THE TRENTHAM INQUIRY.

Gisborne Times, Volume XLV, Issue 3984, 17 July 1915, Page 4

THE TRENTHAM INQUIRY.

COMMANDANT OF CAM I* IN '*llh WITNESS BON.

DETAILS AS TO THK ARRAXGEA IE NTS.

camp slightly overcrowded c TOWAHDS THE END.

CPEU3S ASSOCIATION TSLtGLAM.) AVELLINGTON, July Hb The Commission or Inquiry into matters .concerning Trontham camp resume A its sittings to-day. TheUmi mission comprised lias Hoiioi Mr Jmtice Hosking (chairman), Air >' - t 'iguson, and Dr- A. A. Alai tin. 'J‘he Solicitor-General (Air. J. " • vSalmond. K.C-) attended to assist the Commission. representiTig the Gaov.n in the neutral interests. Air. C. » ■ .Skerrett. K.C.. appeared to represent the interests of people -who had complaints or charges to make. Mr. AGray. ICC., appeared to represent the interests of people who might be m-

'°AJr. Skerrett said he understood it was his dutv to prepare and puree - fore the Commission matters of complaint. These would probab.y tarnthe- form of individual ana specific complaints having a bearing on general matters. T . q'h.e first- -witness called was Lkhk.Col. Harry Roland Potter, Camp Commandant at Trontham. His previous experience in the arrangement and control of camps was as assist-aru quartermaster-general in the Auckland district for 18 months, when he controlled camps under Genera! Davies, afterwards a.-, assistant adjutantgeneral in the Canterbury district for Jive vears. He arranged all camps as Brigade-Alaior for the Wellington Infantry Brigade. He arraiigwi nve camps of infantry for Sir lan Ha muton’s inspection. His control or tne medical section of the camp concernedthe discipline of the mrdical sermon. IDs Honor: If a building were roli"wVtiiess -. The 1’.A1.0. would forward that on to me and I would sena it to headquarters. , . ' Who would be responsible lor that .' Witness: The Qua rtermaster-Gene-j-a 1. ii it- concerned buildings. To the Solicitor-General j The mccru t .'al and sanitary control of camps was laid down in field service regulations, part 11. ‘ • , xHis Honor: Is that Lmpenal oi'Aftx Zealand? Colonel Potter: Imperial, the orncia! handbook for New Zealand. '['lie number of men in camp at- the time it was removed was <OOO. Tho lowest number at- any time was 2000. and the average since the 3rd Remi foreements was 4000. Hie men were i in camp for about four months, an-., during that time had a week s clear leave "ai home. General leave was granted after the first week—3o. p.r dent, on two nights and lo per cait. on ouch other night. A man neon not necessarily .continue in camp fm a week or mors without any leave. 'Pile Soliciu'f-Goii' ral: D' you consider the ar.r s u'.lt' i mit r Witness ~it would have beeu il Ihero had been .sufficient bi.ik.ings. Colonel Potter subsequently stated that tlm area would not have been sulii-ieiit had there been only t-ents. T.u; ic ppis .sufficient with tents and buildings.

Tile Solicitor-General: Do you consider. a> a matter of fact, the e.imp has L> on ovt rcrowded f Witness: 1 don't think it Was lean overcrowded for tin; time we have had it, bub it would have become so it wo had remained there for any length of time. For temporary purposis and under the circumstances it was sufficient., but it was not the intention to keep 7000 men there all the time. 2500 were to go out in August. Colonel Potter said he wax not in favor of lints. lam m favor of tents with floors; but with the winter coming on and because the weather is sometimes very bad, the powers wore advised to put the men in huts. The camp was arranged for 20 per cent, of reinforcements and 5 per cent, monthly, so that- 500 could be sent. awa v each month. That number had been enormously increased and at short notice. The camp water supply was obtained from the hills and laid out throughout the camp. It had been analysed and found excellent. The supply had always been sufficient and satisfactory. ’Complaints had been made about minor matters regarding camp sanitation. Surplus food was taken away two or three times a day. The rubbish was burnt in incinerators. No refuses was leftlying about, two men being<|fppointed from each squadron or cjfcxvny in addition to a camp quaiwcfmaster’s fatigue. After the Second Reinforcements embarked permanent latrines were constructed. Before that there* had been the ordinary trench system, a new trench being dug each day. They abandoned this because of the limited! area of ground. The site of the old latrines, which had not- been used for. some time, were fifty yards away from the nearest tents or huts. The liightsoil was buried deeply each night in a field at the rear of the camp. The latrines were washed down twice each day with disinfectant by thicCsanitary police. The horses were kept in a special paddock on the other side of the road from the camp.