H.—l9b

VI

8. As the result of the Commission's visit to the camp, seven representative medical men, including the Acting-Chairman and Secretary of the Council of the New Zealand Branch of the British Medical Association, were asked by us to visit the racecourse hospital with a view to giving evidence. They paid two visits, one on the 19th and the other on the 31st July, and subsequently evidence was given by one of them on behalf of all. These gentlemen were Drs. Christie, Elliott, Gibbs, Giesen, Herbert, Mason, and Pattie. 9. Throughout the inquiry the counsel above named attended in the capacities mentioned, and rendered great assistance to the Commission in the presentation of the evidence. The Solicitor-General at all times caused persons and papers to be produced whenever suggested by the Commission. With the concurrence of the Commission, Mr. Skerrett exercised a discretion in dealing with the communications he received, so that immaterial evidence should not be given and unnecessary expense incurred. 10. Thanks are due in particular to Dr. De Lautour, the Rev. Mr. Bates, Mr. Robb, and Dr. Frengley for the great pains taken by them in preparing the matter they submitted and for the authorities they brought before us. 11. It was announced at an early stage of the proceedings that every person who might be involved in anything of the nature of a charge against him was to have the opportunity of meeting it, and this offer was availed of bj some three or four, more particularly by Colonel Purdy, to the extent of giving their evidence in reply. 12. As no specific charge was submitted to the Commission for inquiry, all the charges or matters which might be deemed charges developed in a desultory way as the evidence was taken. This involved the recall of witnesses in certain cases, and a certain amount of repetition. We cannot, of course, assume that we have discovered or had brought before us all cases which ma}' have been considered sufficient to justify an expression of complaint, or which have been alleged as justifying charges made elsewhere than before this Commission; but we have had numerous instances of individual experiences typical of various complaints, which we deal with under general heaßs. 13. A most important matter to be borne in mind is that several officers of the Medical Staff and others connected with the camp during its existence who might have cast light on various points are with the Expeditionary Forces abroad, and so were unavailable either to answer for themselves or as witnesses. Scope of Commission. 14. We desire especially to emphasize the fact that by the terms of the Commission our inquiry was, with the exception of those questions relating to the suitability of Trentham Camp, limited to what had taken 'place, and did not extend to questions of what should be done in the future. As the Commission is dated the 10th July, 1915, that was perhaps the strict dividing-line, but we have received evidence of matters subsequent to that date where it might cast light on the past or form the basis of suggestions for the future. Of course, notwithstanding the limitation referred to, any findings showing wherein past failures have occurred may have the value attached to them of indicating what should be, if not already, remedied, or what should be guarded against in the future. 15. Before discussing the charges or criticisms which emerged in the course of the inquiry, it will be advantageous to describe the organization of the Military Forces both as to the combatant and medical sides, the organization of the camp, and, in particular, the history of the sickness which prevailed there, and to give a list of the various persons who occupied executive positions, and set forth other matters which the evidence deals with. Organization of the General Staff and Subordinates. 16. The whole of the Forces are under the control of the General Officer Commanding (G.0.C.) or Commandant. The Headquarters Staff come under the G.O.C, and this consists of three branches —viz., those of the Chief of General Staff, the Quartermaster-General, and the Adjutant-General respec-

Visit of medical men at request of Commission.

Counsel.

Thanks.

Opportunity to answer charges.

Ascertainment of charges.

Absence of witnesses from Dominion.

Extends to what is past, not the future.

Introductory.

Officers' titles and duties.