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H.—l9b.

134

[G. W. YALLOB

44. Dr. Martin.] Were you there when Fordham and Pollard were placed in the hospital?— No. 45. You had heard that they had been there? —I know now that they had been there; they had been transferred after I left. 46. Was there any straying of patients from Berhampore to private houses out there?— I never heard any complaints about that, but I heard it stated by one or two people. 47. Can you give me the names of those people?—l do not know them. 48. Was that while you were in charge? —Yes. There was no written complaint. 49. The Chairman.] It was information rather than a complaint—that men had been escaping from the marquees ? —Yes. 50. There was no orderly in each marquee stationed there? —No; there were only three orderlies, and later on five. There were two on night duty. 51. It would be possible for any one to get up and go out without it being known?— Yes, that would be quite possible, The marquees were put right alongside the road. 52. Dr. Martini] Was there no hospital guard?— No. 53. You knew it was a military unit? —Yes. 54. And it is quite usual to have a guard? —I never heard of it. 55. At any rate, there was no guard there? —No. 56. Was there any hospital guard at the gate?— No. 57. The Chairman.] Has the camp a yellow flag over it—this place—or anything to indicate infection? —There were no flags at all there. 58. Dr. Martin.] Do you know any house where these measles patients went into at Berhampore ?—No, I do not know any. 59. You never heard of a patient entering a house there? —No. 60. Can you give us the names of any people who spoke to you about this matter? —No, I knew nobody about there. 61. Do you know of any man who wandered from the hospital there?—No; I never found out who they were. 62. Did you trj'?—Yes, I did my best. 63. You could get no information?— No. 64. What experience have you had at nursing?— Three years in the New Zealand Medical Corps. 65. How long have you been a sergeant?—l was Sergeant-major in the Samoan Expeditionary Force Medical Corps, and later on sergeant-dispenser in Samoa, 66. The Chairman.] You had eight months down there?— Seven months. I came back in charge of the sick men on the " Atua." 67. Dr. Martin.] Do you think there was any overcrowding at Berhampore? —Only once, when there were 104 men there. 68. The Chairman.] It was reduced immediately? —Yes, the following day it was reduced. 69. By convalescents going out?— Yes. 70. Dr. Martin.] You sent on one occasion some patients to the Wellington Hospital, and there was difficulty in admitting them? —One man, Sergeant Lyons, was returned. 71. Can you tell us how that happened?— Major Elliott and Colonel Pilkington, I think it was, told me that they could take five patients to the Wellington Hospital. The sister selected five, but Sergeant Lyons was returned, as they had no room for him : the}' only kept four. 72. Is it not a fact that a certain number of men were sent to Wellington Hospital and they were refused admission until the Medical Superintendent had communicated with Colonel Purdy?—No; once I rang up for the ambulance to send a man in, and Dr. Barclay would not take him until he got authority from. Colonel Purdy. I rang up Colonel Purdy and he arranged it, and the man was sent in the same night. 73. Mr. Ferguson.] How many nurses had you there? —Three —really nursing sisters. 74. And what bedding-accommodation had you : had you proper cots, or were the patients on the floor? —In the main building they had iron beds; for a time the rest of the men were on the floor. 75. Was there any undue delay in getting beds? —I requisitioned for them, and also spoke to Major O'Sullivan, aud they were sent up a few days afterwards. They had to be made. 76. Had you all the linen and blankets you wanted?— Yes; anything like that we soon got. I was never refused anything. 77. It came promptly?— Yes. 78. Colonel Purdy examined every patient carefully when he visited the hospital?— Yes: he saw every patient in the hospital. 79. The Chairman.] Cases of measles were accommodated there?— Yes. 80. Were they on beds?—No, on the ground; they had ruberoid roofing-material under them. That was for about a week, and after that the tents were floored with proper wooden floors. 81. How many were accommodated in the main building?;— Twenty-four to thirty, 82. And in each marquee—about the same number?— Eighteen. One marquee had twentytwo one night; that was the overcrowded night. 83. You left Berhampore and went to.Kaiwarra?—Yes. 84. And you have been at Kaiwarra ever since?— Yes. 85. And are you satisfied with the conditions there? —Yes; we have had no complaints about it. 86. How do the men get on there? —I have a complete return here. [Return put in.] 87. I see you began on the 18th June with 155 there? —Yes; they were sent from Trentham.

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