TRENTHAM CAMP INQUIRY

Dominion, Volume 8, Issue 2518, 20 July 1915, Page 6

TRENTHAM CAMP INQUIRY

SOME SAYINGS EFFECTED

THE ERECTION OF HUTMENTS

BOOT SUPPLY SHORT

The Royal Commission of Inquiry into Trentliam Camp conditions continued its sittings, yesterday.' The Commissioners are: Mr. Justice Hosking (chairman), Mr. W. Ferguson, M.1.C.E., and Dr. A. A. Martin.- The Solicitor-General (Mr. J. W. Salmond, K.C.) represents the Crown in nentral interests, Mr. C. P. Skerrett, K.C., appears for those making complaints or charges, and Mr. A. Gray, K.C., for tliose involved in charges. The chairman announced that so far as they had been arriving at what might be called the general history of the matter, they would be the better able to understand Mr. . Skcrrett's witnesses after doing that;

Mr. Skerrett said that Dr. de Lautour would appear, as it was desirable to hear him, because it would give some idea of tho public criticisms of tho general arrangements of the camp. His evidence would be confined to that, for he did Jiot intend to deal with any of the medical arrangements made in connection irith.the outbreak. With regard to specific complaints, he had so fbr had only two, both from Christchurch, and it 'would be convenient to take their evidence on Friday next. There ; were also some officers suggested to him ivho might be desirous of giving evidence, and he had mitten to them, but had got no reply. Engineer-in-ChleJ's Evidence. Robert W. Holmes, Engineer-in-Chief of the Public Works Department, gave evidence that he had had nothing to do with the erection of the hutments at Trentliam Camp. It was in his Department, but apparently instructions had passed from-the Under-Secretary to his subordinate. t That would be an intimation to him that he was not to concern himself in the matter. Last Thursday the Minister of Defence instructed him to take charge of the work at Trentliam. As to the huts, he thought some improvement would be necessary to prevent draughts in windy weather. Some means of closing the openings on the weather side would be necessary. Tho huts would be a bit cold in frosty weather.

The Chairman : Did you look into the drainage scheme?—'-Yes." That had been under the charge of Dr. Frengley, of tho Health Department?—" Yes, but more particularly Mr. Jickell, of PalmeTston North, and Mr. W. H. Morton _ (City Engineer) had done something in connection with storm water. Witness gave his view as l to .the system which now existed. The collection of sewage from the kitchens and washing places seemed complete, Hut the disposal of that would give some further trouble, and that was being looked into. The soil was proper soil to dispose of sewage, as had been done in the past, but lie thought great difficulty would be experienced owing to the soil becoming clogged with solid particles. They had under' consideration a 'scheme for more effective disposal. Ho saw what had been dono as regards reading. Most' of the difficulty had occurred through it not being realised what was required to deal with such a largo' number of men.

To Mr. Ferguson: He had not had -time to examine the part of tho camp occupied by the tents, but as far as the drainage had gone it apparently had been good. As soon as ono soaka'ge pit became clogged another was dug. The Commission requested that a plan should be shown giving particulars as i to the area cf tho isites occupied from time -to time by the tents and the huts. ,

Dr. Martin: Do you tliink any young soldier would suffer any harm by sleeping on the floor?—"I don't 'think so. I liave slept on many a worse place." Do you think the huts should be lined?—"No; I don't think so."

Erection of Further Huts. Mr. Salmond: Are you preparing any alteration in tho huts?—"No; wo aro carrying out the scheme laid down. Twenty-two mora huts and other buildingsl have still to bo erected. Certain kitchens, otc., mid he thought a disinfectant house for clothing were to bo erected. A complete system of surface drainage was to bo put in. The whole of tho improvements, buildings, reading, sanitation, etc., wore to cost about £28,000. ■

When that work is done do you think the camp will bo in a thoroughly satisfactory state'? —"Yes."

What 'system of roading is being put in ?—"Ordinary town roading." ' Mr. Ferguson: Have you looked into the water supply?—"No; not yet." You have seen these pits and the soil ? -"Yes."

