H.—l9b.

42

[j. CAMPBELL.

43. No special windows? —No; it was represented that only veiy minor operations would be performed there. 44. Still, the Board has made the door wide enough to carry a stretcher through?—Y'es, a double door. 45. Dr. Martin.] Supposing a man had appendicitis at, the camp and was too bad to bring to the hospital in town, do you think the hospital there would be sufficient to perform an operation?—l do not think it would be sufficient for such a serious operation as that. 46. You were instructed that a small room of this design was required? —Yes. 47. Did that come from Dr. Frengley?—Yes. 48. You are certain it was said that the hospital was required only for minor operations?— Yes, lam certain. AA r e provided a large window on the south side of the room to give ample light, but still the lighting is not what would be required in a permanent ordinary operatingroom. 4-9. Mr. Ferguson.] You said you received instructions ; whom did you receive them from?— From the other members of the Board. Dr. Frengley and Mr. Morton thought new plans were necessary. They considered the plans submitted by the Defence Department unsuitable for a hospital, and they thought I should prepare new plans, and we talked the matter over. 50. 1 want to get at whether you received instructions from the Under-Secretary to do certain things? —I did receive instructions from the Under-Secretary. I always do. 51. But they were not detailed instructions? —No, merely general instructions. 52. Dr. Martin.] Your plans were completed on the 29th March? —Yes. 53. When would that hospital have been completed if the work had been pushed on ?—Two months were allowed for erection. Tenders were called for two weeks, I think. It would be towards the end of April when the tenders came in, and then there might be a week before the tender was accepted and directions given. 54. As a fact, do you know the date fixed for completion?—l cannot remember. 55. Are the contractors behind time now? —Very much behind time. 56. Do you know the reason of that?—No, 1 cannot give any 7 reason for the delay- —it is entirely with the contractors. 57. Where can we get particulars of the contract so as to find out when it was begun and when it ought to have been finished?—ln the Head Office, or from Mr. Louoh, the District, Engineer. 58. You received no instructions when preparing the plan for a room for sterilizing instruments or for sterilizing dressings for emergency operations?—No; those were entirely omitted from the contract, and Dr. Frengley was to give advice as to how provisions for these were going to be made. 59. Mr. Ferguson.] In fact, the building was to be fitted up after the contract was finished?— So far as the surgical requirements were concerned, that is so. 60. And in regard to furnishing, had you anything to do with that?— Nothing whatever. 61. AVho has that in hand? —Probably the Engineer. 62. The Chairman.] Should not that be provided by some Medical Board?—He will undoubtedly require to get information from the Medical Officers in the camp or from Dr. Frengley. 63. Dr. Martin.] There is no room in the hospital to put a sterilizing apparatus?—T think not. There is an examination-room and dispensary 7, but no room for sterilizing. 64. If a man comes in badly injured from the camp and requires an operation performed, there is no room to sterilize the instruments or dressings? —No, not unless it was done in one of the rooms. There is no special room. [Plans examined by- members of Commission.] 65. There is no means-provided for heating tin- operating-room? —No. Dr. Frengley said it was to be used for minor operations. 66. Mr. Salmond.] In preparing plans for the huts, did the Advisory Board have before it any manual or instructions used by the British Army? —Yes, we had. 1 think Dr. Frengley produced military manuals as to construction and ventilation. We did not look upon those as barracks. 67. But huts? —As an encampment. 68. Do you know whether tlie huts conformed to the requirements laid down in England?— T cannot say. Ido not, think we had any directions for the Dominion. 69. Do you suggest any improvements in the huts?—l cannot think of any. 70. Not as to ventilation or draughts ?-—AA 7 e considered the ventilation sufficient, and at the same time not too much. 71. You do not suggest sometimes closing up the apertures, windows, and sides?—l do not. AYe designed the ventilation so that it could not be closed down. 72. You do not suggest there should be ventilation in the ridge?—lt is quite unnecessary. I have seen it stated that there should be openings in the ridge to allow the foul air to escape, but we maintain there is no foul air to escape. It was considered there was too much fresh air. 73. Ts it, not, part of the ventilation system that there should be an exit for foul air and an inlet for fresh air?—So there is here, 74. Drawing out the foul air? —A r cs. There must be a current crossing the room. AVhen there is cross-ventilation there is no necessity for ridge ventilation. 75. Mr. Ferguson.] You spoke about battens to fill up the openings in the. corrugated iron. Would battens fill them up completely?— Any draughts that came in by means of the corrugation would be very (rifling. At night-time with fifty 7 men sleeping in a hut there is considerable warmth from the bodies, and the warm air that would make a hut uncomfortable is cooled by coming in contact, with the cold iron and passes down the sides, and they might, consider that a draught, The building will not heat up by the warmth from the bodies as it would if it