.). CAMPBELL.]

43

H.—l9b.

were a wooden building or some other substance than galvanized iron. We did not consider the comfort of the men, but the health of the men. 76. Mr. Skerrett.] There was no military representative on the Advisory Board?— That is so. 77. Mr. Ferguson.] Mr. Morton has military rank?—He has had experience. 78. Mr. Skerrett.] Did the Advisory Board make any inquiries as to the military practice with respect to the erection of huts, hutments, and barracks?—We received plans from the Defence Department, and evidently they had considered the plans. 79. The Board made no inquiry as to the military practice in. camps connected with the erection of huts, hutments, or barracks: for example, did you know it, is not usual, to put more than twelve men in a hut? —1 never heard that, 80. It is suggested it is not usual to put more than twenty-four men in a hutment?—l heard that, but the Defence Department gave us a plan showing fifty men. 81. At any rate, you made no inquiries as to the military practice?—We did not. 82. Was your attention directed to the area, which those hutments would occupy —the actual area of ground they would cover? —We had a block plan showing the position of the hutments on the ground. I do not think we suggested they 7 should be opened out in any way. 83. My question is directed to ascertain whether the Advisory Board directed their attention to the fact that these hutments were erected upon a comparatively small extent of ground?— Yes, I think so. 84. You cannot remember the area now? —1 cannot remember Ihe exact area. The huts are 25 ft. apart, I think. There is an enormous air-space in front of them. 85. It is suggested that the space occupied by those huts was too congested and that it ought to have been a considerably larger space?—AVell, it seemed to me that, the space was ample. The ventilation is so great in those huts that the air is always fresh. The men are almost like sleeping in the outside except that they 7 are protected from the winds. 86. It is suggested that these hutments should be put in a, circumscribed area' of military design?—lt is a question of ventilation. 87. Do you know that the floor-space you have allowed in these hutments is exactly one-half the regular floor-space allowed in barracks? —That is so. 88. Do you know the cubic air-space is less than one-half the regular air-space?—6ooft, is the usual allowance, and we have allowed 300 ft. 89. Well, apparently the alterations made by the Advisory Board were in the direction of cheapening the structure rather than improving it? —Not altogether. We increased the window area for light, and provided wooden floors. I believe the Defence Department, meant to simply have a little wooden platform rising from the ground for men to sleep on. We considered it would be far more healthy Io floor them—that the men should sleep on the floor instead of having wooden platforms. 90. I understand the alteration you made was a reduction in the height of the wall and the construction of the hutment to hold the men in two divisions?— Yes, and reducing the ventilationopenings. 91. Did you or the Advisory Board consider that what w-as being done was the erection of a military town within quite a small area of space—a military town containing seven, thousand people?—We did not think there would be seven thousand men there at all, AYe got instructions' to prepare huts for three thousand five bundled. 92. But there were in camp at this time four thousand altogether?— Yes. 93. And that was increased ultimately to seven thousand? —Yes. 94. What area of living-space did they occupy: did it exceed 10 or 12 acres? —I cannot tell you, because it is largely a matter of the height of the buildings and the free circulation of air. 95. Is it not a fact that here was a population of about seven thousand people occupying an area of between 10 to 12 acres—that is like the population of a place like Petone being congested into only 10 or 12 acres? —I believe in some cities there are as many as three hundred or four hundred people to the acre. 96. You have no observations to make upon the fact that, there was about a population of seven thousand upon a very small area? —AVell, I never attended to that, matter, because I never knew that there were to be seven thousand. 97. Mr. Gray.] I understand the design of the Tints is the outcome of the general deliberations of members of the Board based upon the original design of the Defence authorities?— That is so. 98. And that, in building your design you took into consideration the question of ventilation and air-space?— Yes. 99. In your opinion are both those requirements provided for in the existing scheme, and are they sufficient?— Yes, they are. 100. Mr. Skerrett has suggested that tlie air-space is only half that allowed by military authorities in barracks? —Yes. 101. Those huts were not designed for permanent residence?— No. 102. But for sleeping purposes?— Yes, and for feeding. 103. The men would not occupy the huts at, any time during the day except when having meals? —Yes. 104. There are some omissions, you said, in the plan which the Defence authorities sent to the District Engineer: were any of those omissions serious? —No._ 105. You spoke of one being the fillet at the bottom of the galvanized iron?— Yes. 106. Was there anything else? —The eaves had not sufficient projection to prevent the rain being driven in with a very violent storm. 107. AVas that, remedied before any of the huts were completed?— Yes.