H.—19.8

VII

tively. The G.O.C. is directly responsible to the Minister for the carrying-out of the policy laid down with regard to military defence and arrangements. He looks to the Chief of General Staff for, amongst others, all matters connected with the instruction, training, and efficiency of the troops for war. The latter therefore sees to the instruction and training of the Expeditionary Forces. The duties of the Adjutant-General comprise control, amongst other subjects, of those of the medical services. The Commandant himself is the QuartermasterGeneral. The work of his department is divided up amongst other officers. We are only concerned with the Q.M.G.(2) and the Q.M.G.(3). The duties of the Q.M.G.(2) extend, amongst other things, to the supply of food and to the providing of hospitals, buildings, and works of all kinds, and medical supplies. The Q.M.G.(3) attends to the control, supply, and issue of clothing, boots, and stores of all kinds, and sees that they are procured and issued as they are requisitioned for by those having authority to requisition, such as the Camp Quartermaster. 17. Under the Adjutant-General there is a Medical Officer known as the Director of Medical Services (D.M.S.), who is attached to Headquarters Staff, and has the appointment, direction, and. control of all the Medical Staff. Normally he has to see that all hospital accommodation is provided, including equipment and staffing. He is responsible for the health of all the troops in camp and otherwise, for the sanitation of camps, and for the training and equipment of all medical units, including all the Ambulance Staff. These duties, it must be noted, extend not only to the Expeditionary Forces, but to all the Territorial Forces. He is responsible for the medical examination of all recruits, for the inspection of all transports, and for the supply of all hospital stores and comforts for transports. This is how things stood up to the 23rd June. 18. An important adjustment was then made by the Government by which a new office —that of Director of Military Hospitals (D.M.H.) —was created, the office of D.M.S. being still retained, but with restricted functions. Under this adjustment the D.M.H. is responsible for all the arrangements and provision for the sick in Trentham (and presumably in other camps connected with the Expeditionary Forces). He is responsible, through the Principal Medical Officer, for the sanitation of Trentham Camp (and presumably of other camps), and the training of the Ambulance Staff. The documents submitted and evidence given do not clearly define the respective responsibilities of the Directors. Under the new adjustment the Adjutant-General disappears as the official head of the medical services so far as Trentham Camp is concerned, the object being " to give direct responsibility of the two Directors to the Minister, through the Commandant." We presume that this subdivision of duties can only be of a temporary nature pending the arrival of the new Director of Medical Services, who, we understand, is now coming to the Dominion. 19. Those who have held the posts referred to during the period covered by the inquiry are :— General Officer Commanding ... Brigadier-General Robin. Chief of General Staff ... Colonel Gibbon. Adjutant-General ... ... Lieut.-Colonel Piikington. Quartermaster-General ... Brigadier-General Robin. Assistant to QuartermasterGeneral (2) ... ... Major Robinson. Assistant to QuartermasterGeneral (3) ... ... Major O'Sullivan. Director of Medical Services... Colonel Purdy, but not as regards Trentham Camp after 23rd June, 1915. Director of Military Hospitals Colonel Valintine, as regards Trentham Camp from 23rd June. Assistant Director M.I I. ... Major Frengley, from 23rd June. Sanitary Medical Officer. ... Captain Finch, from 23rd June. Captain Sydney Smith, from 4th July.

Direotor of Medical Service ami his duties.

Now Post: Direotor of Military Hospitals.

Names of officers;