• Have you formed any opinion as to the rccent outbreak?—" No."

What is your opinion of tho camp site? —"I think it is a verv suitable site. Tho gravelly sub-soil is always looked upon ais necessary." ■ To Mr. Skerrett witness said that the Health Department were more concerned as to Whether one hundred was too many men to put in the huts. Ho had not considered any plan for smaller buildings. ■ He understood now that only thirty men were being put into each section of the huts.

The Boot Supply Contracts. Major James O'Sullivan, Assistant Quartermaster-General, Headquarters Staff, gave evidonco as to the requisitions for boots, otc. It was quite possible that April 10 was the date lie got tho requisition from Captain M'Cristall for the 2200 extra men of the Trentham Kogiment. The first order for the reinforcements came to, roughly, about 1700 men. ' Contracts were made about January for 2250 pair of boots per month, the contractors being R. Hannah and Co., Wellington, and O'Brien and Co., Christchurch. On top of that 1700 men,' the 'Maori contingents, the' 2200 men of the Trentham Regiment, and other additional units were sent in. The 2200' men of the Trentham Eegiment was too much for _ them. When lie heard they woro going in he tried to get as many boots made outside the contracts as possible, because the contractors could not supply for the extra, demand. . . .

The Chairman: 'As a fact, you didn't get, enough?—" And we liaven't got enough to-day, with all the factories in Wellington going—that was if tlio.v keep 7000 men going." Witness said that it was originally intended that the 6econd pair of hoots should have been issued a. week before the men sailed. The wet weather caused the change, but ho did not_ know that the regulation had been nltcred. The books containing the dates of the requisition and other data wero before another Commission, which was sitting. They could bo procured later. The Chairman: We want to find out quite clearly wliy _ the boots were not there.—Witness said that he would take a note and get the necessary dates. The Chairman: How ■ was it the blankets were not out for the men?— "The man in charge of the order neglected to send out part of-the blankets. His explanation to me was that lie had heeniii tho camp-and the storemnn said he had more blankets than were Weeded^

Did he report it to you?—" No." And you didn't know? —"No."

. Witness explained that when lie was communicated with that the blankets wero short on the Sunday lie hired a motor wagon, and ho and his accountant packed the blankets and sent them out.

Tho Chairman: Have you had other occasions when your subordinates acted on verbal instructions apart from you? —"No, sir." Well, we had better have tho evidence of that man (Mr. Sewell) tomorrow.

'Witness said that it was not correct that 500 uniforms had been returned to the stores because they wero illfitting. The chairman explained that the complaint was only to the collars on size 9. Witness said that tho Inspector of Clothing was to blame for passing the collars, which came out too higli. There was a fault in the make, and they had been passed by the inspector.

Creatly Increased Demand. Sir. Salmond: How many boots wero to bo supplied under the contracts?— 'Hannah and Co. 1000 pairs a month, and O'Brien and Co. 1250 pairs a month." And how, many men did you expect supply then?—"l7oo men every two months.*" Further firms had supplied since thc-n. They would be glad if utners came in. Tenders had been invited, and not one offer had been refused. His explanation of the shortage of boots was that they could not get enough. Were the boot's _ satisfactory _ m quality?—" Every pair is examined ntong3ide the sealed sample." . Were ihey complained about after being passed?—" There was some complaint at first." ' The boot now supplied r.-as more fully nailed, and had a toejilato. No complaint was made to the Department about the boots being unsatisfactory. You consider the clothing supplied was satisfactory ?— 1 "I do. - I think it was quite up to the English standard." Mr. Ferguson: Have you made any test as to the amount of. water the boots would absorb? —"No, sir." Is it done in England?—"l don't think so." ■ Witness promised to supply papers and dates called for, but said the difficulty was that many of them were at the other inquiry.

