H.—l9b.

'11. Motor-ambulances are urgently required both at the camp and at the receiving-end." Dr. Elliott concluded by stating that the visiting committee wished to make it clear that the above suggestions were not intended in any sense as a reflection on the capability or industry of the Medical Officers ai the camp, who were obliged to work exceedingly hard, and did their utmost to cope with the situation. 97. Your Commission, on verbal receipt on the night of the 19th July of the gist of the findings of the committee, verbally placed the information before the Hon. the Minister of Public Health. 98. Dr. Elliott, in giving evidence as to the result of the second visit of the medical committee on the 31st July, stated that the accommodation at Trentham for infectious cases " is satisfactory at the present time and under the present conditions, but there is no provision for subsequent epidemics. Provision should be made for such." lie further stated that " a marked improvement in medical administration and supervision and in hospital records had taken place. An up-to-date steam sterilizer had not been provided, and they were still emphatically of the opinion that it is required. The medical equipment has been much improved, and the Medical Staff was sufficient under the present conditions." 99. Dr. Valintine now states that ample and sufficient accommodation for the sick has been arranged to meet the present or any further epidemics in the camp. He also explained that the overcrowding at the racecourse hospital was, at the time it occurred, unavoidable owing to the enormous influx of patients and the difficulty of removing sick men in the then boisterous weather. With regard to the recommendations made by the committee as to disinfection, evidence was given by Dr. Valintine, Dr. Frengley, Dr. Hector, and by Dr. Sydney Smith that the present method of disinfection by formalin is effective and satisfactory. All, however, agreed that the ideal method would be a steam disinfector, but this would involve considerable expense. Dr. Valintine stated that the purchase of a steam disinfector is now the subject of consideration. 100. Dr. Batchelor, who gave evidence on the 3rd August, having been associated with the camp from the 20th July, stated that the medical administration and supervision existing, and especially in the cerebro-spinal meningitis cases, was excellent, and that there was an ample staff of medical men and nurses to cope with the position; but he did not think there was a thoroughly trained staff of orderlies. He considered that the disinfection was quite sufficiently met by the formalin process in use. 100 a. We have referred to these matters, though probably outside the scope of our report, because they are of great moment. Further details may be gathered from the evidence of Drs. Elliott, Herbert, Batchelor, Valintine, and Sydney Smith. 101. The Commission feel that thanks are due to the committee of medical men who, at their request, with great promptitude and at considerable inconvenience to themselves, visited and reported on the condition of the camp hospital. They also voluntarily offered their advice if at any time it should be required. 102. In considering the period following the Bth July, when it was decided to break up the camp at Trentham, it must not be forgotten that Colonel Valintine and his officers in the Health Department were involved in the task of providing suitable accommodation for the sick not only at Trentham, but at the outlying camps to which the troops were sent to Waikanae, Palmerston North, Rangiotu, and Tauherenikau, and that great anxiety was added to their work by the bad state of the weather. 103. A review of the general or ordinary cases of sickness present in camp, apart from those of an infectious nature, shows no special features. The character of the complaints and the numbers, we understand, were such as might be met with in any military camps. Serious surgical or medical cases were sent from camp to Wellington Hospital, and minor complaints were treated at the camp hospital by the Medical Staff. Under this head in December there

No reflection on Medioal Officers.

Minister informed.

Opinion on second visit.

Present position.

Dr. Batchclor's opinion.>

Thanks.

Difficulties of D.M.H. and officers.

Genera) illnesses.

XXIV