H.—l9b.

the evidence fully establishes that with galvanized iron as the only covering the variations of temperature within the huts are greatly intensified. In the cablegram before referred to it is shown that the huts in England are lined with either asbestos sheets or jointed boarding. We recommend that a porch be provided to each hut, either by cutting off a portion next the door by a partition (in this case reducing the number of men using the hut), or preferable by building an ante-room. This room would provide for the changing therein of wet and muddy boots, and for the hangingup therein of wet overcoats and outer clothes. One side of such a porch could be provided at little expense with a small stove so that the damp clothes could be dried. We recommend that spouting should be provided to the eaves so that the roof-water may be carried directly to the surface-water drainagesystem, and not permitted to soak into the ground and under the hutments. We are of opinion that a space between each hutment at the ends thereof should be graded and concreted in such a manner that on the removal of the night urine-pails therefrom the surface could be washed down to the drainagesystem. 120. The evidence we have had, in our opinion, justifies the inference that: the vitality of the men must have been reduced by the use of unlined iron-wall buildings, and by the overcrowding which rendered the men more liable to pollution by close contact. 121. If it is not feasible at present to provide separate hutments for meals,: we recommend that whenever the number of soldiers in camp are so few as to permit it, that special hutments should be set aside for that purpose. (c.) Erection of Huts or Tents on Latrine-sites. 122. The camp-site has been used for many years for successive meetings of the Rifle Association. In connection with these meetings earth-latrines for the men, with urinals, were in use. Separate accommodation for this purpose existed for the officers. The officers' sanitary accommodation has been described to us as being provided with boarded floors and pail-closets enclosed by gal-vanized-iron fences. These places were removed in October, shortly after the present Trentham Camp was established. From the information supplied by the Assistant Engineer to the Public Works Department, who examined the ground and provided us with plans, we find that the urinals and latrines for the men were situated in a position to the south-west of the officers' latrines, and upon what is now open and uncovered ground. The site of the officers' latrines was within the area of land occupied from December, 1914, to February, 1915, by the camp of the Third Mounted Reinforcements, and from February to April by the camp of the Fifth Mounted, and is now included in the area occupied by the first row of hutments. We find on the evidence that no tents or hutments were erected on the site of earth-latrines, and, having regard to the structure of the officers' latrines, we consider the criticism under this head is reduced to a minimum. (d.) Overcrowding of Hutments. 122 a. The hutments were projected for the Forces which had hitherto been accommodated in tents, but they were instead appropriated to the new reinforcements which came in on and after the 29th May. No detailed information has been placed before us as to the number of huts which, whether completely finished or not, were then available for occupation. On the Bth July, a month later, there were forty-three completed, including the sample huts, and three nearly so. The workmen occupied at least one of them, and one of the troopers told us that there were no window-sashes at first in the hut he occupied. As the erection kept going on there were necessarily fewer huts at the end of May and beginning of June than on the Bth July. There was, therefore, considerable overcrowding. As many as seventy men were in some l of the hutments. That would reduce the floor-space from 31 ft. to 22 ft. per man. This pressure was lessened gradually as additional hutments were completed and by the transfer of men to hospital or by their going on leave.

Effect of hutments.

Hutments for meals.

Hutments not ready in time.

Overcrowding.

XXIX