, but could not.? Witness: That is the case. His Honour said a correspondent had stated that tents were not moved tor six months, and that this was not the practice in England. Dr Frongley said he could not say what had Leon Jone at the camp but: tents should certamlv be taken down to let in ;he sunlight, and the flooring: also moved to allow the air to circulate freely underneath. Referring to Mr Batea's criticism of, hutments, .Dr. Frenglev said it was the experience ol sanatorium doctors i-hat consumptive patients undergoing open-air treatment did i'ot cr.nti-aot catarrh or influenza unless it was introduced by visitors: Mr Bates gave, further evidence re- ! plying 1«o Dr. Frenglev. He urged that hutments should bo lined and painted a ron-radiatit colour. At Ladysmith, during the Boer War, a thousand men were put in hutments, but suffered so much from respiratory troubles that, "Tin Town" was abandoned. Mr Bates declared that the night before the Fift hßeinforcemontssailed from Wellington on© blanket was taken away from each man, and they slept in tents that night with two instead of three llankets. Hardship of that kind, he contended, was no preparation for active service, but .would give men pneumonia that would develop in from 24 to 36 hours. The Commission adjourned till tomorrow. '