TRENTHAM CAMP INQUIRY

Dominion, Volume 8, Issue 2536, 10 August 1915, Page 6

TRENTHAM CAMP INQUIRY

THE RE-OCCUPATION WHAT THE BOARD OF DOCTORS DECIDED THIRTY MEN PER HUT THE CAMP FIT FOR 4000 MEN The Trentham Camp Commission, consisting of His Honour ilr. Justice Hosting, Dr. A. A. Martin, anil Mr. W. Ferguson, continued the hearing, of evidence yesterday. Tlio Solicitor-General (Mr. Salmond) stated that he would put in two files regarding the' huts and the camp hospital. His Honour remarked (hat the first reference to huts appeared in December, and tenders for. their erection were not invited till late in Marcli. Mr. Sahnond said that if it was suggested that there was any unreasonable delay, ho thought the matter should be more fully investigated, as it appeared to liim from tlio file that there had been no delay. Lieut.-Colonel Morice, principal medical officer at Trontham camp, gave evidence, in the course of which he said tliat his appointment dated from Juno 20. On July 7 the sickness had increased so much that tlio doctors became suspicious that thero was a serious complaint in tho camp. Special advice was obtained, and on tho following day the trek from camp commenced. The witness remarked that tho Sixth was a very healthy body of men.

His Honour asktd if there was any chance of infection from the liacccourso Hospital. Witness: No. There is plenty air space all round. His Honour (speaking presumably of the cerebro-spin.il meningitis cases): 1 understand there is 'an. objection to removing some of these patients; it is not considered wise to rcmjvt them. Witness answered that some of the patients could not be moved; it would bo inhuman to move them. He added that tho patients seemed to be improving just now. One man whose condition was looked ui)on .is hopeless on Sunday was so much improved 011 the following day that there was hope that ho would recover. Witness said that he had suggested soparato huts for dining in, and now that there were plenty of huts this idea was being given effect to. 110 thought - tho huts should be lined. They were too cold. His Honour: Has anything been dono re lining the lints? Witness: Not that I know of. His Honour: Are there new huts going up? ■ Witness: Yes.

Improvements Being Made. • His Honour: Do you know if they aro introducing improvements? Witness: I believe they aro. His Honour: Who is in charger Witness: Tho Public Works Depirt"witness thought the huts were placed well for the sun to act upon the ground between them. ' , . . His Honour: Aro the new huts put up in the same direction? Witness: Yes. His Honour: Somebody evidently seems to think things are quito right as they S ''llrl'Skerrett: Perhaps they don't think 8 The'question of the method of sterilisation was raised, and Colonel Yalintine asked permission to interrupt and state that it was considered possiblo to instal steam sterilisation and that the question was being 'gone into. Dr Martin said that he had been given to understand through previous evidence that wet sterilisation by formalin it as preferred by the camp medical men to steam sterilisation. Colonel Yalintino said that_ ho was merely awaiting tho Commission s dccisioii before going further with a scheme for steam sterilisation. His Honour remarked that a board ot medical men had decided that the camp might be resumed, at anyrate so far as the question of sickness was concerned. Huts, he understood, were going up. and roads were being .formed. He did not. reflect upon that, but it did not seem as if it was necessary for anytmne to depend upon tho finding of the Commission. . „ . ' ~ Colonel Yalintine: I was awaiting th® finding of tho Commission to see if ire are to use the racecourse buildings. ' . His Honour said that that would only depend 011 tho Commission's saying that tli© camp should not he rgoccupied. Commission was not called upon to mention the racecourse hospital. Colonel Yalintine: Then I may go on making arrangements? His Honour: I don't say that. In answer to His Honour, witness said there had been sufficient doctors in camp since he had been there, but the doctors hod at times had to work long hours. Dr. Martin inquired the present state of the measles trouble. Witness said that there had heen only one case of measles last week.

