THE TRENTHAM INQUIRY

Gisborne Times, Volume XLV, Issue 4005, 11 August 1915, Page 2

THE TRENTHAM INQUIRY

ye-steiida.y’s Proceedings. (Proas Association Telegram ) , WELLINGTON, Aug. 10. Jno ITeiiliiam > Camp Cc minisdcm continued its sittings tin’s afternoon, •His xionor. ivir Justice l i asking, presiding. , R- P YY. Engiiieer-in-Cliicf of 'Urn Public Works Department, said a ln-tle had been done on the road leading up to the camp ami, at present, they were -forming tlic stivers in the ramp itself. They expected about iivu-imrds qf tho work to be done in a tout a fortnight and tho balance completed in three weeks or a mouth, a rant-ding to the weather. The streets void! fie kerbed and channelled. On the new hula they were putting ordinary fpouling, but to catch ’tlid water from the huts already created they wero making surface tiled channels hetween the huts. The water would bo led into the Trenfclmm si ream, wJiicli would bo d cepe j led l-u iniprovo the drainage. Twelve now huts for the men were being erected in wood, also one hospital inspection hut, ono mit for hospital quarters, and one small hut for orderlies attending on infectious cases. A drying-room, with which they were experimenting, would be finished in a weak. It was proposed to erect eight rooms when ’the model was finally approved. Ablution stands were also in process of erection

and 100 shower baths would ho built as soon as plans were approved. Eaves ventilation space was being ’sligiuly reduced, vents m tho ridge provided, and single windows put in. so that a bed need not be placed diroctlv under a window. Porches had not, been 'provided. .Separate messing accommodation was not being provided. His Honcr remarked that this v.as re ommended by the doctors who approved of a return to the camp. 'j he Solicitor-General said ’it had since been ascertained from the Imperial Government that mossing accommodation was not essential. The Government had to look at the matter from a practical m ini ef view. His Honor m'd it was for the Government -decide, tut the arrangement di-.i net ;:;;m-ar sanitary. Mr Holmes sr.id tli.itL sewage drains within tho living area were being piped and soul: pit . ••losod. new ones being opened at a greater distance. The soak pii.-: now were not satisfactory, a:s they were continually Hooded by tho Trenthain stream, but the stream was being deepened. This work would be completed in about two mouths, and if it were unsatisfactory another system would he adopted. He saw no reason why the camp should not bo ro-occupied by 4000 men. Dr Charles Macro Kh tor, ns_ a member of ihe Medical Board which recommended tho re-occupntion or Trenthain Camp, said he quite agreed with the report read bv Colonel Valinliny. ! j .’’ considered the provision of iiiirung accommodation an import- ■ matter, which should still roc ivo aLL-i tion. A sum of £2OOO or £'3ooo. would-Iw well spent in tlie provision of iiursiag accommodation. J.nnng for lmts. he did net consider, nec-cs-Mr Salmcnd asked Dr Hector. “Would you consider it dangerous to their health for Emm to have their dinner in ihe lint” '? —Yes. hecanse ir would lead to overcrowing and the contamination, of the atmosphere. Elec pine, accommodation ought lo he reserved for that purposeReplying to His Honor, the witness expressed the view that, to put o 0 or 70 men in a huL was overcrowding. • C. H. Ward, work's manager for R. Hannah ami Co., -‘fid., coni motors for hoot supplies, examined by Mr Gray, stated that in Aor 11 it was arranged that- 1009 pairs should he supplied uwry month for a year. The sample mo aided for a chrome upper with a vegetn’e-tanllod sole. 'ihe snhstit-u----iion of cowhide meant an improvement.. It was wrong to say that.the leathers used were porous. .i n A were the same as had been adopted K v the British War Dffi e. Y\ axed k’-p

bad been abandoned by ihe English authorities, after being used, lor 100 years. Ho know of ?u> loivliior toat would stand 34 hours exporiire without special treatment. J. Yv. Campbell, a. member ('■ Dm Advisory Board, recalled, desired to make .some remarks on the subject et the hutments. A great deal had been said on the use oi galvanised iron and it had been argued that it- war a most improper material to use without internal lining. Now, it had many advantages. Jt was non-absorbent. ' v “ ,! a clean, smooth, surface. It had few joints and was cheaper than any otner material. , Private Roy Clren Mated tmit ue was a. racecourse hospital patient on June 21st. Two days later Private Badger came in as a patient. they were afterwards at the kiosk, Badge! dicing on the floor next to him. Witness" had Iwo asporiu tablets arcer every meal ior nine had tho tablets also. _ A itners hac a high temperature, with influenza. He had to get up to go to the lavatory. , . Dr Frenglev explained various points that had boeu considered in connection with the hutments. -‘ lK '- v Jijkl not been placed e:i oclie.on on account of the prevailing noiaii-v'esl wind. The joining of two of them togetfier had also been considered in the same connection. ihe cubic t'paee available had been carefully marked out, but, on account of the infectious diseases which had broken out, lie was in favor of the reduction of men per hut to 39. Side men wanted more air space than healthy men, nod m view of what had occurred, -it wax as well to treat them all as sick. m this regard, if lie lmd had lus way ho would have had tho accommodation tho samo ax the* open air hospital at Cambridge. As to the iron rails, it was all important that they presented an aseptic, surface. Witness considered that the samples of air Rom the camp which had been analysed had not been obtained under fair conditions, as in one hutment the windows on ono side wore closed, while H 1 were only three men instead of dS lU ' in the tent. . ~ The Commission adjourned sms die.