THE SICK PARADE

Dominion, Volume 8, Issue 2505, 5 July 1915, Page 6

THE SICK PARADE

SYSTEM REORGANISED, Statement by hon. jas. allen. "The sick parade list lias gone down considerably to-day," said the Minister of Defence (the Hon. Jas. Allen) to a Dominion reporter yesterday. There was a peculiar, epidemic of influenza, continued the Minister, which the doctors said did l not arise from the camp, but had been brought in from tlie outside. It has been spreading from man to man, but was not so bad now, and they were going to stop the spreading. The' epidemic was not confined to the camp, , for it had been spreading in carious other parts of New Zealand. As far as the boots were concerned they were going to make every effort to get every possible pair in New Zealand, but the difficulty in the past had been the supply. Most inen, however, had a second pair, or had a pair of their own. As far as tlie second uniforms were concerned, there were some men without a second uniform, but they had enough to supply all the men in camp, except about 200. However, it had taken some tini3 to got them distributed. The men were allowed to keen their own clothes, and they should have done so when they went into camp, to guard, against wet uniforms. To provide drying facilities at mie camp, a large marquee was being erected, which would contain braziers. If these proved a success. in drying tho uniforms, others would be put in. The tents from some of tlie worst wet places in the camp were being removed, and the men from other.tents would go into the huts which, were about complete. "lleally," said the Minister, "I don't think anyone should be frightened about the camp itself. This epidemic has not arisen from the conditions in the camp, so the doctors tell me. All the hospital arrangements, I think; are quite satisfactory. A splendid body of nurses are there, and the orderlies ore working well. TJiey do want more medical men, but these will be in camp in a- day or so. "With regard to tho sick parade, notonly I, but the staff themselves, realised that in view of the 'larger number of men in camp, and on account of this epidemic, which caused large parad'es, it was necessary to reorganise the sick parades. That reorganisation was done to-day, and there is no reason now why any man should have to wait more than half an hour before ho gets ovet tho sick parade."j THE TRENTHAM CLIMATE, DR. 'A. K. NEWMAN'S VIEWS. Dr. A. K. Newman, M.P., makes the following statement as to the climatic suitability of Trentham as a camp site: "Some critics who have once only visited Trentham' have declared the climate at Trentham bad for a camp. As - the matter has caused grave anxiety I wish to state a few facts. I have visited and known Trentham most- intimately during the' last 30 years, and liave some knowledge of military - hygiene. The climate of tho district is particularly fine, clear, cool, and bracing. There is no .great summer heat, and in -winter it is far warmer than in any placo in Canterbury or Otago. In summer it is far cooler than Hawko's Bay, Taranaki, or Auckland. ;. "My long and close knowledge of the whole of the Upper Hutt district 1 has taught me that it is . particularly healthy ; the resident population is exceedingly healthy. In winter the hills at- the Hutt Gorge shelter the district from much of tlie fierceness of the cold, wet soutli-easters. It is often fine, and the sun at Trentham shining when it is raining and damp in the City of Wellington, which statistics show is tho healthiest city not only in New Zealand, but in the whole of the_ British Euipiro. "The greatly prevailing wind—from tlio west—blows constantly and fiercely, thus blowing away all foul vapours. The camp is, as it should bo, broadside on to the prevailing wind. "Wellington peoplo have built many fine residences in the district where they live all tho year round and come into the Citv to work._ Would they havo done this if tho climate wero-bad? Many go thero expressly for tho sake of the fino bracing climate. "All military authorities aro agreed AU»i.AojivtM cinuU ho Kill It cm o ravfillv..

stony subsoil, with very little surface black soil. The C\amp is built on soil excellent for the purpose. Tho rainfall varies from SO to 55 inches. "Other matters will come before a Parliamentary Committee, and thereforo are not now open for discussion, but I thought some roply should be made to theso unjust criticisms on the climate.'-' THE SUPPLY OF BOOTS. STATEMENTS BY,THE MEN. „ ' i Statements as to tho supply of bomQ .to the Trentham Regiment nave been made to representatives of The Dominion by men ill the regimuit-. One man says that ho and his mates havo been in camp five weeks now and have had only ono pair of boots issued to. thein, and these are never dry This man says it is impossible to dry wet clothes ill the hutments as the men are-strictly forbidden to hang their garments up. Another man describes as "absolutely untrue" the statements that one pair of boots was issued to tho men on arrival at Trentham and another pair in seven days, and that they were issued a complete change of clothes. This man says that if Ministers will examine the issuing cards of men in t-hj Trentham Regiment-they will see how long it ia before a. change of clothes is issued. A non-commissioned officer who 3ias been over three months in camp stated in reply to inquiries that h ehad received only one pair of boots,, and another non-commissioned officer replied that he had beou two months in and had so fa* been issued only one pair of boots. WHAT OF THE RAGES? MEETING OF THE WELLINGTON CLUB'S EXECUTIVE. . It is understood that the question of postponing the ' Wellington Racing Club's Winter Meeting in view of the call /upon tho club's buildings for hospital accommodation at Trentham has engaged the attention of the executive, which met on Saturday to consider arrangements for the meeting, and will meet again to-day to finally decide tho' matter.