Dr. Martin: Has any case sent fro& camp to hospital in the last twenty-one days developed cercbro-spinal meningitis? Witness said that on July 31 a case which was a. suspect was sent to hospital. The man had been in camp for same time. Dr. Martin: Do you consider that Trentham Camp at the present time is free from measles? 1 am asking that in view of tho troops coming in. Witness said that there bail been threo cases of measles in three weeks. Dr. Martin: Is the camp practically free from an outbreak of influenza? Witness: It is practically free now. Any influenza cases admitted in tho. last threo weeks?—"No absolute influenza. Only throats." Can von give me the number of Eors throats" sent during the last week from camp to hospital?—" Thirty-four new admissions; as compared with eighty readmitted as sick men coming back and taken in for observation." Trentham is "Very, Very Good." Have any of the thirty-four developed other illness?—" Speaking from memory, I should say no." Have any been seriously ill?— iNo. . When was the last sick parade .'-"This morning." How many paraded?— I did not see it; but there were very few." Well, yesterday?—" Two at tlio last evening parade, and four at tho morning parade." „ Out of ho\y many mm?— Five or en hundred." Hie Honour said that it was a matter in doubt whether it was within the 6copa of the Commission to go into tho question of tho safety of bringing troops back to 'lYenliham Camp. However, the Commission was concerned with the suitability, of the site, the equipment, and the sanitation of the camp, and he put this question to Lieut.-Col. Morice: "You have been in charge there sinco Juno 29. loir know tho medical history of the camp from that date. Would you undertake to say, in view of the criticisms that have been passed upon the habitation ot the men, and on the huts, and on tho sanitation and drainago (iu which yon concur), that it is a safe thing to bring.m bodies of troops to tlio camp? It is rathes mi important question." ■Witness:' It is a very difficult ono . to answer. Time alone can prove. But im-, provements are being carried out, and rathe time the men come in on tho 23rd tha samp should be in a- satisfactory state. nis Honour: Do I understand that you : have no objection to the site and the climate?—"lt Is not perfect, but it is very l( Then it is the added, or artificial, conditions, such as tho question of sanitallWhen theso artificial conditions, wliicK are now said to bo defective, arc remedied. you think it will bo safer- For a considerable number ot men, but not so many as before." «rri,- r . How many do you suggest.-- I**™ were 7000 before, and that is far t00 ( many. About 101)0. . . ~ II is Honour asked if, in view of thefact that tlie present huts bad not pr<M vented an epidemic, it would tea P™- 1 dent step to have the huts lined at once. "Witness said ho iv.ul alway& tin gukxl. Dr." Harrison, one of tlio camp medical itniT expressed tho opinion that Trentham could safely accommodate 4000 men, if not more than thirty men were placed in a but, and the present medical precautions were continued. Dr. R. Stout, another camp doctor, said that he was not prepared to express an opinion on the question of the wisdom of reoccupying Trentham; he had not gone into the question. . Colonel Valintine. tho Director of Mill-' tarv Hospitals, was recalled, and examined respecting the report of the Medical Board which was set up to ascertain itTrentham Camp was fit to bo reoccupied. Tlio board consisted of Colonel V "]"' tin . a (president), Dr. Frengle.v (Health Depaitment), Professor Chaiuptalovip (State Bacteriologist), Mr. Hurley (State Bactenoloirist), Dr. Hector, and Dr. Harrison. Di. frubv King, also, was appointed to tlio Board, but lie did not reach Wellington in time to take part m the Boards ln-l-esti"atioiis, but lie afterwards concurred-, in the Board's report. The Board met at 1 "S'sXond: TL'Board's report was m all respects unanimous? Colonel Valintine: lea. Air Salmond: Now, tho first question tho Board had to decide was whether the camp would be available for occupation by 2000 men (the Sixth Reinforcement) oil August S. What decision did the Board come to? . . Colonel Valintine: They came to tho conclusion that tlio Sixth could como back un August S. t Tlio answer in the Board s repoTt was read, vlt showed that the Board agreed:, to tho return of the men providing precautions to prevent tho spread of diseasa wero taken. • ■ "'No Objection to the Gamp being Occu-

