H.—l9b.

68

[J. I>. FRENGLEY.

70. The roof is protected by felt, is it not ? —With a substitute for felt—a recognized buildingmaterial which was approved by the Government Architect and the Public Works Engineer, Mr. Louch. The hutments were designed so that the temperature should be as near as possible to that of the outer air. The men were to sleep under open-air conditions, and I would like to have more evidence to show how conduction currents can be set up under such conditions.. Then he says, "Both sickness and death show relation to the weather, but that is only indirectly, for ' good hygiene has replaced climate.' " Nevertheless the fact has remained that good hygiene will never eliminate from enteric fever the name which is given to it in America —namely, " fall fever." It occurs in the autumn, at the fall of the year. Typhoid is always worse during the fall. Notwithstanding good hygiene we have still to contend with climatic conditions in the same way. 71. Dr. Martin.] An epidemic of diarrhoea ?—An epidemic of diarrhoea is a thing we can say we will have despite the sanitary conditions. He further says, " I also regard the hutments as unsatisfactory because there is a minimum of comfort and privacy at a maximum of cost." It never occurred to me to be necessary to provide in a camp intended for quick training of soldiers comfort and privacy. I'do not know what exactly is meant by 7 "comfort." I trust it is not meant that there should be curtains over the windows and carpets on the floors, which would, of course, be for comfort. Then he says, " for galvanized iron is now quoted at about .£32 per ton." The position is that it is not to be had, as a matter of fact, and some of the new hutments will have to be built with malthoid roofing. That will be practically a tight roof, and there will have to be further ventilation; but with iron there is the chance for a good deal of air to pass through the roof. It is not a sealed roof. I think it is reasonable to suppose that some air docs pass through the ridge. 72. The Chairman.] Then, as to the soil?— Yes, he says, "The surface soil is not porous." That is not denied for one moment, sir; but openings have been made here and there to make it more porous. Then he states, "I thought a competent man with a little common-sense could in half an hour do as much in a good rain as a whole squad would do in a day in fine weather." Nevertheless I think the fact remains that, it would cost over ,£2,000 to make an effective stormwater drainage system such as would deal with a storm such as we had last night. 73. That is a matter the Public Works Department now has in hand?—-Yes. He further says, " Dampness is a very great danger to health on account of the evaporation of moisture being accountable, for conduction of heat." Dampness is a great danger to health, but where that dampness is due to atmospheric conditions which are not, always existent I do not know how that is to be overcome. 74. Dr. Martin.] You agree with Mr. Bates when he says there are no drying arrangements? —I quite agree with that. You asked that question this morning. Now, I would like Mr. Bates to say if it would be possible to have condensation on a sheet of iron if the air on both sides is of the same temperature and the same constitution. 75. Mr. Ferguson.] We have your own statement that you went into the hut and found it warm?— Yes, on a very muggy night. That was the hut with the fifty-five men in. 76. Therefore the temperature would be different on the two sides of the sheet? —Yes. 77. Mr. Gray.] I think amongst your duties you have to pass the plans of public hospitals in New Zealand? —Yes; under the Hospitals and Charitable Institutions' Act all expenditure on buildings for hospitals over the sum of £250 requires the consent in writing of the Minister in charge of hospitals, and it is one of my duties to consider any and every plan that comes in in which the consent of the Minister is asked for. I then report to the Inspector-General of Hospitals', making such notes as I think necessary. 78. That applies to both new hospitals and existing hospitals?—lt, does. 79. Do y 7 ou also inspect private hospitals which require to be licensed?—l do not inspectthem personally myself, but one of my staff does, and questions arising out of plans for additions are referred to me. 80. So that you have, in a sense, under your jurisdiction the arrangements both of public and private hospitals throughout the Dominion?— That is so; and not only that—l have made to some extent a hobby of it. I usually take home plans of hospitals to my house at night and go through them quietly, and make sketches according to scale. 81. i think you are responsible for the sketch-plan of the Trentham Hospital which was finally adopted by the Board, consisting of yourself, Mr. Morton, and Mr. Campbell?—Yes; my sketch-plan is on record. 82. That design differs in some respects' from the plan submitted by the Defence authorities to you?—lt does. 83. Did you understand that that plan submitted by the Defence authorities was the outcome of deliberations between the Defence authorities and the medical profession?— The medical Defence officers —I understand that was the position. 84. And was your plan as adopted by the Advisory Board submitted to Dr. Elliott as representing the medical profession in Wellington?— That is so. 85. In regard to the hutments: the hutments were designed for men who were trained and shortly to go to the front?— Yes. 86. And was it not part of the idea that the men should be accustomed by the training in camp to rougher conditions than would exist in ordinary civil life? —Yes, that is so. 87. And your view was that they should be trained under what were practically open-air conditions ?—Yes. 88. In view of what has happened, do you see any reason to alter those views?—No, except that some concession be made in regard to what is called " funk." 89. We know, of course, that all sorts and conditions of men have gone training?— That is so.