SICK AT TRENTHAM CAMP

Dominion, Volume 8, Issue 2503, 2 July 1915, Page 6

SICK AT TRENTHAM CAMP

EVIDENCE AS TO CONTROL COMMITTEE OF INQUIRY PROMISED DISCUSSION IN THE HOUSE Further reference to the care of the sick at Trentham was made in the House of Representatives yesterday .afternoon. The matter- was brought up by the Minister of Defence (the Hon. Jas. Allen) who referred to a letter in the "New Zealand Herald' 1 of June 29, signed by "A Trentham Soldier." He had had a reply to the statements contained in the letter in question drawn up by the Chief of the General Staff, in, consultation . with the Director of Hospitals, and the Camp Commandant. The statements contained in the letter and the answers were sot out as follow:— (1) "That at the present time there are over 600 cases in hospital at Wellington, otc." The actual numbers in 'hospital and their distribution were:— Other . Measles, cases. . Racecourse Hospital ... 12 241 Kaiwarra. 195 — Berhampore 21 — Wellington Hospital ... 42 32 Mr. Izard's 39 — Heretaunga Golf Club — 13 Mrs. Duthie's, Heretaunga — 8 ' Totals .- 309 294 . Grand total, 603. Of these patients Dr. Valintine states that there are only sevdn serious cases, of which five are in the Wellington Hospital, and two at the Racecourse. (2) "Lank of proper arrangements for medical inspection." At tho disposal of the medical officers for tho inspection of _ the sick which takes place twico daily, at 8.15 a.m. and 5.15 p.m., there are two large marquees which are used by tho medical officers. There are four large marquees in which the men can wait and there is a largo dispensing marguee. . There are generally four medical officers in attendance. For the past few days there have only been three, as one medical officer has been sick. It has been found possible to make arrangements for five medical officers to be in attendance to-day, and so long as necessity demands to inspect the sick twice daily at the sick parades. Captain Stout. New Zealand Medical Corps, Who has been in charge of the medical inspection for the" past few weeks, states, that,' although the mnrquees are provided for the men to go into' whilst waiting, they prefer to wait in the open. (3) "Six hundred and fifty men reporSed sick on Friday, June 25." The sick reports which are signed by th<y medical officers show that there were only one hundred and fifty reported sick on that date. (4) "On Wednesday there was no doctor in attendance." The sick reports of that date signed by Captain Stout and Captain Faris state that- the medical inspection took place at the usual time. . . . (5) "In every tent ?nd hut sick men are lying." This statement is absolutely false as no man who is sick is allowed to remain' in his hut or tent. Men w'ho are not fit for light duty are taken into hospital.- ' (6) Sick men In wet clothes." Every man has at least two complete changes of clothing and there is no reason why he should be lying in wet clothes,. (7) "The hospitals In Wellington are taxed to the utmost and can take no more." The Direcror of Military Hospitals, Colonel Valintine, is of opinion that the accommodation which has been placed at the disposal of "the military authorities in Wellington Hospital is ample for the serious cases,, which cases it is only proposed to send to the Hospital for treatment. (8). "Trentham Camp Hospital." As soon as the money was subscribed by tho people of New Zealand, the plans were got out u.t the earliest possible opportunity and submitted to the Health Department and other experts. Contracts were immediately let for the building of the hospital. The contractor is now behindhand with his contract, and is paying a daily forfeit. Everything possible is being done to hurry the' contract up." Orderlies and Nurses. In addition to the above statement, said Mr. Allen, lie had made 6ome personal inquiries, with the assistance of tho Chief of the Medical Staff. Forty 'men's huts were completed; five were under construction; and eleven had still to be. built, and fourteen. officers huts were completed. In view of the permanent increase of the Trentham camp, specifications for 15 additional '.huts were being sent ill; Further. 251 tents had been provided with floor boards, and 218 were without them, but the infantry from those tents were being moved into the huts. With regard to the placing of the orderlies and nurses, there were ten orderlies at sick parade; 55 orderlies, and five nurses, with four additional to go in, at the racecourse hospital; one orderly ' at the Heretaunga Golf. Club, because the cases were only slight; 15 orderlies at Kaiwarra, but no-nurses, as the cases were not serious; three orderlies and two rurses at Berhampore; three orderlies at Mr. Izard's house; and one nurse at Mrs. Duthie's house. LieutenantColonel Morice had been appointed P.M.O. at the camp, and took up his duties on Wednesday.. Dr. Thacker suggested that the report should be placed cn the table, and thought it was "up to the House" to let him make a definite statement. Tho Speaker said that no doubt the honourable member would have ample opportunities at a later stage to make a statement. Sir Joseph Ward suggested that it was a mistake, considering the present feeling, that the question should not be discussed. They should not burk discussions on the matter. No one wanted to say anything against the officers, but there, was a widespread Feeling in Wellington about the conditions at Trentham. Evidence of Experts Wanted. The Prime Minister (the Itight Hon. W. F. Masse.v) said he was prepared to go further and give every opportunity of inquiring into the conditions at Trentham by a special committee or otherwise. if there, was any blame, and he was not going to say there was, the blame should be laid on tho right shoulders'. He was prepared lo recommend his colleague to sat up a Parliamentary Committee. ' Opposition members: Discuss it ho re. Mr. Massey: The House cannot call evidence here. Discussing it now is no use, because we cannot get tho evidence of exports. I want the miblio ,to hear tho evidence of experts. He had had the opportunity of meeting many men at Trentham last Sunday, and had not heard complaints, He agreed that men had gone into the loose-boxes for shelter when a marquee was blown down, but that was all. There was no reason why tliey should display heat in approaching the question, and he said again if there was blame let the culprit, be punished. There hnrl been no "rbeeseparing" as far as the comfort of the enmp was concerned, but en gains from comfortable homes to

