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the beds, as the report says, still too close for the health and comfort of the patients ?—I think that the last paragraph of the staff's report has not been altered sufficiently. The whole matter is a very difficult one, and we cannot expect the Trustees to jump at conclusions all at once. We must give them time. 5211. You have been very anxious, have you not, to settle the whole matter so that there should be no friction between the Trustees and the doctors ?—-I have. 5212. That was one of the principal reasons you urged why Dr. Batchelor should withdraw from the Commission after initiating it?— Yes. 5213. Did you not, in a letter to the Daily Times, say that it was a matter of " paramount importance" for the safety of the lives of the patients that these reforms should be carried out? — Yes; but I also say that if we want to have these reforms carried out it is absolutely necessary to obtain a better feeling between the Trustees and the staff. 5214. Suppose you had in hand the making of reforms in the Hospital, what would be the first thing you would do ?—The first thing I should turn my hand to would be to ask for a report from a sanitary engineer as to the siu'tability of the site. That seems to me to be the first question requiring determination. 5215. What do you think about that question yourself ?—ln it I should be entirely guided by a sanitary expert. I have been informed, with regard to the present site of the Hospital, that sft. or 6ft. below the ground there is thick black mud. In the next place, I should ask for the opinions of experts as to what use, if any, can be made of the present building, or if a good building could be built there. I think the matter of a new building is essentially one for experts and sanitary engineers. 5216. But supposing we were altering the present building, so as to make it as good for hospital purposes as possible, in what directions would you proceed?— Are you assuming that a new Hospital is not to be built. 5217. Yes ?—I should say that the number of the beds in the present wards ought to be lessened and that the waterclosets ought to be cut off from the,wards by a corridor. 5218. What about ventilation ?—Some attempt should certainly be made to furnish a constant supply of fresh air night and day, by means of Tobin's tubes or some other method. 5219. The Chairman.] I suppose you include in that a supply of warm air?— Yes. 5220. Mr. Solomon.] You have not said anything about the other points : are they merely ideal subjects ? What about the nursing system ?—That is one of the first things that we have called for reform in. 5221. It has been promised, but it has not yet been done ?—Nothing has been done. 5222. Mr. White.'] We have increased the number ?—I did not know that. 5223. Mr. Solomon.] Do your remarks on the closets include the baths ?—Yes. The whole of that end of the wards should be shut off. I certainly think there ought to be special wards. 5224. The Chairman.} Is there anything else which is specially pressing ? Have you any faults to find with the floors ?—I think if it is possible to have the floors closer it should be done, and that the floors should be waxed. 5225. Would they not need to be thoroughly relaid? 5226. Is that all you have to suggest ? —Yes. 5227. Are you aware of the position of the kitchen? Are you, as a medical man, satisfied with the present kitchen ?—I think there phould be a kitchen to every ward. 5228. What state is the kitchen in ? —Any time I have been there I have always seen it clean and well kept. I certainly think that it is too low in the roof. 5229. What about the lighting of it ? —I consider that good lighting is very essential for a kitchen. 5230. Then, it is too dark there ? —lt is. 5231. Is it an atmosphere such as food should be allowed to lay about in?-~-Any time I have been there the place was fairly ventilated. The doors and windows were all open. 5232. Do you think that the kitchen has any influence on No. 3 ward, which is directly over it ? —That is always a close and stuffy ward, due probably to the kitchen being immediately underneath it. My experience of it is that it is a very bad ward. 5233. Have you noticed any unpleasant escape from the flues in the wards?— No. 5234. In the corridor ?—lt has frequently been unpleasant there. I mean just outside of No. 3 ward. 5235. Do you know where it came from?—l do not. It has been frequently suggested that it had something to do with dead cats or rats underneath. I have frequently noticed an intermittent bad smell there. 5236. Mr. White.] Has there not been a little irritation between the Trustees and the medical staff?— There has been a good deal of irritation. 5237. And you think that in order to remove it the best thing is to have a friendly conference ? Yes. 5238. You think that is best in the interest of the Hospital ?—Yes; and it has been my opinion for some time. 5239. You know, of course, that the Trustees have received a sum of money that has been subscribed for the purpose of building a nurses' home ?—Yes. 5240. Perhaps you did not know that it was only last week that the Trustees received the Government subsidy on that amount ?—I did not. 5241. Do you not know that one of the proposals was that we should wait until the nurses' home was built, in order to see what further accommodation would be required ? —I do not know anything of the details of that. 5242. In order to see if any of the rooms now used by the nurses could not bo used as separate