[j. P. FBENGLEY.

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63. And one object of the camp is not only to give them military exercises, but also to accustom them to what may be called the hardships of military life? —That is so. 64. And you cannot send men from feather beds to the front? —That is so. I only advance these reasons from this point of view : that a large proportion of the men are in a condition of funk on account of what has been published and said, and I think that some alterations to these hutments in the directions I have indicated will give more comfort and increase the natural resistance of the men. The third point I wish to make is that flaps should be placed over the permanent openings, hinged below. You will see them on the sanatorium plans I have handed in, and that these flaps be entirely under the control of some responsible officer. 65. So that they may not be shut up when they ought not to be? —That is so. A man ought to bo accustomed to breathing fresh air at any time. So that you will see that I appear to contradict myself in saying in one breath that these hutments are quite satisfactory, while subsequently I urge that alterations be made in them to have the necessary mental effect upon the men. 66. Are you not in a position to make this recommendation at once?—lt has been made, sir. There is just one further point with regard to the epidemic. It is a fact that the organism of influenza, the organism of pneumonia, the organism of cerebro-spinal meningitis—all these organisms cannot live for any length of time outside the human body. Unless special precautions are taken the organism will die before you get it to the laboratory in Wellington from the camp. It follows, then, that the diseases at present in the camp, influenza (I leave out measles), pneumonia, and cerebro-spinal meningitis—these organisms would not live about the ground of the camp. These epidemics are therefore not associated with insanitary conditions. It means that the epidemic has been carried to the camp by what nowadays are called " carriers." I would also mention the fact that during the last six months we have had in the Wellington District, influenza of an extraordinarily severe type. And I also make a point that in one particular instance that influenza of a severe type arose in a public school which is practically, from a sanitary standpoint, one of the best south of the Line—a new building. 67. Where was that? —I will write down the name for you [handed to Chairman]. When the boys returned after their summer holidays influenza broke out, and approximately 80 per cent, of tho boys attending that school caught this severe type of influenza, keeping them in bed from three to four days. These boys came back to the school in good condition. They went into a perfectly sanitary building, under good discipline. Influenza breaks out; there is a very capable doctor there and a capable nurse, and yet we find that 80 to 90 per cent, of the boys are attacked. So that we have had in the last few months in the Wellington District severe influenza. It was said that the outbreak in that particular school was due to a boy from Wellington. Of that I cannot be sure, but I know that prior to the outbreak Wellington had a number of cases of severe influenza. 68. The Chairman.] Now we will deal with the question of the hospital: do you know who proposed it, or how did it come into existence ?—The first I knew of it was by a plan submitted by the Minister of Defence —a plan, I understood, prepared in the Defence Office from suggestions made to the draughtsman by the Medical Officers attached to the camp. 69. What date ? —Without the file I could not give the date. It was some time after February last. I will get the date. 70. Will you give us the names of the Medical Officers in camp at that time ?—Speaking from memory, there is a memorandum, I think, signed by Colonel Purdy, Colonel Elliott, and, I think, another Medical Officer whose name I cannot remember. 71. Could you get tho file ? —Yes. That plan was submitted to Mr. Morton, Mr. Campbell, and myself, and it was regarded as unsuitable, and as a result an entirely new plan was prepared from which the Government Architect prepared the plans which I understand have been before the Commission . 72. When you say it was regarded as unsuitable, would that mean by you ? —By myself and. the other members of the Board, after I pointed out various reasons. 73. Dr. Martin.] The committee composed of Colonel Purdy, Colonel Elliott, and the other man agreed with you ?—Yes. 74. Their suggestions were embodied in the first plan ? —Yes. 75. When the Board decided to alter the first plan and adopt a new one, were Colonel Purdy, Colonel Elliott, and the third officer consulted ? —I could not say. We reported back to the General Officer Commanding. 76. Tlie Chairman.] Did you understand that this hospital was to be paid for partly by subscriptions raised from outside ?—I understood that from the newspapers. 77. Dr. Martin.] Then the plan, after being sent back from Colonel Robin, was sent back to you again ? —lt was decided to go on. 78. Could you give the date you sent the new plan ? —No. 79. The Chairman.] Could you get the particulars ? —Yes, I will. 80. Dr. Martin.] We would like an outline from you as to what you considered the object of the hospital at Trentham was to be, what nature of cases you have to take in, what equipment you considered necessary, and any other point ?—As I understood the needs of the hospital it was to be only regarded as a camp hospital in front of the base hospital, which was to be the Wellington Hospital; that no major surgery would be done there —minor operations would be performed ; and there was introduced into the plan, as distinct from the plan submitted, provision whereby case-isolation could be carried out —that is to say, there were four rooms provided in which a man might be placed quickly whose case raised any doubt as to the diagnosis being infectious or otherwise. There was in the original plan provision for eighteen beds. There was no provision for dealing with one case separate from the eighteen.