H.—l9b.

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[H. B. POTTBE.

297. I would like to know if that, has happened since October, or when you began to be short: when were these periods when you were short of boots ?—I cannot say which reinforcements were the first we were unable to supply with boots during the first week. My Quartermaster would be able to say from his books. 298. How was it that this shortage of boots came about? —I believe they could not get them. 299. Was it, before the " Trents " started, or was it, due to the coming of the " Trents "1 — I think that was one of the principal causes that we were so short, —the extra units ordered into camp. I could give you the units ordered in, and the dates. 300. Have you that on your sheet? —Yes; I will have you a copy made. 301. You are speaking from that now?—Y r es. These are the dates when these units arrived in camp. . 302. As regards this shortage of boots, had they not been ordered? How- was the supply of boots arranged—was there any one manufacturer wdio had the sole contract?—l do not know : that is done by the Department of Stores. We simply requisition for the number that we require. 303. To the Supply Department?—To the Stores Department. 304. That is in Wellington?— Yes. The Stores Department is notified by headquarters from the Chief of the General Staff. He notifies tlie Defence Stores of the total number of reinforcements going into camp from time to time, and he knows the number of pairs of boots required. 305. Properly speaking, the requisition for boots should be made some time before the reinforcements go into camp?— Yes. 306. In other words, the Stores Department has a certain stock which is kept up to that standard: when it gets notice that you will require more it has to requisition for additional boots to keep its stock up?—l cannot say as to that. You will get that from the Director of Stores. 307. Mr. Salmond.] Who is the head of the Stores Branch?—lt comes under the Quarter-master-General. 308. It is the duty of the Quartermaster-General to see that the Stores Department has sufficient boots, and if is the duty of the Headquarters Staff to notify the Stores Department of the number of reinforcements anticipated?— That is so. 309. Mr. Ferguson.] Then if there is a sudden decision arrived at by some power outside headquarters to increase the numbers going into camp they could not anticipate it?—No, that is so. 310. For instance, that 2,200 was never anticipated ?—No, that is so. We had 20 per cent, of reinforcements and 5 per cent, monthly afterwards : that was .the basis of the camp when it was first started. 311. The Chairman.] That was your standard, and upon that you were acting?— Yes, that would give us 500 men monthly to send away; but instead of that we have been enormously increased from time to time by different units'. 312. Mr. Salmond.] How many men have passed through camp in your time altogether? Does that show on your table?— This will show the number of the reinforcements, but it will not show the number of men 1 have had in camp altogether. That would be. roughly speaking, about seventeen thousand men who have passed through the camp. 313. Mr. Ferguson,.] Can .you tell us the mortality of that seventeen thousand men—the number of deaths while in camp, or as the result of being in camp?— The first death which occurred was on the 29th December, and I have them up to the 2nd July. From October to the 2nd July there were eighteen deaths from all causes. 314. That is, roughly, one per thousand of the men who passed through camp?— Roughly speaking, yes. 315. Dr. Martin,] Can you give us the disease from which each man died? —Yes, the names and diseases. 316. The Chairman.] We would like a copy of that. Why was that date fixed —2nd July? —That was when the new man took charge. 317. Will you complete it from your files for us?— Yes. 318. Mr. Ferguson.] I think we will want the normal death-rate in the camp, apart from this epidemic as the result of the insanitary conditions. We want to find out whether this camp was in an insanitary condition ? —I can hand you this return, but you must, have a more complete one later on. 319. The Chair num.] I see by this return of deaths that there was one on the 29th December, another on the 30th December, in Wellington Hospital; then, one on the 19th January in Porirua Hospital; and on the 2nd February there was a man killed as the result of an accident. On the 22nd March there was a death in Wellington Hospital; on the 17th April another in Wellington Hospital; 10th May, Wellington Hospital; on the 11th June, Wellington Hospital. Then, after that they began to be numerous—June 16, 20, 28, 29, 80. July 1 (two), July 2 (two)? — That is the epidemic period, 2nd July. 320. When it ended?—No, when it began. 321. But there are a number from the 11th June?— That was when we first started getting the epidemic cases. That is a return simply taken from my records. 322. Of course, the men will have taken ill before those dates. Have you anything in the camp in the nature of a hospital ? —Not a, permanent hospital. 323. Or a temporary hospital?— No. During that time a man was not allowed to stop in camp when he had taken sick, but was immediately sent to the Wellington Hospital. There is a hospital now under erection at the camp. 324. A sort of base hospital ?—Yes. 325. Then at that time if a man were taken ill at the camp he had to be sent in to the