TRENTHAM CAMP.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 11478, 28 August 1915, Page 7

TRENTHAM CAMP.

: CCMIHM'S RETCRT. 1 KMi::CSA"DSreGESTIONS. 5 _ fPku Press As«ociaj'to.v.J WELLINGTON. Augm-t 27. I I The report of the Tren.thnm Commission was p minted to Parliament ' to-day. It is a lengthy document covering some hundred typewritten pages. | and Ixodes the main report. contains suppJn.mentary reports on individual co es inquired into, and 1 one by Dr A lor tin on disposes prevalent in camp. Summing up the result of its inquiries, the Commission is of opinion that the headquarters staff is primarily responsible for bringing men into camp | before sufficient accam modation ha fl been provided but thinks the medical service oupht to have drawn the attention of the commandant to the risks of overcrowding which prevailed and was permitted. When it was known that tent*} were to bf> cent with the Expeditionary Forces some action should nave been taken at once to provide a .scheme for other accommodation, thus saving probably two or three men tils. CAUSES or -SICKNESS. The cause> of sickness were obviously not confined to the camp for maladies of influenza and measles were concurrently present owing to civil population. Several eanse-s at the camp, however, contributed to the spread of sickness. These causes shortly were as follows : Aggregation of so many men in. a confined son ce. 'J !u> bunging into an already infected camp ol !arjr#t bodies of troops. Tue wetness of thfi ground because of tho ab: ence oi e.uc.ent tui tace urninn^p. Ihe nliHiice oi piovis.oa tor drvinff clothes ar.fi b'.oti. On and ailor May 29 deficiency in design end equipment ol hntn cuts. Utercio.v.-iing and piescnco of damp clothes in f hours. exposure dniinq; sick parades, caus.ng fatigue. Want of appropriate prevision for rapidly and etLctual.y dealin:'; to the baft advantage with tho increasing nninbe- of pick. Special infect.ous character and increasing virulence ol ihe d-sen^cs. Si.dden changes :'i«m habits and comforts of civil .ifo to conditions of life in a mi ifflry camp. The want of knowledge of how to act with dno regard to enre oi Ihemseive? and others. Prior to May these causes in less degree prevailed. The Commission further finds that due care and efficient measures were not at all times taken to pi event oi" minimise sickness or mortality. An efficient system for treatment of Kjck did not at all times exist in comiecj tion with tho camp. >poe:il reference I being made to the non-provi ion in advance of hospital accommodation and equipment at a stage when the necessity for it was imminent. It was not established that the s\">tem adopted for examination of sick in the camp was other the usual and efficient system followed. Tae Commission thinks that the medical examI ination in respect to sanitation fa.ili cd. It is not considered that the evij dence warrant d finding that there was neglect or improper treatment in the c.'.ses specially cited to the Commission. 'I hero was no instance before the Commission of any undue delay in the removal of any patient from camp to hospital. The Commission finds that in no aoriou.- ease have other than full facilities, been given to relaj tives to allonl assistance and com-! fort. SANITATION. j As regards surface and sewage drain- ! ! age, at the out--, r the system was. eHi- , cient. but as the. camp grew the ueees- ! sity tor a better sy,tc:n arose, and at 1 periods of overcrowding the system be- 1 catne inadequate. The water supph j has at all times been efficient. The i general system as regards sanitation | 'was efficient. The cn.np is suitably j situated, and no sufficient sanifarv or other reasons es.sfc for removal of the ' camp. i Tho Commission considers that the j camp may continue to be usid, pro-I vided the following are | observed : j Limitation of sit* {'.• a numbei not «t- I coeding from I.KX) ;o 1500 m.-r.. J Fo.rmat.on oi reads and suriace draxnair*> I with ?::<h ample cv.iia.-l as is no*"* sc pro. j , | Execution of a compete systftm of I improvrratnt, in construction or huts, with ' rest.icrions of number of occupants. ! E.iicient provi> ion for dryJac' cloth?:- and boots. ' Ke.entior. of riyht to uee racecou r «e build. . ! ir.gs &.nd c-thcr hotpitaJ n.-comrooi-itiuii fo I .ons; it ft no othtr =uoFtifiited provisiou is j atai!p.V.i«. i FOOD AND CLOTH I NO. j ! With trivial exceptions on iso'atrj, ! occasions, the food lias been soilie.ent. of goad quality, properly prepared and served. l'her-> was no evidence to establidi that clothing had not been of proper qualitv or sufficient in amount, nut in wet weather a. se>'or.d pair of boots should have been issued as speed- • iU as possible. The tloops were at no time exposed to undue or preventable, hardships or discomfort-.. Hie evidence showed that canin life, under favourable conditions, is ol the healthies;. character- i THE OFFICERS. j As regards the eiie'ih-n to whether the oihe, rs in control v ore in ai»> re-1 speou Tneoci(«*rn;t or negligent. or guil.y of jieijlect or n';s,-onduct in llie-ir oflicr', xlif- ( <>;umis.;"ior. a; L.tiowiedges ;; gravtj difficulty, h-ios not foreseen j on tin* jaMu: of tie coiomi.ssion. It ! would l.'e contrary to ordinary notion:-: ! of whr.t is just to tied any person i specifie.'.d.ly ch.ar.reablo with ineoin- \ pctenee. negh'et ei bv- the j me'.hod of inquirv ;.i •• Commission had ' to follow, without 'ir--i lietiaitcjy lor- j mulating a chare.:- and rjring the per-,' sou charged a J'ull for ; answering it. Sinn, procedure wouhij he one of ilii' cpi'M iv/H >;i res;.H>,i-. ot ; persons fror» th<.'. Do*niuiott. ; There was verv grave doubt. wheJier u. i would nor. iiave been ui-.cojv.titui.iona\ '< to adopt such _ ; "In the course of the niquiry. says j tho reoort, "we d jji.'snt oui i i some J of the witnesses ma;i<Ts which at that! stage app.-arcd t»-i r«; it-.ui.'- t.Tee.w-r, but we ctiimot iegard that as .v.ilTieifnt \ to have pur. them on iboir tr.ai i:i_ ; | spect of any o; tho?.-; nia< I hc> ; 1 might rcfjUwi- iv-odn-v t* hh nee j I sides iheir n in I- <•'? . 'A-> j there-o'-". r- !rr-.in«'l i' l '"': -p ! | ! answ- rdig toi.- ~~ .-.n." _ I I Tile t'oo'iini-.-ion <'':oe. the { that through-mi Uie -.rying i.-nduioii-i do-oribi-d all r■ sn 1-.*. aenuui'd ;*u ui--' ,, h;"jas sr-bO'')'- sn,d it. A- r> :.' f .rds in- ! militi'.n! •fi ' "I till r. I|,p raj tion. t:o- ('onon j.-^iii' ei.t, bd i" j jtnr or- the- evidence, that, iviving ! gard tni all the en "'tra.-taie-e-'. an-! ih<fact, t'mx tin" w.-. !c wr.- a <iew evponenoe, td.'-o the -'.'-e: -'i'V-s of w.r .'-he limited reseuice nr the I) ';ii]d'in and flu" stres - oi docviii-hoe: tin promised number of nn-n tiame i and fit to prefixed date-. ir.cn: ber> w>rked unsparingly and v, i;h devotion to their , tasks, 1