pied." Mr. Salmond: The nest question submitted to the Board was whether thn camp would be fit for occupation "by. 2000 wen, to go into 'camp on August 15, the camp being vacated bv tho Sixth on the previous day.' That 2000 would bo tho Eighth. Also, whether the camp would bo available for occupation by a larger number of men by tho beginning of September.. Colonel Valintiue: Th« Board decided that provided certain details with regard to the improvement of tho sanitation of tho camp wero. carried out, there would 'be no objection to that number copiing into the camp. The Board decided: "There is 110 objection to the camp being occupied by .4000 men, provided the following important details be attended to: (a) thorough'disinfection of the whole camp (b) Not more than thirty men be put in each hut; (c) the provision of messing

accommodation; (d) the provision of stretchers; (o) the improvement of the \ huts as regards the exclusion of draughts; (f) the improvement of the roads; (g) tho improvement of the surface drainage; and , .(h) the improvement of the sanitary arrangements generally. His Honour: Messing accommodation meana separate from, the sleoping apart- , ments? "Colonel Valintino: Tes. Mr. Salmond asked wliat the Board' decided respecting cerebro-spiual meningitis. . Colonel Valintino: Tlio Board decided that provided there was 110 case of cere-hro-spinal meningitis prior to embarkation -fchore was no reason to delay the departure of tlio Sixth Reinforcements, and if prior to the departure a very strict inspection was mado of all the men. His Honour: That is not a question which comes before us. .< Mr. Salmond: Did you concur in all those recommendations? Colonel Valintino: Absolutely. X may say the board was unanimous. His Honour: What are ttie_ facte as regards cerebrospinal meningitis in tho Sixth Reinforcements? Colonel Valintine:'Sinco tho distribution of tho camp there has been one case, an<l that has not been absolutely verified. That case died under suspicion, at tlio Dannevirko Hospital. His Honour: Was ho a member of tho Sixth?

Colonel Valintine: No; of the Seventh. Dr. Martin: Wbero did he camo'froni? Colonel Valintino: From Waikanae. Mr. .Salmond: Was there any amongst tho. Sixth? Colonel Valintine: There was one case under, suspicion, a Russian, and the general opinion among tho medical officers is that it was mot a case of cerebrospinal meningitis. . I saw tho man yesterday, and' he was quite ireM. His Honour: There were two'factors you-had io consider. First, the necessity for some effeetivo training place for the troops who were, apparently, to be sent away; then there would be tho expense and impossibility of providing' a camp for their training even for the time before the reinforcements went away? Colonel Valintine: Tes; if New .Zealand was to fulfil her obligations. . His Honour : Then, on the otlier hand, 1 hero was the possible, effect on the troops if they were to be brought there? Colonel Valintine: Quito so.

Health. the Paramount Consideration. His Honour: -Whicli, did you consider as paramount, tho health of tlie troops, or- the need for getting men away. Colonel Valintine: Well, the fact that the board was composed almost \ wholly of medical men shows that we were considering ffie health of the troops as para-mount-to the Imperial obligations. His Honour: That may be sol But can yon say if it was so? Colonel Valintine: It was,so. Asked wlmt had been donb at tho camp Colonel Valintine said that the camp had been thoroughly disinfected, and provision had been' mado that not more than thirty men would be allotted to a hut. His Honour: Aro there/beds provided? Colonel Valintino: No. Stretchers have been chosen, and some, I think,'are out there; The improvement to the surface drainage is going' on very rapidly, and also, the improvement in the sanitary. ar- ; ' rangem'ents. No arrangement has been . made for separate messing accommoda- ! tion, and I understand . none is'.to bo made unless it is insisted upon. His Honour: I don't know who is to insist upon. it. . . . We could lecommctad that there should have been this pro-vision. • Has Honour: We propose to ask' tlie engiieer-in-chief to come and say exactly what is going on now. Would he be the man to tell us? Colonel Valintine: Yes; and Mr. Hiloy. His Honour: Ok—ae to the railway siding? ■ ' '

