H.— 19b.

64

|~J. R. HOPKINSON.

26. Does the requisition come subsequently when the order comes by 7 telephone ? —Yes, the tele phone orders are always followed by a requisition. 27. And all requisitions are upheld by receipts ?—Yes, We get the receipt back from Captain McCristell after the goods have been supplied. f 28. The Chairman!] It can only be a matter of memory or memorandum of the fact, that goods have, gone out for which no requisition is received ? —ln the case of a telephone message coming in, I take a note of it on a scribbling-block and keep that until the requisition comes to hand. P 29. Do you say that these verbal orders are always supplemented by requisitions ? -Yes. ¥■ f 30. Mr. Ferguson. \ Mr. Sewell. stated that it is customary to send goods out in anticipation of their being required ; what is your system in such cases ? —Since I have, been in charge there has been no such cases. 31. He stated that was the case, in regard to underclothing as well as blankets ? I could not say. T do not think it has been done since I have been in the Department. 32. The Chairman.] How long have you been in the, Department ?- -For fifteen years. 33. You have been in charge, since October ? —Yes. 34. In your present position ? —Yes. 35. And you say that you are not aware of any sending-out of any goods in advance ? I say that it might have gone in advance, but it is backed up by an order always. 36. Do you say that practice does not exist—that when it is known that certain requirements will have to be supplied by a certain date, that in the meantime, and before the requisition has come in, the goods have been sent out in anticipation, so as to relieve storage, for instance ?- In my case Mr. Williams would have dea't with that. 37. Do you know of any such practice ? —No. 38. Who should know of the practice ? —Mr. Williams. 39. Why should not you know ? —Mr. Williams is head of the Department; I only get the orders from the requisitions. Percy Gates Morgan sworn and examined. (No. 16.) 1. The Chairman.] What is your position, Mr. Morgan ?—Director of Geological. Survey. 2. You know the locality in which the Trentham Camp is situated ? —Yes, I know the locality, but not well. I have been there on one occasion only. 3. Are you able to speak of the deposits and the soil out there ? —Not certainly. When I was there I did not examine the soil to any extent. I was interested in the men. But I think that if the ground, had been unsuitable for a camp I would have noticed it. 4. Did you see the pits and examine the subsoil there at all ? —No, I have no recollection of having seen the subsoil. 5. You are not then in a position to give us any information as to the suitability of the soil, or any special conditions which might militate against its suitability for a camp ? —I thought the site suitable for a camp. If the Commission wishes, I could go out and examine the locality. 6. I think the Commission should have something in the nature of a report from you. There has never been any report made by your Department as to the character of the soil out there ?—No ; it is a locality that we have not examined geologically. 7. There are pits sunk 15 ft. deep in certain portions of the camp ?- -The material that came out of them and the sides of the pits would be quite sufficient to show the nature of the soil and subsoil. But at the present moment they would be full of water. 8. No ? —Then it must be a well-drained soil. If the water does not reach to the surface of those pits just now, then the ground must be as suitable as any you could get. 9. You might go out and examine it now that we have wet conditions, so as to be able to give us further information later ? —Yes, I can go out this afternoon if necessary. [Arrangements made accordingly.] Joseph Patrick Frengley re-examined. (No. 1.7.) 1. The Chairman.] I think there was certain information from the file you wore to give us ? — Certain questions were asked as to whether any cases of scarlet fever had occurred at Masterton. No report has been forwarded to my Department to show that they were cases of scarlet fever. Then, your Commission asked for a copy of a letter addressed by me as Acting Chief Health Officer, offering the services of the officers of my Department to the Defence Department. It is dated the 11th August, 1914. [Letter produced and read.] 2. You say that that offer was never taken advantage of ? That is so. This is the reply, dated the 17th Augm-t, from Colonel Robin. He says in it that he sincerely hopes it would not be necessary to call upon us, but if it should become necessary he would do so. [Letter produced and read.] 3. Do T understand that until recently no advantage has been taken of the services of the Health Department ?—Yes, prior to the return of my chief, Dr. Valintine, from England about a week beforeColonel Robin spoke to me regarding an arrangement for the treatment of soldiers in hospitals. As Dr. Valintine was just returning" that would be, in February last —I suggested to Colonel Robin that he should await Dr. Valintine's return. 4. What followed upon that ? —I know that Colonel Robin, immediately after Dr. Valintine's return, got into touch with him over the matter of the treatment of soldiers. Ido not know the particulars of it: Dr. Valintine, will know them.