THE TRENTHAM CAMP

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXVII, Issue 53, 2 July 1915, Page 7

THE TRENTHAM CAMP

I Mr Allen made his promised state- ' ment in defence iof the management of 'affaire at Trentham camp in reply to a letter appearing in the Auckland | press, said to have been written by a I soldier, in which he alleged there were 600 cases of measles in Wellington .Hospital. The Minister stated there were only 309 cases. Twelve were at the racecourse, 195 at Kaiwarra. 21 at jßerharapore, 42 in the Wellington HosI pital, 39 at Mr Izard's house. Of these only seven were had cases,, and ! five of these were in the Wellington i Hospital and two at the racecourse. The official answers to various other 'allegations were read and Mr Allen proceeded to detail the accommodation provided for men as follows:—Men's huts.—Completed 40, housing 100 men each ; five under construction, eleven [yet to be built. Officers' Huts.— Fourteen have been completed, 251 , tents have been floored, while 218 have , yet to be so furnished. There are ten medical officers in the camp, while five I more are to come in. There are 72 'medical orderlies and 42 are to come i:i. In'addition, the staff of the medical ship have been in attendance upon J the 1 sick. The distribution of these I orderlies was as follows:—Sick parade |and dressing 10; racecourse 55 and five nurses, while four are yet to come in ; at Heietannga one orderly; Kawnrra 15 orderlies, no nurses being re'quired, there being no serious cases; lat Berhampore three orderlies .nd 'the nurses at Mr Izard's house; tluve orderlies at Mrs Duthie's house, a I one nurse. A complete system of I drainage had been prepared for the 'camp by Captain Jickell. Dr. Morice had been appointed to an important office in the camp, while Dr. Stout had ! been there some time. These facts were a complete answer to the allegations made in the Auckland letter.

j Sir Joseph Ward suggested that an opportunity be given for discussing the state of affairs at' Trentham and the Minister 3 report thereon.

The Prune M.iii'Ster sr.d he did l.ot wish to' prevent discussion. He was prepared to appoint a Royal Commission or a Parliamentary Committee to consider the matter and report. Hearsay statements could not be accepted. Evidence must be from experts. He was quite prepared to see that the blame, if any, should be placed on the rigflit shoulders.

I Dr. Thacker asked the Minister of .Public Health if the Berhampore fever Hospital was the only available place for just measles cases in that insti-

tute. Yesterday he had seen two men suffering from acute septic pneumonia.

Mr Rhodes replied that he had had nothing to do with the matter until a few days ago.