THE TRENTHAM INQUIRY.

Gisborne Times, Volume XLV, Issue 3995, 30 July 1915, Page 6

THE TRENTHAM INQUIRY.

GS. DR, THACKER GIVES EVIDENCE. (.PRESS ASSOCIATION TELEGRAM WELLINGTON, July 29. To-day further evidence was given before the Trentliam Camp Commission. . .

j>. Newnham, assistant engineer in the Public Works Department, said the Government land at Trentliam was 400 acres Hat and 800 acres hilly , T-uo greater part of the flat area could bo used', only a small part being swampy. There, were approximately 80 tents to the acre. Ho was informed by Captain McOri.stell that, though the old latrines wore within the tent area, no tents had actually Invn pitched on thesite. Dr. Henry Thomas Thacker, M.P., said he was'a Surgeon-Cap tain in tho Reserve -of the New Zealand Faroes, lie contended, in the first place, that the military authorities had previously been warned of the possibility of an epidemic by an experience at Christchurch. The authorities knew that Trentliam was likely to be muddy, as it was for the winter races. They knew also that there would he a shortage of tents and they would have to rely on hutments, but they did not get the material on the ground in the dry weather, and eventually had to use damp timber. No provision was made for roading, whereas, if the- authorities had taken the matter early, they could have put down tarred macadam. Fog hung-very heavily over Tr until am. Had the authorities desired to avoid a great deal of mud, they might have put in a railway siding to thb camp. As far back as October and November, witness had troopers from Trentliam calling on him at Christchurch suffering from septic throats. On 28th June, witness continued, he vent- to Trentliam and met lour _stret-cher-bearers, who said they had just carried ail unconscious man from a tent to the kiosk. One oi tine stret-cher-bearers himself should have be n in hospital, Ids throat having been completely ulcerated. .In the tea kiosk were about 220 men in their own clothes with one or two blankets. Borne of their clothes were .semi-damp. Two-thirds of thorn luad sore throats. His Honor: Did you examine them? —-Yes.

Then you must have examined 150? —No: but you could tell from the way they spoke. Mr. Ferguson: llow many did you examine? —About nine, in dJlYniit parts of the kiosk. Dr. Thacker continued that everything was in a chaotic state. There, were no pillowslips, sheets, lavatory accommodation, bed-slippers, or hot ■water bottles. Witne-S looked for til ‘ patient who had been carried in, and found Dr. V Tguson shouting “in a super voice” to ask him if he had any pain, who he was, and where he came from- Witness found the man was semi-conscious, his brain partially narcotised. He concluded that he had either typhoid, pneumonia, or cerbro spinal meningitis. The man died tho next day. Swabs should have been taken of the throats and cultures onto in >d .

Ylr. Ferguson: How do you know that was not done?—The. answer given to me in the House was that the men had eolds and influenza. Cerebro spinal meningitis had been experienced in English camps, and mescal journals wich bad come to New’ Zealand had described the symptoms and treatment. The military medical authorities should have been placed on their guard and have watched lor something mere than influenza and

sore throats. Dr. Thacker said he saw no signs of proper feeding. There were three Bister nurses, who had arrived tile day before. Previously the nursing had been in the bands of orderlies, who did their best, hut did not understand the work. Air. Ferguson : Could they have got a nursing .staff together in,the time?— Certainly. It is not for me to say what they should' have done, but I know what- ! would have done. W hat they wanted were not expert qualified nurses, hut- capable women such as they have now. Tile means of transport for men suffering with, measles and incipient pneumonia was, witness added,, in open motor cars. His Honor: Do you consider that two doctors were sufficient?—No: it was impossible. They needed three to five more doctors. Dr Thacker sairl that- in the America n-Bpanish War men camjxxl on marshy ground slept in hammocks slung from the centre pole. He had suggested that that should have been done for tho men at Trentliam, and the Alinister for Defence, had replied : “I’ll send the men to the moon,” or some other idiotic remark. His Honor: 1 can’t let that go in the evidence. Dr Thacker: But it is important. The public should know it. His Honor: Well, I can't let it- go in tho evidence. The newspapers can do as they please. Dr Thacker: AVell, if the newspapers put it in, that is enough for me.

His Honor: This is not the place to make statements to the newspapers. Dr Thacker: I am not doing so. His Honor: You say that you want to make this statement public. Dr Thacker: No; I want to make it to you. His Honor: Well, we cannot take notice of your comment or what a Minister says in the House. Your observation may be perfectly justified, but it is not a matter for us. We will continue the evidence. On Tuesday, 29th June, witness said, he visited Victoria Ward, which was crowded with patients. There were three cases of septic pneumonia in the same ward as convalescent measles cases. Apparently the nursing staff was insufficient there also. He believed that at this time the honorary visiting staff were not doing anything with these cases, as they understood they were not wanted. Mr- Ferguson: How do you know that? —I was told by one of the visiting staff. Dr Thacker described what he saw on his visit to Berhampore. One of the principal inconveniences, ho was told, was that water had to be carried un to the main building. He inisi k men were put to attend on men who were laid up. Fordhain and Pollard were lying on stretcher beds under cold windows with ho arrangements for artificially warming the air. In pneumonia it was usual to have canopies erected over the patients -with facilities for sending medicated steam round. Dr Martin remarked that this was a matter of opinion. Other doctors did not do it. Berhampore, witness _ said, was. a cold, bleak place not suitable for sick men. Not fa- from the hospital there was a. beautiful now school and, had tlie authorities had initiative, they could have commandeered that building, put in electric wives, and very soon have had it very comfortable wan radiators. There was also a fine school at the Hutt, which could have been used for measles. The authorities, instead, tried to do with the minimum. At the lei os]? men who were getting up as convalescent were putting on boots which had been soaked through and not properly dried; also clothes not properly dry. Some of the nurses at Trontham had taken mbaslos and septic throats, which pointed- to the virulence of the trouble. SHr men who had been at Trsntbam said that the food was often very indifferently cooked. They seldom paw fresh vegetables. TV Thacker, .sold there should have been HOO.ot. shower baths in the on mb and, if th-w mnikl not be warm, they should be tep : d. so that, tho men con'd wash tbemro'vos. They had no f*> ml ft ids for w.rmVpg themselves at all If they could steal somo hot from the “diHc” it was all tnev could see. The Defence authorities

had sent to the front a large quantity of motor ambulances, but there had not been one in connection with the camp till the present disturbance began. , . . Dr Thacker expressed the opinion that the expenditure ot an additional £SOOO or £IO,OOO would have made all the difference between a state tumost of perfection anti the muddle that had been experienced in connection with the camp. two thou sand pounds would'have established a base hospital, the equipment of which was to have been given by the ladies of Wellington. _ The Commission will resume to-mor-row morning, and at 10 a.in. on Saturday will visit Trontham to take the evidence of soldiers there.