TRENTHAM CAMP.

Timaru Herald, Volume CIII, Issue 15742, 28 August 1915, Page 5

TRENTHAM CAMP.

REPORT OP COMMISSION. NO EVIDENCE OF NEGLECT OR IMPROPER TREATMENT. (Per Press Association.) W ELLINGTON, August 27. The report of tlio Trentham Commission was presented to Parliament to-day. It is a lengthy document covering sonic hundred typewritten pages. and besides the Commission's i»:im report. t-ontains supplementary reports un individual cases inquired into and one by Dr. Martin on the diseases prevalent in xho camp. > : wniinmg up the result of itis inquiries the Commission is of opinion • hat tile headquarters staff is primarily responsible for bringing men into i?::nip before sufficient accommodation iui'i been nrovided. bub thinks that th.i medical rervices ought to have drawn the attention of the Commandant- to 11 jo risks of iho overcrowding which prevailed and which was permitted. "When it was known that tents were to be sent with the Expeditionary Forces some action should have been taken at once to provide a scheme for other accommodation. thus saving probably two or three months. The causes of sickness were obviously' not confined to the camp for the maladies of influenza and measlc.-. were concurrently present amongst tho civil population. Several eases at the camp, bow-ever, contributed to the spread of sickness. These can-es shortly were as follows—Aggregation of so many men in a confined space: the bringing into an already infected camp largo bodies of troops; tho wetness of the ground, because of tho absence of efficient surface drainage : tile absence of provision for drying clothes and boot?: 011 and after 29th May, deficiency in design and equipment of the hutments; overcrowding and the presense or damp clothes during sleeping hours; unnecessary exposure during <ic-k parades, causing fatigue: the want- of appropriate provision for rapidly and effectually dealing to the best advantage with the increasing number 0 i Mek of a special infect'ous character, and the increasing virulence of disease s ; tho sudden changes from habits and comforts or" civic life to tho conditions of life in a military camp; tho want of knowledge of how to act- with due regard to take care of themselves and others. Prior to May these causes in less degree prevailed. The Commission further finds that due care and efficient measures were no ar all times- taken to prevent or minimise sickness or mortality. An efficient system for treatment of the >ick did not at all times exist in conr.e-: tion with camp, special reference being made to the non-provision in advance nt hospital accommodation ami the equipment, at a stage when !i. < os-suv for it was imminent. It was no: established that the system adopted for the examination of the sir!: in camps was other than the u-.ual and efficient system ioUowed. The Commission thinks that the medii :il examination ill respect to saivita-ti-m failed. It is not considered that the evidence warranted the finding tl-m there wa-. neglect or improper treatment in the cases specially cited to the Commission. There was no ir.staiiTO before the Commission of any ni.duo delay in the removal of any patient from camp to hospital.

The finds that, in no sfM'ious case liavo other than full facilities boon given to relatives to afford assistance and comfort-. As regards s-nrfaco and sewa.«i« drainage, at the outset the system was -efficient-, but- as tli-e camp grew the necessity for a botior system arose and at period's, of overcrowding the system became inadequate. Th-o water supply has at all times been efficient. The general system, as regards sanitation, was efficient. The camp is suitably situated. N.> sufficient santiarv or other reasons ■exist for the removal of the camp and the Commission considers tha-. the camp may continue to be t!ted. provided the following conditions are observed: —Limitation ot size t-o a number not exceeding from 4000 to 4500 men; the formation of roads and surface drainage, with such a small out-fail as is now in progress: the execution of a complete system of sewage; improvement in the construction of huts witli restrictions of the number of occupants; efficient provision for drying clothes and boots; the retention of the right t-o use the racecourse buildings and other hospital accommodation so long as 110 other substituted provision is available. "With trivial exceptions. on iso'ated occasions, the food has been of good qua'ity, properly prepared and served. There wajc. no evidence to esrabl'sh that the clothing had not been of proper quality ■or sufficient in amount, but in wot weather a second pair of Iwots should have been issued as speedily as possible. Tlie trccps were at :ic. time exposed to tindue or preventable hardships or discomforts, The evideuce shows that camp life under favourable conditions is of tlio healthiest character. As regaiils tlie question as to whether the oliiveis 111 colitrol »xvo 111 any respect incoiupccvut or uegi.geut or ganty or lieg.vct or j/usconu.icc -xi their uince, tlio euimmssicn a grave pcrn.ips ijot k» <_. s t-en 011 tne issuo ot tlie Commission. It v.ouid lie contrary to ordinary notions of wnat is just to liuu ;uiv perso.i speciiicaii'v chargeable witn incompetence, neglect or nuscouduct by the method of inquiry the Commission had to fo.fow w.tliout first definitely formulating a charge and giving tfia person charged, full opportunity tor answering it. feucu procedure would be out. of the question m respect of persons absent trom tlie Dominion. 'Xliere was verv grave doubt as to whether it would not have been unconstitutional to adopt such a proceduie. "In' the course of the inquiry, ' says the report, ' we did point out to tome- of tne witnesses, matters which at that stage apnearei to require some answer, but we cannot regard that as sufficient to nave put them on their trial in respect of anv of those matters. They might require to p. ccluco evidence, besides t;ieir own in rcp.y. "\\e have therefore refrained from answering this question. The Commission concurs in the- \'! e " that throughout the t-rving conditions described. those of aM'ranks acquitted themseives as soldiers and as men. As regards the militant side of the camp administration, th o Commission fe.t entitled to say on the evidence that, having regard for all the circumstances. and the fact that the work was a new experience .also owing to the exigencies of the war, the limited resources of the Dominion and tlie stress of despatching the promised number of men trained and fit to pre-fixed ciat.cs. the members worked unsparing and with devotion to their tasks '