H.—19b.

2

and deaths there; and (3) what persons, if any, are responsible for such defects and causes. That covers, in a general way, the scope of the Commission. The advertisement will be inserted, but the Press may make a note that any persons who have any information to give to the Commission should transmit their names and addresses to the secretary of the Commission, either verbally or in writing: tho secretary may be found at the Supreme Court House, Wellington. The Commission will adjourn till Friday, at 10.30 a.m.

Friday, 16th July, 1915. Lieut.-Colonel Harry Roland Potter sworn and examined. (No. 1.) 1. Mr. Salmond.] You hold the rank of Lieutenant-Colonel in the Territorial Forces?—No, Temporary Lieutenant-Colonel, New Zealand Staff Corps. 2. And you are Commanding Officer at Trentham Camp?— Yes; I am the executive officer, the Camp Commandant. 3. How long have you occupied that position?— Since October 4. Who occupied the same position before you?—No one. It is the reinforcements camp. 5. The Chairman.] There were no troops there in preparation before October?— Not to my knowledge. 6. Mr. Salmond.] There were no troops at Trentham before October? —No, not when I took over the camp. 7. The Chairman.] There was just the site and some buildings on it: I take it that there were some buildings there?— Yes, belonging to the Rifle Association. • 8. What buildings were they, and what were they there for? —There were the mess buildings and the executive buildings for the Rifle Association's meetings. 9. No military equipment about the camp other than that? —No, none whatever. 10. Mr. Salmond.] What previous experience have you had in work of that kind?—l was Assistant Quartermaster-General of the Auckland District for eighteen months. I had the outfitting of all the camps. Then I was Assistant Adjutant-General of the Canterbury Military District for five years. I had charge of the arrangement, of every camp held in that district during that time. 11. Two or three camps a year?— Small camps, and the usual big district camps every Easter. 12. Any further camp experience have you had?— Yes; as Brigade-Major of the Wellington Infantry Brigade I had the arranging of the camp for the five battalions of Infantry for Sir lan Hamilton's inspection, and Camp Commandant, Awapuni, Main Expeditionary Force. 13. Have you the complete responsibility for everything in camp? Have you any responsibility for or control over the medical staff?— Not the medical staff, except as regards the discipline of the medical unit. 14. But for the medical administration of the camp you are not responsible?—No, I am not responsible for that. 15. The Chairman.] Who is? By what title is the chief in charge of the medical department known, so that we may identify him?—ln camp he is called the Principal Medical Officer—what we call the P.M.O. 16. He is in charge of the medical administration of the camp?— Yes. 17. Mr. Salmond.] Then the Principal Medical Officer is not responsible to you?—He is in a way. I hold him responsible, if that is what you mean. 18. But you do not control him? —Except as far as discipline is concerned. 19. If he were to grossly infringe the discipline of the camp you could expostulate with him ? —That is so. 20. The Chairman.] Supposing buildings were required for medical purposes, would the initial steps be taken by him or by you?— The P.M.O. would write to me as Camp Commandant stating that he required certain buildings, and T would immediately forward that on to the headquarters for authority. 21. What does "headquarters" mean as regards dealing with that requisition?— That would go to the Quartermaster-General's branch of the Defence Department. 22. Mr. Salmond.] Then, except with respect to the medical branch of the camp, all the rest of the administration of the camp is in your hands?— Yes, sir. 23. Is there any authority—a manual or service instructions—in existence as to the administration of military camps?— Yes; it, is laid down in Field Service Regulations, Part 11. 24. The Chairman.] That prescribes what are the duties of a Camp Commandant? —It gives certain responsibilities there. 25. Have you got a copy?—No, not here, but I can get a copy. 26. Is that Imperial or New Zealand? —Imperial. 27. And it is used in New Zealand?— Yes, it is the official text-book for New Zealand. There is also the Manual of Military Hygiene. 28. Mr. Salmond.] That is an official publication of the British Army?— Those are the official publications of the British Army, which we work under here. 29. What other permanent officials are there in camp besides yourself?— That is my staff you want: you mean the administration and instruction staff of the camp? 30. Let us have the administrative first, unless they are combined?— They are combined. The first is the Camp Adjutant. 31. What are his duties?—He is really my chief executive officer. 32. What is his name?— Major Noel Adams,