H.—l9b.

XXXIV

ments at Trentham. On the 18th February the Director of Medical Services, Dr. Purely, reported that plans had been prepared by the Defence officers from a sketch-plan prepared in Trentham Camp by Dr. Holmes for an eighteen-bed hospital at an estimated cost of £1,500, and stated that the ladies of Wellington had made provision for the equipment of the hospital up to twenty-five beds, and expressed the opinion that the hospital, as shown by the plans, would be a most efficient one. These plans were submitted early in March to the same committee that had dealt with the hutments —viz., Messrs. Campbell and Morton and Dr. Frengley. This special committee amended the plans, and on the 16th March the plans were submitted to Dr. Elliott with a letter seeking certain information as to the amount of funds in hand, equipment, &c. Dr. Elliott, then ex-Chairman of the New Zealand Branch of the Council of the British Medical Association, gave the information asked for by marking his answers in the margin of the letter. He has satisfied your Commission that he did not in any way approve of the amended plans, either on behalf of himself or for his Council. The Defence Department apparently assumed that the medical men of the Dominion had approved of the plans, and proceeded thereon without further reference to the Council. 139. It is regrettable that any misunderstanding of this sort should have arisen, and that the hospital should have been proceeded with without the detailed approval of those members "of the medical profession through whom the public subscription was so largely obtained. 140. On the 18th March the Hon. the Minister of Defence directed that the Public Works Department should prepare working plans and specifications, and treat the matter as urgent. The report of the special committee shows that the scheme they proposed was for a camp hospital for the reception of cases, including isolation, awaiting development until a final diagnosis decided whether the case should be removed to the base hospital or be of such a character as to be suitably treated at Trentham. The plans and specifications were finished on the 12th April, and submitted for final approval, which was given on the following day. The contract was let on the 27th April for completion in two months. This time was referred to by independent witnesses as being almost an impossible time within which it coulcl be completed. Difficulties were encountered by the contractor, and the hospital was not completed when this Commission issued. 141. If this building had been completed to time it would have required to be furnished and equipped; but had it been ready even without complete equipment it would have been of service about the first week in July in relieving the pressure upon the accommodation, and it would have been particularly of service for the reception and treatment of the cerebro-spinal meningitis and pneumonia cases. (q.) Individual Complaints. 142. Many troopers gave evidence of their individual experiences, and troopers and .others spoke to what they knew or had heard concerning troopers who had died. Their evidence was directed to the following points : — (1.) As to standing outside the medical tent on sick-parades : (2.) As to absence of means to dry wet clothes and boots : (3.) As to delay in the issue of a second pair of boots : (4.) As to overcrowding in the huts : (5.) As to the discomforts of the hospital accommodation at Trentham and Berhampore: (6.) As to treatment in hospital: (7.) As to want of attention by orderlies : (8.) Other detailed experiences. It would be impossible to come to any conclusion as to some of the hospital experiences special to the person speaking of them. In some cases they did not know the names of the Medical Officers or orderlies referred to by them. In the cases of the alleged non-attention of the orderlies when a hospital marquee was blown in on the 12th and 13th June, and the alleged consequent

Plans.

Not approved by Medical Council.

Contract let

Benefit if completed earlier.