. Colonel Valintine: Yes. His Honour: . Since that report was made by tho board on July 13 you have had- experience of the health of the : campl' Do you see any reason to modify thoss views f . ; Colonel Valintine: No. I feel .quito. confident there is no reason to make th« board feel they didn't come to a right decision. His Honour:. Would that 'decision involve this: thiat theso men , may bo brought back into camp whether. they are Well or ill? , Colonel Valintine: i : No., I _ don't think there is any fear of a sick man being broiight' back into camp. . Mr. Ferguson: Notwithstanding, .thlat a, man : lfft Waikanae, and- before he got . to Dannevirke h'o was in a state of collapse? ■ Colonel Valintine: Yes; that is so.'That man" had been inspected. This disease sometimes develops anddonlv, but not ■usually so quickly as that. I have heard sincn that that man was concealing his • condition. , ' His Honour: Do you know where those contacts in Dunedin came from? ' Colonel Valintine said that their leave began on July 16. It was decided not to grant any leave for three days after the meeting of the board; on July ,13. His Honour: Was examination made . before they went on that leave? Colonel Valintine: I am confident an examination was made of all. those men going on leave, ' • His Honour: Then how can you account 'for carriers being found to 'be carriers afterwards? 1 Colonel Valintino: It may have developed after their leave, but tho nrobability 5s they had the germ in their throats when they left, His; Honour: Then it would I .seem that it .is. not discoverable at the time they ileave.

Colonel Valintino: It is ; very difficult 'to discover. Professor CKamotelouo is making Pome exneriments with civilians, .because it is believed thisgerm is to be 'found in the throats of tlie civil population. His Honour: Have any carriers been, idiscovered iu Wellington? Colonel Valintine: Yes, 'undoubtedly. 'Wo havo discovered some at the camp. They are under observation.

i "No Ground for Alarm.' Colonel Valintine said that it. seemed •to him. that there was no ground for alarm; no need to think, that there was going to be a spread of tho epidemic. His Honour: I suppose one may look 'at it from this point of viow: that, knowling the trouble, you are in a better position to deal with it? • Colonel Valintine: Yes. Wo feel more ,confident in dealing with it now than we. •did a month ago. i His Honour: May the pneumonia which i existed' there disappear ? i Colonol Valintine: It is omnipresent, jtoi it is when the vitality is lowered that ■It gets into the lung. . Mr. Salmond: Assuming there are to be MOO troops at Trentham, are you satis[ficd they will bo quite as safo there as in l*ny other'place in the Dominion? Colonel .Valintine: Quito as safo— ■safer. .

, Colonel 'Purdy, Director of Military Services, proceeded with his evidence in rejply. He said that the criticism based on jthe assamption that there were 600 men ; [camped to the acre fell to the ground, v " ijbecauso there were novcr more than 400 'imen to the acre.... He had been charged Tvitii failing to send reports of grave sickness in camp, but that was not well i'founded. Up till the timo of tho epi'demic of measles thero wore never any icase3 of grava' sickness. Tho authorities iwore never short of equipment; the Minister gave him a freo hand and told him Sto spare no expense. They wanted tor ■nothing. As to the provision of accommo•dation for sick soldiers, he was quite j willing to accept any blanio for want of iforpsight; but he really thought ho could liava done no more than he accomplished. It was easy to be wise after tho event, i Dr. Martin asked what Colonel Piudy 9 lemnneration was. | Colonel Purdy said that his honorarium fwas ,£l5O a year, and his pay as a colonel ion active service would be between .£BOO and <£900 per year. Since the war he had ireceived altogether about <£800 in rcmun j eration. The Commission will resumo to-day.