TRENTHAM CAMP.

Taranaki Daily News, 28 September 1915, Page 8

TRENTHAM CAMP.

THE COMMISSIONER'S REPORT. DISCUSSED IN THE HOUSE. By Telegraph.—(Press Association. Wellington, Last Night. In tiie House of Representatives this evening, Hon. Jas Allen moved that the report of the Trentham Commission be laid on the table and referred to the Government for consideration. Dr. H. J. Thacker said that in the report they had the full expounding of the views of the Commission and of the evidence submitted. He 3aid that there was not one man of military fame on the Commission, and mentioned that Mr. Ferguson was a harbor engineer, with a strong Wellington bias. Dr. Martin was highly qualified for a seat on the Commission, and had shown his independence by adding a memorandum to the report. He contended that the findings of the Commission had not been labelled on to the proper shoulders; also that Cabinet had chosen its own jury with the result that the verdict was "not proven." Beferring to the Minister of Defence, Dr. Thacker contended that Mr. Allen had been overweighted with three such large portfolios as those of Finance, Defence, and Education, and the medical side of the camp's equipment had been neglected. Men had become devitalised through too close confinement and want of proper sanitary conditions. He maintained that weak spots still existed in the camp. He considered the complaints against Dr. Purdy unfair. Discussing the Pensions Board, he suggested the appointment of an experienced woman who would prove verv helpful. r ' Dr. Newman said that mistakes were still being made at Trentham. The curse of the camp was delay; nothing was done in time, and the men were still in want of baths. The recommendations of Surgeon-General Henderson had not yet been given effect to. The men were too crowded, and there was too much dust. He was afraid they would have all kinds of summer diseases unless Sur-geon-General Henderson's suggested reforms were carried out. He also urged Ministers to keep a watchful eye on Samoa.

Mr. J. Payne complained that a certain medical man had been prevented by the Minister from disseminating practicable knowledge amongst the men in camp.

Mr. T. M. Wilford said he had determined not to refer to past mistakes, tat to demand that any recommendations made by Surgeon-General Henderson shall be carried out. They would tolerate no more, of what he termed the "cigarette" policy, under which men for Samoa had to pay duty on cigarettes and tobacco which had never paid duty. Mr. C. H. Poole said he did not desire to embarrass the Government with any hostile criticism in view of what had been done. He recognised that many improvements had been effected, and he hoped there would be n 0 further cause for complaints.

Mr. C. Parr defended the personnel of the Commission, which he considered a very strong one. He could only regard the report as an official record of blunders at Trentham, of muddling and ineptitude, but deprecated any flogging of a dead horse. He did not think the Minister would flout the recommendations of Surgeon-General Henderson, Mr. T. A. Field (Nelson), commented on the fact of new troops being introduced to Trentham while disease was already there. He considered that dependents of men who lost their lives at Trentham were entitled to receive every consideration.

Mr. J. Payne supported this view, and thought Dr. Thacker should receive every credit for his attitude in regard to Trentham.

Mr. J. Escolt held that the report showed that the medical equipment and attention at the camp were unsatisfactory.

Hon. Jas. Allen, in rcplv, defended the members of the Commission, which had not been appointed in a hurry, but after tonference with the leader of the Opposition. Ho was sorry that a man from the Royal Army Medical Corps had not been appointed at first, but the question of expense had to be considered. He considered that training men for difficulties they would meet in warfare was necessary, and he would hold himself criminally responsible if men were not inured in camp somewhat to the hardships they would encounter on a battlefield.

Dr. Thacker: They don't want mollycoddling.

Hon. Jas. Allen acknowledged the valuable work performed by Dr. Valintine in connection with the camp. Hot baths were ordered at the beginning of the camp.

Dr. Newman: Then why are they not ready? The Minister: Because other more important work had to be done.

Continuing, Mr. Allen said he had now received a report that they would be ready this week. There was a difference of opinion about the lining of the huts, but in any case more necessary work had to be carried out. As to the Sanioan troops, the reports were that the men were in first-rate health. Regarding the dust evil, this was not an unknown difficulty in camps. He quoted from the report to show that due attention had been given to the sanitation at the camp. He intended to propose an amendment in the Defence Act making provision for dependents of those who had died in the training camps. He said that the Fourth and Fifth Reinforcements had teen so well trained before they left the Dominion that they had gone straight to Gallipoli from Egypt. The motion was carried, and the House adjourned.