THE TRENTHAM ILLNESSES

Gisborne Times, Volume XLV, Issue 3977, 9 July 1915, Page 4

THE TRENTHAM ILLNESSES

NUMBER OF CASES. INTERESTING PAR LIAM EXTAR Y RETURN. Bv Telegraph—Special Cm respondent. * 'WELLINGTON, July 8. A return presented to the House today on the motion of Mr T. A. 11. jrield (Nelson) showed that 714 men had contracted measles at Trentham camp from January 1 till June 50 last. The largest numbers on any one day were 20 on May 31. and 25 on June 21 From June 10 till June 20 inclusive the numbers on the various da vs respective! v were as follows: ]fj, 19, 15, 20. 18, 25, 23. 23. 20, 17, IC. The following men died between January 1 and June 30: Privates J. Clarke (septic pneumonia), J. Keating (peritonitis), J. Wall (acute mania), F- J- (ki.led), A M. Brennan (epistatm), P- C. Baker (stoppage of bowels), and the following all of pneumonia and measles: Privates F G. Har.sa.nt, 8. Coley, A. N. Al--Farlane, PL AY. Oliver, J Munwa., A Matheson, I). Bar tlett, H. A\. -L Stafford, J. AAk Pollard, Driver 3. Kennedy, Lance-Corporal E. H. I milips, and Lance-Corporal H. H. I-or<r-ham.

questions in the house. SHOULD THE SITE BE SHIFTED ? INQUIRY BEING HELD. (Press Association Telegram., "WELLINGTON, July 8. In the House this afternoon, Dr Thacker gave notice of his intention to introduce the Alilitary Camps Bin. Sir Joseph AV'ard said it had been rumored that horses at Trentham camp were suffering from strangles and mud fever. He desired to know if the Government had received any report on the subject. Air Allen said no such report had been received. The horses were aD in exceedingly good condition. Sir Joseph Ward said he also desired to ask the Government whether, in their opinion, it was desirable to have another camp apart from Trentham. There was considerable anxiety about the state of health of the men in camp. His opinion was that the camp should be stinted, .and there should be a camp for bot-n islands. Air Allen contended that Trentham was perfectlv healthy and that anything that could be done was being done* to check the epidemic. Sir Joseph Ward asked, why voluntary contributions which had been made towards the hospital at Trentham had not been expended anti why the hospital had not hen established r | Air Alien replied that a contract for | the building had been let, and i* ! should have been finished on June 2* - | It had not been finished by the conj tractor, who was being fined for every | day the building remained lneompieti ed. He was making an inquiry as ! to whether it would not be advisable to take the work out oi the contractor’s hands.

Air Massey, speaking on the subject of Trentham camp, said anxiety was well-known to exist in tnat connection, no doubt due to the spread of, disease, but- when bon. members talked of .shifting the camp, they did not appear to take into consideration all the work that had been done there. Trentham was considered to be a healthy spot, its six feet or gravelly soil .making it particularly adaptable for drainage. It had been recommended and adopted, as a camp site many years ago, and no objec- ; tions had been raised during all that time. Other sites would require to be roaded and drained. There ryere many excellent buildings there, ana he was informed that electric light. was about to be -installed. _ As to mud, it was impossible to avoid it. It had. no doubt, contributed to the spread of disease, but he was glad to say it was rapidly disappearing. The first consideration, however,' was the health of the men. A_n inquiry would shortly be held, by a Royal Commission and another inquiry was being held to-day to decide whether Trentham should be retained as the site of the camp. If it was found desirable to shift the camp, that would be done at the earliest moment irrespective of the cost. AYith resard to the Royal Commission, the Order of Rnference would - be made as wide as possible. One of the matters to be inquired into would be. the best means of preserving the health of. the mea : in camp, as well as the origin of _iko | present epidemic. The inquiry would ! be open to the press. | Dr Thacker asked upon what terms i the hospital ship A*alieno bad been j acquired ? i Air Alien said the shir had Seen | hired from the Union Co. on very favorable terms. j Air Poland asked if sick soldiers i were allowed to communicate with their friends ? Air Rhodes said soldiers suffering from infections disease were not allowed to send letters to friends, but he had arranged that a man should be specially charged with the work of writing such communications. CAMP TO BE MOVED. COAfAIENCEAIEXT TO BE AIADE TO-DAY. DIVISION OF THE MEN. SITES- NOT . ANNOUNCED, CXly Telegraph—Special Correspondent.) WELLINGTON. July 8. The important announcement that the Government has decided to shift the Trentham camp was made by the jßrime Alinister late this evening. “The Government have decided ti* shift the camp, and a commencement will be made to-misrrow morning, said Air. Alassoy. He said that he was tumble to say to what site the camp would be moved, because the camp would be divided and he was not in a position to say where the different divisions would be placed. “T think,’’ he added, that it will all be in the North Island. This is all i can say at present.'’ * Speaking in the House in the afternoon, the Defence Alinister had referred to a preliminary inquiry by a committee of military and medical experts into the state of tilings at the camp. The report of the committee was received to-night, and the resu t was the decision of the Government to move the camp forthwith. Air Alassoy was asked if he cork! say whether the whole of th* camp was to remain in the AYellington d” trict, but he stated he was unable to answer that question at present.