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opinion that the nursing included ventilation?—So far as my recollection goes there was no difleren.ee of opinion at all amongst members of the staff on that point. 5022. This record shows, does it not, that the different matters were allotted to the different members of the staff to bring them before the Trustees at that conference ? —Yes. 5023. And that was done ? —Yes. As I said before, I do not remember what was done in the matter of special wards for special cases. 5024. Who were to take charge of it?— Dr. Batchelor and Dr. Lindo Ferguson were to take charge of that particular matter. [Here witness read a list of recommendations by the staff, and added :] These matters were taken in detail. The lying-in ward was abolished and the children's ward substituted, and the room downstairs was altered and made a padded room. 5025. In reference to the padded room, was that looked on then as being fit for the purpose ? —Certainly, it was better than it was before, but for all that it is an inhuman kind of place. 5026. The Chairman.] The children's ward was provided ; is it satisfactory ?—I do not think so. It is better than nothing at all, but it is a mere shed. 5027. Mr. White.] Has it not been admitted that the operating-theatre was a very great improvement ?—Yes, and I still think it is a very great improvement indeed. 5028. Are you aware that the question of the operating-theatre was discussed by the staff, who agreed to place it first among the improvements?—l am not clear on that matter. I know there are several members of the staff, myself included, who would have had the nursing before the operating-theatre. 5029. I will just read what Dr. Batchelor says on that subject eighteen months ago, just shortly after the conference: " What did the Trustees do? They then said to us, we admit that the reforms are necessary : point out what you consider the most essential and important reform ; and we did what I now think showed great want of tact: we suggested the operating-room as the most important reform." —However, that is not my recollection ; but I cannot remember what was actually said. lam quite sure of this : that if the question had been put at a meeting of the staff at which I was present, as to which of the reforms vye should take first, I am clear that I should have voted for the nursing being put forward as the most urgent reform required. 5030. The diseases of women were not discussed ? —That is so, but I have no clear recollection about it. I think it was more in reference to the cases that wanted separating from the other cases for their own safety as well as for that of others. 5031. You have already referred to abdominal cases, and what about the gynecological cases? —It may be included or involved in the operations for opening the abdomen. Of course there are more of such cases among women than among men. 5032. You thought that the question of ventilation would be covered by the question of nursing? —I thought at the time that it was included in that, though these reforms were not to be final. None of us thought that the Hospital would be perfect, if even all our suggestions were carried out. 5033. Then as to the walls, floors, and ceilings. Take the walls first: what is your opinion about them ?—I do not know that there is much to complain about in them. Ido not know much about the walls. 5034. And the floors ?—They have certain disadvantages. I am bound to say, however, that I consider the danger has been very much minimised by the very excellent plan which has been adopted of clearing-out the wards in rotation. No ward, I understand, is allowed to contain patients for a long time, and there is always one empty ; and the patients from the various wards are shifted into it in turns, while their own wards are being renovated. This is a special excellence of the Dunedin Hospital, which deserves to be called attention to. 5035. The Chairman.] Then you approve of the fallowing plan?— Yes, I do. 5036. And you think it minimises the danger ? —I do not mean to say it absolutely destroys the possibility of danger. 5037. Mr. White.] And as to the ceilings ?—I cannot say that I have paid very much attention to them. 5038. Are you including in your remarks both the construction of the medical and surgical wards ?—Yes; I think the present arrangement minimises it, and I should be sorry to see it omitted. 5039. And as to the waterclosets ?—I think they are very bady arranged. 5040. The Chairman.] In your remarks about the closets you include the lavatories and baths ?—Yes. 5041. Mr. White.] Have you ever smelt anything offensive from the closets when visiting them occasionally —or have you visited them often?—l have visited them often. 5042. Have you noticed anything objectionable?—l have noticed a bad smell. I think it is impossible it should not exist in the present situation of the closets. In one of the tower wards I have noticed a very bad smell indeed. 5043. That is, in the lock hospital?— Yes. The arrangement there is partitioned off. 5044. It is different to the other wards ? —Yes ; I complained of it some years ago. 5045. In fact, the closet is in the ward, is it not ?—lt is practically in the ward ; it is on the opposite side. 5046. The Chairman.] In using the closets in these wards, then, special care must be taken with them ?—Yes. 5047. Mr. White.] You were a member of the staff when this report was sent in to the Trustees. It is known as Dr. Jjindo Ferguson's report?— Yes. 5048. Most of the witnesses have said that they know nothing about it. Is that the case with you?'—l was an active participant in it. 5049. You take exception here to the square space, the cubic space, and the capacity of the