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[j. S. ELLIOTT.

H.—l9b.

74

8. Will you kindly say what it is?—AVell, sir, what I take exception to is this report which has appeared in the Press in regard to the evidence given by Dr. Frengley yesterday. It says,— " Dr. Frengley also produced letters regarding the camp hospital. He was asked by General Robin on 3rd March to advise on the plans, with Mr. Morton and Mr. Campbell. They met and prepared new plans before 16th March. On that date the Chairman of the Council of the British Medical Association was written to by General Robin, asking certain questions in regard to funds, and enclosing a copy of the plan recommended, with the remark that it was thought suitable. Dr. Elliott replied to the questions with notes on the margin of the original letter. Opposite the reference to the plans he wrote ' Yes.' " His Honour : This was taken as approval by the Medical Association of the plans? —Yes. "Witness read a letter addressed by General Robin to the Minister for Defence, dated 17th March, indicating that the association and the Director of Medical Services both approved of the plans." Another paper stated that the plans had been approved by Major Elliott and another person. May I explain, with regard to this statement, that I was* never asked, nor did I ever make any proposals, with regard to the plans of the proposed hospital at Trentham. AVith regard to the supposed approval that I gave on behalf of myself and the association by writing "Yes" in the margin of the letter, I had an opportunity of seeing that document yesterday, and the word " Yes " is not in my handwriting. 9. AVill you look at it here? —[Witness examines document on file.] That "Yes" is not mine. Moreover, that refers to the speed in making the report. 10. Looking at this letter of the 16th March, 1915, from General Robin to the Chairman, Council of British Medical Association, the notes opposite paragraphs 1, 2, and 3 are yours?— Yes. 11. But the " Yes " on page 2 is not yours? —That is so. 12. It is not your writing? —That is so. 13. And you did not authorize it to be put there? —No. 14. The point in that paragraph was that the plans and report had been prepared, and that the plans, General Robin thought, would provide for a more permanent hospital than the first proposals. You did not make any comment upon that point as to whether you agreed or did not agree that the new plans would be an improvement: did you make any comment in a separate letter ? —I would like to explain that this letter did not come to me through the post. I saw that letter in Dr. McGavin's rooms, where it was produced by Colonel Purdy. He asked if I could give him some information. I said, "What is it?" I looked over the letter and wrote the memoranda in the margin, and said, " 'lTiat is all I can say; I do not know anything about the rest." 15. Did you see the plans?—l saw them casually. I was going away to some special work, and I could not stay to examine the plans carefully. Colonel Purdy, Dr. McGavin, and myself met at Dr. McGavin's house to examine some soldiers, acting as a Medical Board. After we had got through this work we had some tea, and while doing so I was shown this letter. 16. By Colonel Purdy? —Yes; and then, according to the newspaper report of yesterday's evidence, we find that on the strength of these notes of mine General Robin wrote to the Minister of Defence saying that the British Medical Association approved of these plans, whereas we had never been fully consulted about the matter. 17. Have you anything further to add to this point? —I do not think so. 18. Mr. Gray.] I might say that the statements made by Dr. Frengley yesterday were made in response to the Commissioners' request that he should supply the Commission with the dates of the memoranda relating to these several matters, and that they are not voluntary statements made by him with the suggestion that the British Medical Association had, of his own knowledge, been consulted. He knew nothing about that until he saw the file yesterday morning. Dr. Elliott will, I am sure, understand that. On the date of this, letter you were the Acting Chairman of the New Zealand Branch of the British Medical Association ? —Yes. 19. The letter, then, was properly addressed to you in your official capacity—it was meant for you and nobody else? —Yes. 20. Now, the memoranda which you wrote in the margin of this letter were intended as replies to General Robin's queries, were they not?— For the information of Colonel Purdy. I did not think that that rough-and-ready and rather discourteous reply was going to the Minister. It was memoranda written for the information of Colonel Purdy to show one thing, and that, was what the money was being raised by the association for. 21. But you did not intend it to be used by the military authorities? —That is so. 22. Your first memorandum, "Yes," opposite paragraph 1, includes, I suppose, your approval of General Robin's suggestion that the money the association had collected would be available for expenditure on the building for the hospital? —Yes. 23. Ihe second memorandum, " No," is in answer to the question, "Is this money—the amount collected by several ladies —included in your monetary gift; if possible, please say the amount " ?—That is so. 24. And the next memorandum, "As above," is an answer to the third paragraph?— Yes. 25. I presume you read the letter?— Glanced through it. 26. And you saw that the plans of the hospital had been prepared by the Board consisting of Dr. Frengley, Mr. Morton, and Mr. Campbell?—l saw that, yes. 27. And you saw that the letter stated that the report by that Board recommended that, the hospital be erected in accordance with the new plans : did you observe that the plan was said by the letter to be attached? —I have no recollection of that except that the plan was not attached —it was separate, in the packet produced by Colonel Purdy. There was no very definite con-

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