TRENTHAM ENQUIRY.

Taranaki Daily News, 23 July 1915, Page 4

TRENTHAM ENQUIRY.

V i'.STKRIHY'S .PKOCIvEHjXm Ey Telegraph.—Press Association. Wellington, Last Xight. In 1':: course of further examination, Viilo,ic I I'iirdy staled that one of the tick mi a had died of acute phthisis. IV. Martin: lie had been admitted into t!-o army with tulici'eulosTs! Colonel .Purdy: I'roba'bly we have, had coveial cases admitted with Incipient Inheicnlosis. 'I In: Chairman: The examination is not too thorough sometimes'; <'<ii-:n.-'l I'nrdy: Oh, yw, it is. Thia , ;-,e loilowed measles, 'I lie Solioitor-dcncral askee? if a man r. ho had died on one of the transports n-.is an orderly in the Berhampore Hob-Mfi-i'.cant Yallup. nf the Ambulance '.'lorj-.s, was questioned in regard to this 'i.M, a,id stated that the deceased wag tot an orderly at the hospital during the Cue- witness was there, from June 1 to the IHIi. Colonel Purdy, continuing, stated thai the man died on dune 12, and nad been fonci i'l'ii" his condition in order to get r.vav. In regard to the reported overcrowding of llerhampore Hospital, the greatest munfhrr of patients in the inrtitiition on one day was 1114, on June .'. The overcrowding was not so serious as it, looked, because many of the men were not ill. On April 11 he rang Mp the Health Department, asking for its help to linil a building to accommodate measles cases. Xo help was given li'in. but he was told "he could do it Vi;;-seH' very well." He had mentioned IV.hampore. On dune 2, when overcrnwdiuf,' had oecurred at Berhampore, '..lie -medical stall' established live maripieeß in the eiinip. Up to June 1(1 he "as in -ole charge of the Rcrhanlpore llc.-pilal, and up to June 20 he was in sole charge of the medical treatment. Xo one had died who had hail

any connection with the Berhamipore institution. I'p to .June 10 there 'was no daily medical inspection there, but civilian dni'tors were called in when required. The crty engineer, Mr. W. H. Morton, had helped him in the arrangements at .Tlerhninnore. and the city did everything possible. t i:r. valixtixe'S position. In answer to the Solicitor-Genera], r'oli.net Purdy said that Dr. (Colonel)' Valint'nc commenced to exercise his duties ni Director of Military Hospitals practically from June fl. The .Solicitor-General: In what way did that affect your position as director of medical services? Colcnel Purdy: Tragically not at all. Do yen mean yon have the same, functions now as before Colonel Valintine's appointment? (Minus the camp. As a matter of fact, the arrangement that is now in existence H ■prortieallv an arrangement I made In n;u.

Then am I to understand that yon have no longer charge of the Trcntbam eruv.'p? ' ' . ' Nothing to do with the Treotlwu. caniip at all. ' . ( . ;,, . ITavc you anvthing to do' with any of the hospitals? . y.o; except indirectly. The arrangement, lie explained, -was laid down that the. Director of Military tlcsipitnls should make all arrangements fr.i- the sick at Trenthara camp; also nil arrangements for hospitals and convalescent homes, for the sanitation of the crimp, for the vharge of the camp hospital, provision of accommodation ior r;icl< outside Trentham canvn, and arrangement* for accommodation in hosf.'itnls and lionvcß (or sick on arrival from abroad. "Does that mean." the Solicitor-Gen-eral asked, "that von have no longer any n nponsibility in regard to hospital it sick men?" " That is so." Colonel Purdy replied. The Commission adjourned till to-mor-row.