H.—l9b.

34

T, MCCRISTELL.

260. Do I understand that, each morning the orderly-corporal goes round the tents of his company, and if any man is sick in a tent it is the duty of the orderly-corporal to report, that to the orderly-sergeant?— Yes. The man reports himself sick to the orderly-corporal, who gives that information to the company orderly-sergeant, Then the orderly-sergeant makes' out the sick-report for the Medical Officer. 261. Have there been complaints about sick men being left in their tents?— No. 262. Have you heard of any such complaints?— From the newspapers only. 263. AVhat is the duty 7 of the Medical Officer then?— The sick men are marched to the hospital .by the orderly-corporal, or to the inspection-room. They are there inspected by the Medical Officer. Then he marks on the sick-report whether the man is to get light duty or go into hospital. If there is a man in the lines unable to walk to the hospital or inspection-room he is taken on a stretcher. If a man falls sick either day or night the Tine orderly would see him, and want to know what was wrong with him. 264. The line orderly would report any one who is lying in a tent?— Yes, the line orderly. 265. Mr. Salmond.] If a man is unable Io walk down on the sick-parade he would be carried down?— Yes, on a stretcher. 266/ And no inquiry is made as to whether he can be exposed to tho weather or not?— That is so. 267. You think few men are so ill that they cannot walk on the first day 7 that they are sick? —That is so. 268. Is it not a fact that a man might be seriously ill and be carried down at 8 o'clock on a cold morning?—ln my opinion that man'would be suffering a few days before. 269. The Chairman.] You said you had seen statements in the papers that men had been left lying in the tents neglected?— Yes. 270. Can you recall what those statements were in a more specific way?— No. 271. But you did read such accounts?— Occasionally. 272. You have read them?— Yes. 273. What comment have you to make upon them? —There are some of the statements which I have seen in the papers that are quite true. 274. Were these statements true?—No, not about sick men lying in the tents. The only 7 men I have seen are men who have been given light duly, or something of that kind : that is to say, he would not have to go on parade or do any work—he would just have to knock about the camp for a day or two. Such men might be lying down in tents. But I would never pass a tent with a man in it unless I inquired what was wrong with him. But to say that there were sick men lying round in the tents is quite wrong. Lieutenant Pinr.ip Newman Putty sworn and examined. (No. 5.) 1. The Chairman.] AVhat are you'?—l am Supply and Transport Officer at Trentham Camp. I am a lieutenant in the New Zealand. Army Service Corps (Imperial warrant officer), attached to the New 7 Zealand Forces. 2. What are your particular functions at the camp?—To distribute the supply of food, forage, fuel, and light, and attend to cartage of same, 3. To supply forage, food, fuel, and light? —Yes, and attend to all the carting. 4. Have you been at the camp since October? —Yes, since the 9th October. 5. We understand that you can give us information on the subject of the food . what do you do, exactly, in regard to the food?— The contracts are made by the Headquarters, Defence Department, on special forms, and for a certain period, and the food is brought by rail or by road to me at Trentham. I take it over and keep account of it, see that it is up to sample, and issue it to the various units in bulk —say, a day's rations for one unit at it time, or four days' groceries perhaps at a time, and bread, meat, milk, and vegetables daily. They have, of course, to divide it up between the companies, &c. 6. As regards the quality of the food supplied, have you any comment to make?---No, sir; it is very good indeed —splendid meat, and splendid bread, too. 7. And butter and milk? —Yes. 8. Do complaints come Io you if fault is found with any of these lhings?--Yes, they come to me very often; generally they go to Captain McCristell first, but sometimes direct to me. 9. What has been ihe nature of the complaints?—lt has been generally that somebody has been short through a mistake in the issue of stores by the unit. 1 have always done my best to remedy it in every way. 10. Have you had complaints about the quality of the food ?—Once, I think, about the quality of the butter, or, at least, the condition in which the butter was received. One of the firms supplying it ran out of their own wrappers, and used wrappers intended for other butter. A little pink colouring came out of the wrapper on to the butter at the top, and the men thought they were going to be killed if they ate it. 11. That was remedied at once? —Yes. 12. You have heard wdiat was said in the course of the examination of the previous witness about the tea ?—Yes. 13. Have you anything to add?— There has been no cause for complaint in the quality of it, sir. Of course, New-Zealanders are very, very fond of strong tea. T think they make it too strong. - 14. Did they think it was not strong enough?—l have not heard of that, but they like it very, very strong, and with a tremendous amount of sugar in it.