TRENTHAM CAMP.

Taranaki Daily News, 23 July 1915, Page 7

TRENTHAM CAMP.

T'JIK ROV.'VL OOMMISKIOX. By Teleg.-aph —Press Association. Wellington, Yesterday. The 'priricipuL witness examined hefore the Trentham Camp Commission to-day was Colonel James Kobcrt l'wdv, Xew Zealand Medical Corps. Director of .Medical Services, who said that in August, 11)14, his appointment cast on him responsibility for all details in connection with the whole of the military fortes in Xew Zealand, whether under training or not, including equipment, appointment of medical oiricers and general supervision of hospital camps. (Six doctors were appointed, and witness proceeded to give the qualifications of the first inen appointed. ■His Honor remarked that he did not think it concerned the commission much what happened in October. Colonel il'urdy: Hut it has iheen 'alleged publicly in the press that we appointed men who knew nothing about .sanitation.

, His 'Honor: Then, i u that case, it is important. Colonel Purdy said he "ad never been in a position to reply to these charges, tie had not a great choice, but tiie men appointed were all excellent, ami had proved good men since they went to the front. They 'were 'Doctors IMullop, 'Simpson, Sinclair, Widdowson, Harvey and Abbott. Some of them had previous military experience. When he took charge he laid out the camp and supervised the arrangements personally, and with the medical ollicers. Colonel dhirdy said that, the health of the camp was remarkably good, a record for the world, he thought. There had been only tw 0 deaths attributable to the state of the camp. In a period of eight months, puttTng through nearly 20,000 men, from October 20 to June 10, they had only six deaths. There was not a single death in the -2nd K.»n>'e-i-.:,.. ments camp. From the number of deaths, he claimed that for eight months the camp had 'been the healthiest in the world, and certainly in Xew Zetland. Of seven deaths, "onlv two were from disease.

TXis Honor: Out it is not so much 'i matter of deaths. What trouble did you have with sickness? Witness: Very little. ■EVERtTHJXG BEING DO.YE.: \ Wellington, -Last Night. hcpl.ving to the Hon. D. Buddo in'. t!«e House of Representatives this afternoon the Prime .Minister said that he could assert with eonlirience that everything medical science could suggest is' bein* done for sufferers from ccrebro si'in.U meningitis at Trentliam. He wished the public to understand that this was n tact, and he hoped that with more favor, able conditions as to sunchinc the trouble would soon be over.