TRENTHAM COMMISSION.

Taranaki Daily News, 28 August 1915, Page 5

TRENTHAM COMMISSION.

NO WHITEWASHING. By Telegraph. r Press Association. Wc'liiiglon, Last Night. (By Telegraph—Special to Daily News.) The report is an exceedingly lengthy anil detailed document, and it was laid before the House without having been printed, so that members an.l reporters had to share as best they could the original type-written copy. ' A study of the report under the conditions was a matter of difficulty, but your correspondent was able to gather in a hasty ■perusal that it certainly is not tho "whitewashing" effort that some people had expected. The Commission has becu carefully guarded in its statements, and sometimes it has wrapped its meaning in many words, but the report undoubtedly confirms many of the charges that were made atiinat tho Defence Administration a month or two ago. It appears to justify cverythine that was said about the camp itself, though not about the canui .site, b- Dr Thacker when he first veutilatcd the subject in the House. The essential part of the report is contained in the following questions and answers, the questions 'being taken from tho Commission's order of reference:— "Whether due care and clßcicnt measures have been at all times taken to prevent, or minimise, such sickness or morItality?"—"We say that due care and 'efficient methods were not at all times jUaken for these purposes." "Whether an ortiicfent system, for the I treatment of the sick nt all times existled in connection with the eamp.'V-'W* answer in the negative.'" The report refers to faulty organisation, to overcrowding, to inefficient solitary measures, to the absence of efforts to 'check infection, and to ft lack of hospital supplies. I