camp frequently took c.old; it was impossible to prevent it. But lie said again he was prepared to set up a Royal Commission, or a Parliamentary Committee to inquire into the condi--tions.

;Dr. Thacker was granted leave to ask the Minister of Public Health a question, and he asked if the Berhampore Plague Hospital had been the only site to send men to when they first got measles. There had been only a few eases at first, and there was a magnificent building at Oriental Bay on offer where the men could have been sent. TliO|Se "measles patients were brought in on a cold night, and • developed pneumonia. There were two men in the Berhampore Hospital with acute septic pneumonia. Tie asked why such a site had. been selected, a site absolutely putrid, with 110 sanitary arrangements. "Ir he can tell me why he sent them to that 'Black Hole of Calcutta,' I will be satisfied." In reply, Mr. Rhodes said that the houso at Oriental Bay was not under offer till a short time ago. He had had nothing to do with the selection of tho Berhampore Hospital, or with the measles cases till a few days ago. Mr. A. M. Myers asked whether the men in camp had two good pairs of boots now. Mr. Massey: We were informed at the camp on Sunday that every man was given a pair of boots 011 the day he came into camp, and a pair seven days later. Notloe for Special committee. _ At a later stage Mr. Massey gave tice that next sitting day lie would move: "That a Committee be appointed, consisting of nine members, to consider all matters relating to theprovision for the sick at Trenthain; the Committee to have power to call for persons, papers, and records ;i three to be a quorum." He would take the opportunity, he said, of consulting his colleague on the other side of . the House, as to the members of that Committee', and he would arrange-with the Minister of Defence that he should not go on the Committee, he being a party to the proceedings.. SOLDIER'S COMPLAINT. Mr. W. H. Stafford, of Ruby Bay, Nelson, called at The Dominion Office on Wednesday for the purpose of expressing his belief that the sick men at Trentliam were not receiving the. attention they should. As the result of inquiries, he considered that tho stato of affairs generally was far from satisfactory. Ho spoke feelingly 011 tlio subject being the father of a troopor now stricken with pneumonia iii tho Wellington Hospital, the medical authorities of which institution hold uut very little hope of his recovery. At the General Hospital, he states, he was informed that in some cases the men have been brought in from the Camp 60 far gone that they can do little for them. Had they been sent in a week sooner the position would have Been entirely different. He has visited the Camp, and speaks strongly of what ho saw and heard there. An officer informed him that there were 70U sick men on parade on a recent morning, and the authorities did not seem able to cope with the trouble. Mr. Stafford admitted that the question is a' big and troublesome one, and he has discussed the matter with the Defence Minister, but at the same time he claims-that the provision of adequate comfortable hospital accommodation is ou|y one of expense, and that should not stick up the authorities in s.uch a crisis. [We regret to have to record that since the above was written Mr. Stafford's son has succumbed to tho illness which necessitated his removal to tho Hospital.] AN IMPORTANT RETURN PROMISED. The House of Representatives on Wednesday afternoon carried the following motion by Mr. T. A.. H. Field (Nelson)" That there be laid before this House a return showing—(l) The total number of men who have contracted measles at the Trentliam military camp since January 1 last; (2) the names of all men 011 the strength at Trentliam camp who have died since January 1 last, and the cause and date of death; and (3) the names of all men whose deaths were subsequent to an attack of measles." In order to provide accommodation in the Victoria Hospital for Incurables for measles patients from Trentliam Camp, the twenty male inmates of that institution are to be removed to the large house on Clifton Terrace, close to the Terrace School, formerly occupied by Mrs. Henry Blundell. The residence, which is erected on a hospital ■ reserve, is being prepared for the reception of the men and the staff.