TRENTHAM INQUIRY.

Wanganui Herald, Volume L, Issue 14698, 1 September 1915, Page 4

TRENTHAM INQUIRY.

■ ’ ■ ■ ITL vd; ‘‘ Naturally the report of the. TTeiitham. Camp Commission is being freely discussed in the columns of the Press of the Dominion, though the criticism has assumed a much milder tone than would have been observed but for the fact that the setting up of a National Cabinet has for the time being modified party views. The Taranaki News says the report will not surprise either those who followed the evidence or those who wore acquainted at first hand with the conditions which existed at the camp. ... There was apparently only one object was studied, and that was military training and discipline, the latter being of such magnified importance that the men were evidently regarded more ns machines than an'human beings who, for love of their country had given up everything to fight for their King. It was ail very well to act on the principle that the men must learn to undergo hardships, but at least they should have been (riven a chance to be come gradually inured to catnip life, and. not plunged from the comforts of civilian life into a camp that was not only insanitary, but was teeming with infection* disease. Nor when they were stricken down did they receive that cave and attention that the sick can Justly claim. . .

The whole business seems to have been run on the most a mat on Ah lines, and as the result of carelessness, callousness or ineorapetency many valuable lives were sacrificed and much pain and anxiety wa.caused. It is for the Government nov ta take action on the report; to find out who are responsible for the- many errors and to take the utmost care that, for th' future the health of our volunteer sol diera shall be secured so far as is hu manly possible. The Dominion suggests that the upsho' of the expensive, but necessary, inquiry is the discovery that the trouble at the camp has arisen mainly from the nonobservance of the simple rules laid dowr in the War Office Manual of Military Hygiene. This little volume is issued “by command of the Army Council for the guidance of all concerned.” It is not rare or difficult to procure, but has beer freely sold in the shops at Trenthair Camp itself. In its pages is contained the accumulated experience in camp sanitation of generations cf compaigning. Every rule set down is the result of suffering and privation in the past. Fa’J too little attention was paid these sanitary precepts. The Commission in its re port affixes no blame to individuals for what has occurred. It would not, it i* stated, be fair to do so without first formutating charges and then calling upor the persons charged to answer them. Th v : Dominion, howe,ver, holds that the Minisfcer of Defence cannot pass the matter over in this way, and says he should probe the matter to the bottom. “It i his business to place the responsibility for the original . shortcomings'. oh th' proper shoulders, even though as the re , suit of the complaints made these short comings have how been' remedied." Th( New Zealand Times, commenting on th< Dominion's suggestions, says: “This is plain enough. Bevond all per-adventur' the Defence Minister. Is, the one man re sponsible.' The men who are experts if military hygiene who. Are-here,, and havi been, hero from the first, would have had the camp right; the diseases would hav> been kept down, and the other contribu tory causes of evil would not have been The men not . expert in military hygiene who were in, command cannot be held culpable for the state of things found by the Commission. The Minister refused to employ the .right way, and , ignored their recommendations. He r>rimaril T and Jioleiy, therefore, is responsible. Let him do as ftayised. and let the Prim' Minister probe, jWe shall be. quite satisfled with thft results.” The Post think' that "while-.the''.fceprle,, looking backward, are finding fault, with different divi sions of the management, they should not forget the good service, as the Com mission has . recognised, which has to lr srt, against the mistakes or omissions The neopie have seen in, the marching of Reinforcements end in ' the from Oailireli the splendid testimonv U the work of the Minister, the Head quarters Staff - / and the instructors at th camps.” . ' ~,