THE TRENTHAM INQUIRY.

Gisborne Times, Volume XLV, Issue 3985, 19 July 1915, Page 5

THE TRENT H A M INQUIRY.

SATFRDA Y’S PROCEEDINGS. (Press Association Telegram.) WELLINGTON, July 18. At inf* T rentham camp inquiry yesterday. John I). Loach. District Engineer of tin- Public Works Department for Wellington, said he had been, in charge oi the work undertaken by h:s Department at Trentham camp. T!r- Department was first asked to erect two sample hutments at the end oi February. That was done immediately. and t.he dc-agn was ultimately approved with modifications. The Fngim'e,--in-Ch:er was not consulted. An Advisory Board made the modifications and witness received ids in-stna-tioi s from tile • Cnder-Stsretary. The modifications were in regard to iess-inirig the draught under the eaves and at the bottom of the walls. He would not say that there was too much air space, but the trouble was that the men wore sleeping on the floor. On 20th March they were instructed to invite v-nders for the construction of the huts. Tenders were received on Bth April and decline-!. it being decided to do the work by day labor. As soon s-s this decision was < ome to. materia! was secured and tin- work put in hand. At- first one was erected etvt'v two days, aid by the Bth- July 4-4 had been completed. Captain 'I houuis Mcßisl'eli (Camp Quartermaster at Trentham) said hi? Department attended to the equipment and feeding of the men in camp and camp sanitation. Regarding the shortage of boots, the witness said there had been no difficulty in the issue of tiie first pair* cf boots, exeunt- when extraordmarv "12” or

"13” was wanted, :ls in the Third Reinforcements, but there had been delay at times in issuing the second pair. The Second Reinforcements came in on .six weeks’ notice, but there was delay in obtaining tin second issue of boots, which, t-lioug requisitioned for, had not come to h :d. His Honor asked witness to ob ;::n the exact dates on which be requ's.tioned for stores and on which t- ey came to iiand.

Captain McßKteii stated that t $ last oi the second lot of boots tor t e--2200 mm came to hand on Bth JulyHis Honor: Are there any ot-h*. r stores that In tv not come to hand h Yes : the- blank* ts for the big body did not come. \Ye managed to ~-t over the difficulty by getting the blankets from town. Asked bv Honor whether thodrainage was satisfactory, witness pointed out several detects. There was a great deal of mud and silt got int» the various manholes. Grease an i silt- also escaped from the cages ar. . got- into the soakpit. It was fonn . eventually—what could not be uu\seen —that the soakpit was not adequate- for the purpose, and a new one had to be constructed. Grease traps should have been constructed at a sufficient- distance ironi the cookhouses to allow the water to cool. One was in course of construction when tiie cam}) broke ip. _ He had complained verbally to the Commandant and also to the Public Y*orks man. who was opening up tire drains. Each set of huts or cook-houses should have its own soakage, he considered. Tiie soil all round was good for drainage, with splendid gravel. _ There were soak-pits in use now which had been in use m October, they were cotered bv manuka xascincs so that they could be inspected front time to time, and had proved quite satisfactory. After some examination by Dr. Martin, witness said that- be hod never made a report in writing of defects in the drainage, but he had mentioned the matter to Col. Morice and Dr. Finch.

To Mr. Ferguson: At ordinar- times ins staff was sufficient for the work. No request ot his for assistance -tad betui refused.

To Dr. Martin: He had not inspected the drainage with the medical officer. At first witness used to go round with the sanitary officer, but it took him five hours, and he had to send tho quartermaster-sergeant. To Air. Gray: Everything went all richt in connection witli sanitation up t<f ‘29th May, when defects came under his notice. tie mentioned tin in to the medical officers. Captain McCjistell said that- there was a sufficient supply of clothing, apart from boots- In the early days the construction of boots was unsatisfactory, but that had been remedied. On one occasion 500 uniforms issued through the Store Department wore returned to him by the OX. the lrentham regiment. Ihe Store Depaitment stated that- the uniforms were all right except as to size, and the majority of the uniforms were suhse(iiiontlv reissued to the unit. Lieut. Philip N. IVtiy, Supp.y and 'Transport Officer, stated that the quality of the food was good, and aiiy individual complaint of shortage was o'cucrally found to be due to mistake" There was no ground for the suggestion that fruit and vegetables sent to the camp as gifts had not reached the men. Captain AlcCriMcll (re-called) was asked if he had seen statements m, the press that men had lam in then tents neglected. ■ , Witness said some ot tlie statements were true, but they were not true as to sick men lying m the tent--, t heonly men ho knew to be lying m tho tents were those who had been gue.i wliat was known ns “light duty . Tho Commission adjourned till lu a.m. on Monday.