TRENTHAM CAMP.

Taranaki Daily News, 22 July 1915, Page 4

TRENTHAM CAMP.

( OXTIXUATIOX OF F.XQUIRY, By Telegraph.—Piess Association. Wellington, Yesterday. The evidence given before the Trenthnm Camp Commission this morning (halt mainly with matters relating to "tores and the requisitions for blankets Cue of the witnesses, Robert Williams, accountant in the defence stores, stated' that the non-delivery of blankets oil May 2!) was due to error on the part or a storeman, who believed that there were suflicient blankets in camp at the time. \Y» investigation had been made of the statement that supplies in excess of requirements had been sent to camp. His Honor: Is there a periodical audit of supplies, to see what surplus there filiouhi he? Witness: Xot that I am aware of. His Honor: Would not such ail audit be desirable? Witness: Yes, I think so. In reply to further questions, witness said that the boot manufacturers wero now keeping pace with nil orders. Dr. Frengley produced a letter from the Health Department dated August 11, 1014, offering to the Defence Department, during the war, the services of officers and sanitary inspectors, especially for service in camps. Colonel Robin replied that they were not required at that time, but advantage would be taken of the offer if occasion should arise. In 3'Vbruary Colonel Robin approached Dr. Valintine on the subject. Witness di-1 not know what arrangement was made, but he was not awnfe of any Health Department officers being made use of by the military authorities, except that Dr. Jlakgill went into camp. There had been two cases of scarlet fever among the soldiers in Wellington hospital, but he had received no notification, though one might have gone to the district health officer. . A In reply to other questions, the witness said that when the first troops were being snt away eases of measles were found on the ships. Colonel Will asked him to arrange for the reception of these, and he accordingly secured the City Council's fever hospital. Then Colonel Mcfiavin, principal medical offi. cer of the Defence Department in Wellington district, said the men must go into hospital. Colonel Purdv supported Colonel MeCavin, and Colonel Will wisß<nl witness to take the cases. As there was this dispute witness said he would do no more in the matter.

IV. Martin: Then j-ou were anxious and willing to help, but could not ? Witness: That is the ease.

Hlh Honor said a correspondent hod Ktated that tents were not moved for h: >- months, and that this was not th*3 practice in England.

IV. Frenjjley said that he could not say ivlint had been done at the camp, but the tents should certainly be taken dowjj to let in the sunlight, and the flooring also moved to allow the air to circulate iteely iinderneath. Keferrin/j to Mr. 'jutes' criticism of the hut tits, Dr! I'reiifilev said it was the experience of ;-a iiit.oi'iimt doctors that eonsuiuptivg patients undcreoine tlie open-air treat""l contract catarrh or ind'l- | a-.a. unless it was introduced by \ colors. J

- bill "s i.';lVi' t nrtlief evidence repty-Frvi.yK-y. lie iii'eid that r.lte : I '' " K " 'a"iHd !m liiad and painted a " '•'■liaiit color. AI l.adys|iiii!i. dttrbot't 1 liar, a thousand men wove |i'" 'intlnellts. bill stlllel'l'd so much' !'<n inspiratory troubles that "tin lev/id' was abandoned. Mr. Hates do. ' """■ 'be lli»lit before tiie Finn -'" ■ "i.-ement s sailed one blanket' was a way Irom each man, and they; ■d' ,d in li ids with two. in„tead I.f three,' "M " 1 is Hardships ot that kind, ho ionl|.ided. Mas no preparation for active "ei'ii".-, but would ijive men pneumonia lha! V mild develop iu from it to ,'1(1 houw * • < t'j'.ia

| TWO .MiiKK JJKATIIS. A\ ollingtoil, I.USt Xijrllt'. ]ie!ore the House row • tit-niVfit ~Mn C. '.V. Kusscll „,skecl the Minister if lie • ! m.I any information about the soldier' [■■itients at Wellington hospital. Ho ]u,l '' eciced infornialion that two men had' :«-d and two more were dvinj,'. Tho •Minister said that he had not received! ivport on tlii' matter. '-'Veil after the House rose to-ni K lif,; "le .Minister for J'tiblic Health stated 'hat he had •rot into lotieh with • the .".•ihoritifs at Wellington hospital, and thai two men had died thev, 1 ' ! ""« h the fact had not been pi'ovjonsly ['■■l'orled to him. One patient. sntlVring 1:0111 cerebri. spinal meningitis, died tlii* I'llenioon, and the other, admitted as a patient, died yesterday. < Wellington, This Morniim. I he two soldiers who dinl in WellingV" 1 fr, "» meningitis in the last twenty. i"'ir hours are Trooper J)aniel Ketmv 'heme, ladoneiiif; to Templet...,, Christ- , who died at 11,10 p.m. en Tue,. '}' l y 111 \'"toria Hospital, and Private i imcan l'l-aser,. of. ,l\>kcno, near ,'\ne : ;- !pmt, who died at 12.4., p.m. on We,lms. d.iv in the general hospital. Their c! "' n iln ' not ascertainable this