E- YEATES.

151

H.—l9b.

37. The Chairman!] Did you report those to anybody?—l spoke to Major Holmes and Captain Fyffe. 38. Unfortunately we have not got them here?—No, sir. 39. Did you write any report?— Not as regards measles. 40. Or as regards the contact camp?—No, sir. 41. Mr. Skerrett!] I want to ask you as to the sanitary arrangements of the camp? Well, I will take the latrines first. In my opinion they were not'sufficient. When I went there there were day latrines, but not in sufficient numbers for the Force that was in camp. Also, in connection with the latrines, there was no proper method of disinfecting the pails. There was no dry earth or anything used for throwing in the pails after use. There was a bucket of chloride of lime and some other disinfectant which was thrown on occasionally by the sanitary squad. The result was that these pails were left open and flies were very prevalent in the camp. Also, on the north side of the camp.there was a plot of ground occupied by a Mounted Corps, but before you came to that spot there was a place showing signs where had been the old trench latrines. These were not covered up in a proper manner. They were too shallow 7 , and the flies were there in millions daily. There was an attempt made to keep the flies off by scattering chloride of lime. 42. Can you show upon the plan the general situation of this place you are referring to?— [Witness indicated on photograph locality referred to.] 43. We know that no latrine-paper was used: you regard that as necessary?— Yes, and the non-use of it as a menace. Newspaper was used in great abundance, and there is a regulation for using latrine-paper. 44. The Chairman!] There was provision for it, then?— Yes; but there is none there so far as I know at present. I objected to that very strongly. 45. Mr. Ferguson!] To whom did you object? —To the A.M.O. Dr. Martin will understand my objections. 46. Mr. Salmond.] Who was the A.M.O.?—Major Holmes. 47. Mr. Skerrett.] You were present when Dr. de Lautour gave his evidence?—l was' here most of the time. 48. He referred to a suggestion that the hutments were erected on the sight of the old latrines: what have you to say on that point?— Those hutments are erected on the site of the old latrines to which I have just been referring, and which I can point out on a proper picture or at the camp. 49. Which hutments- —there are many hutments?—[Sketch drawn by witness to indicate position, and explained to Commissioners and counsel.] 50. Did you go to the camp on Sunday for the purpose of refreshing your memory?— Yes, sir. 51. And you are giving the result of your observations?— Yes, and from, what I knew. 52. In the early part, of your evidence you said that the number of sick ought to have been significant to the authorities : what do you think they should have done in consequence of the sickness which prevailed?—l think there ought to have been more care taken in the isolation of the infectious cases. 53. In regard to the provision of hospitals?— There should have been some sort of hospital. 54. There was some sort of hospital there?— But it was very inadequate. 55. A point, of time must have arrived when the authorities ought to have recognized that there was a probability, if not an extreme probability, of an epidemic : T want to know what you think they ought to have done? —They ought to have gone round and found out what other places were available for the sick men, or have put up a proper hospital for them. 56. Do T understand you to say that their hospital accommodation was sufficient or insufficient from the start?—lt was insufficient from the start even for a camp of a hundred men. 57. Then you describe the hospital arrangements from the start as wholly insufficient?— Absolutely. 58. Have you any suggestion to make with regard either to the periodical shifting of the tents or the periodical shifting of the site of the camp itself?—l think the tents should have been periodically shifted at least every month. Those tents should not have occupied the one site longer than a month. 59. Do you hold that once a month is essential for the shifting of the tents from their existing site to an immediately adjacent site?— Under proper precautions I do. 60. Do you say anything respecting the advisability of shifting the site of the camp—not necessarily the whole camp, but the site of the collection of tents?—Tt, should be gradually shifted, and I think it, should have been shifted after three months, to fresh ground. 61. Then you say the same site ought not to be occupied for a longer period than three months?— That is so. 62. Was there any difficulty in shifting, as you suggest, in the case of Trentham Camp?— There, was plenty of room. 63. Mr. Ferguson.l Then you think that the tents' should be shifted every month, and after three removals the whole of them should be bodily shifted to a new site- which has never been occupied before?—l think so, in a climate like this. 64. Mr. Skerrett.] Now, new drafts of men were coming in periodically?— New drafts of men came in when the reinforcements went out. 65. Have you anything to say about their admission to the camp?— They were brought into camp, and when they arrived some of them had been travelling for probably twenty or twentyfour hours, with the result that these men, who were mostly unaccustomed to rushing about, were very run down by the time they got to camp. There was no medical inspection, as' far as I know, of these drafts when they reached camp, and consequently there was no weeding-out of those who should be treated a little easy at first from those who could go straight, away with their work.