TRENTHAM AS A CAMP SITE

Dominion, Volume 8, Issue 2538, 12 August 1915, Page 6

TRENTHAM AS A CAMP SITE

(To tho Editor.) Sir,—l am not in accord with those who, to judgo by their criticisms, seem to think that Ministers should be experts in everything and anything under their control, and foremen of every undertaking, and I think that the Hon; James Alien should not be blamed in the slightest for the mistakes or errors of judgment, if any, which have occurred in the past in connection with Trentham. But after the evidence which has been tendered to the Royal Commission. I think that Mr. Allen will have to accept the wholo responsibility if he again assembles a considorablo body of men at Trentham, and another outbreak of disease follows, even though medical men and scientists pronounce the place theoretically suitable for a largo camp. In matters of this kind an ounce of practical common sense is worth a pound of scientific theory. The evidence of two witnesses before the Commission, if weighed by the measure of common sense, should damn Trentham for evee as a winter camping ground. The first witness, tho Commandant in c'nargc of the camp, stated that they. were much troubled with fogs; in fact; at times it was difficult to see men for drilling purposes. The Rev. D. C. Bates said that fogs were prevalent at Trcmthflmi "in the evenings and in the mornings.". (If so, they were probably prevalent during the nights also.) , Both common sense and practical experience point out that a foggy locality cannot bo as healthy* as a dry one. Damp harbours germs of all sorts ; suii and air in motion dissipate them. Fog is a proof of dampness. . Goitre ,is known to prevail in comparatively sunless valleys. Among the Maoris bronchitic conditions are very prevalent among the foggy valleys of the Wanganui River and such places, but aro not so noticeable among the dwellers either on the uplands or the seaboard, where a maximum of sun and air in motion is obtained. Letters from our boys at Gallipoli attribute the splendid health of the New Zealanders there to the fact that they get lots of sea bathing. Why not give the Reinforcements here the opportunity to harden themselves up by the same process. To suggest that it is not practicable to (Jo so is futile. From Paekakariki to Patea there are innumerable camping sites, within easy distance of the sea, and served by railways. No fogs (except sea fogs, which are less injurious) plenty of sun and wind. If the Minister would only obtain, tho services of one or two common-sense civilian. surveyors to pick out. suitable sites, without' any regard to the wishes of those who are influenced by business or social conditiono, he would, I fee! sure, get better advice than he has had. up to tho present. . .. To revert to Trentham again. < No farmer would crowd ten sheep to tho acre on a paddock without change, because he knows that were he to do so the laud would soon becomo polluted and disease would break out. 'How much more necessary *it must be to have a change of ground when 4000 men are congregated on, say, 40 acres. Why, the expectoration alone from tho 4COO men would soon pollute the ground unless the. site was exposed to prevalent winds and got lots of sun. _ The prevalence of fogs proves that this is not tho case at Trentham. —I am, etc., case NATIONALIST. p g —For training in marksmanship tho sea makes an effective background. Therefore no difficulty should be encountered in finding suitable ranges..