Alterations to Military Plans. John Campboll, Government architect, gave evidence that he was appointed one of an Advisory Board set up to consider the plans of a sample hut sent in by the Defence Department. They suggested a few amendments, and working drawings containing these suggestions were made. They considered the size of the huts, and did not think 100 men (50 in each division) was too many to put in them. The plans they originally received Wero for fifty men in the huts, with a space between. ' For economical reasons they joined the huts together, and saved one wall. / They- did not think the extra ventilation which the space between would have provided was necessary. They did not think lining was necessaryi The huts were supposed to take the place of tho tents, becauso the tents were becoming very olfensivo. Tho tents were not lined, and it was. thought the unlined huts would be quite as comfortable and healthy as the tents, The sample hut was not erected according to the suggestions made .by the board, and this was because a., rough sketch plan, by some mistake, was sent to the builder by tho Defence Department. Some of tho suggestions were not embodied, but they were all embodied in the subsequent huts. Tho board considered tho question of space between the huts, but while they lowered the height of the walls from 10ft. to 7ft. to lot moro air and sunshine get in between tho rows, they did not alter tho distances' Supplied by the Defence Department. Tho lowering of tho walls meant a large saving. Thoro was ample-free air spaco round each hut.

Question of Overcrowding. Dr. Martin: Do you think it was any hardship for a young'soldier to sleep on the floor?—" Not at all." Do you think there was any overcrowding.—"Each mail in the hut had 300 cubic feet, of air spaoe and 81 feet of floor space. In lie tents they had only about 60 cubic feet of air space and 15 feet of floorspace. To the Chairman: Ho prepared the plans for t'ho Trentham Hospital. The plans and specifications wero put through with all haste, and did not take more than three or four.' weeks. Tho same Advisory Board discussed the plans. Tho personnel was: Dr. Frengley, Health Department, Mr.' W. H. Morton, City Engineer, and himself. They had reason to discard the plan submitted by the Defence Department. The isolation ward had four beds. In the main ward there wore ten beds, and two singlo rooms had single beds. They received no suggestions or plans for the hospital from the medical profession. The erection of tie building was .not under his direction. Part of tho building was wood lined, and part plastered. It would have been better to have it all plastered, but they did not consider it necessary to plaster the passages or nurses' quarters. No special medical advice was taken - as to tho operating-room, because it was represented to them that only minor operations would be performed, there. He did not think it was intended to have' operations for appendicitis there. The room was in no way designed to meet a serious surgical operation. The .plans were completed on March 29, and two months wero allowed for building. It was about a mouth before tenders-came in. Tho contractors were very much behind time. Ho could give no reason for the delay. So far as surgical requirements were concerned,' Dr. Frengley was to advise after erection of tho building. There was no room in the building for sterilising. To Mr. Salmond: In. preparing the plans of the. huts the board iacl before them military manuals as to tho ventilation and area, He could think of no improvement to the huts. He did not- think there should be a means of closing up the ventilators. It was designed so that they should not ho closed. There should be no foul air in the huts at all. There was cross-ventilation, and should be no need for ridgervcntilation.

A Small Air Space. Mr. Skerrett: Did the Advisory Board make any inquiry as to the military practice in the erection of liuts and barracks?—"Wo did not. The plans wero Submitted by tho Defence Department." Ho could not remember the exact area that was laid down for the erection. It aeemod to him that tho space was sufficient for fresh air. and the air in tlie huts was almost like outside air. Mr. Skerrett: Do you know that the air space is one-half of the regulation laid down for barracks?—" Yes." Apparently tho alterations mado by the Advisory Board wero in the .nature of cheapening -tho construction?—" Not Altogether. We increased the window space, and put in a wooden floor in place of the platform laid down." Did the Advisory Board consider that what was being done was the erection of tho military town in a very small space?—"Wo never imagined there were 7000 men there. We received instructions, to provide l uts for 3500. There wero 4000 men in camp then, and tho number was increased to 7000." Witness liad no observations to make on tlio fact that there wero 7000 men on a small area of land. To Mr. Gray: Tho huts were never dosigned as permanent barracks. The men would not occupy them during tho dav, except at meals. The Commission adjourned till 11 o'clock this morning, when Dr. Frengloy and Mr. Morton will give evidence."