H.—l9b.

E. YEATES.]

157

227. Mr. Salmond.] Was there any system in existence by which medical men visited sick men in tents?—if a sick man was in a. tent the sergeant in charge of that section would come along and tell the Medical Officer that So-and-so was sick in his tent, and I never knew a Medical Officer to refuse to go and visit such a man in his tent, 228. Have you ever seen a man in a tent yourself? —Yes. 1 have found sick men in their tents when 1 have been going round as Sanitary Officer. 1 have not attended to them myself then, but have sent the sergeant to get a Medical Officer to see the man. 229. Then what, would happen : would the doctor diagnose it there in the tent or have the man brought, up to him? —If he was not able to come up the doctor would go to him if he were lying in his tent. He .might have dropped out of drill and gone to his tent. The only thing if he felt ill would be for him to go to his tent and lie down. 230. The impression produced by previous witnesses was that however sick a man was he was taken out of his tent and inarched down in the sick-parade? —1 cannot say that, was true. I have seen one man only who had to march when he was absolutely unfit to do so. 231. Mr. Crag.] You served under Major Holmes in Samoa? —Yes. 232. And afterwards at. Trentham?—Yes; he was A.M.O. at Trentham. 233. Was he at Trentham before you arrived there? —One day before. 234. Did you regard him as an inferior officer in qualifications and service to you?—lf he had not got the fellowship of this college he certainly was inferior in qualification. 1 do not know whether he had. 235. Then you did not have it in your mind that you were serving under a man less qualified than yourself? —I had no complaint, against Major Holmes. 236. But was it in your mind that you were serving under an officer of qualifications inferior to your own?—lt never entered my mind. 237. But you had that feeling in regard to Captain Fyffe? —Yes. 238. And Captain McAra?—Captain McAra was one of (he nicest little men going: 1 would have served under him gladly. 239. There was no feeling of jealousy towards him? —No. 240. All these medical men are out of New Zealand at present, aud so cannot be heard in their own defence?—l wish they could be. 241. Do you suggest, that they were cognizant of these errors of administration as well as yourself?—lf they were not they must have been very blind. 242. Take, for instance, the orderlies swabbing the men's throats with brushes which had been used before : would they know that? —They should have, if they saw it done 243. Well, what you saw done they might have seen done?— Yes. 244. Do you suggest that they would have taken no steps to stop (hat practice?—l make no suggestions. 245. Was there hot water in the dispensary where these men were swabbing the patients' throats? —Sometimes. There was a Primus stove there, but sometimes it could not be kept alight. 246. These brushes were dipped in hot water to disinfect them?— Yes. 247. You say you made no complaint, in writing except on one occasion ? —That, is so. 248. To whom did you make that complaint ? —To the A.M.O; 249. Did you always perform your duty in camp?— Every duty 1 was given, 250. Was a fair share of the duty given to you? —No, it was not. 251. The allotment of duty would be the work of the A.M.O. ? —Yes, sir. 1 was not given any proper duty in which I could use my experience. Mine was simply a routine duty which any first-year student could have carried out. 252. Did you sleep in the camp? —Only for a short time. 253. Why I was given permission to live on the outskirts of the camp. 254. By the A.M.O. 1— Yes, and Lieut.-Colonel Potter. 255. There were no complaints about that?— No. 256. You have read to the Commission the report of (he Director of Medical Services referred to in the letter of the G.0.C., dispensing with your services? —Striking me off from Trentham Camp. 257. You have had no appointment since, of course? —1 am an expeditionary officer still. 258. You have no appointment: you are nut attached to anything?—l have been given absolutely no work, 259. Do you know'that Major Holmes made a report regarding you?—l do. 260. Was it favourable or unfavourable? —It was unfavourable and untrue. 261. Were you reported upon by Major Holmes, your superior officer?— But 1 ask permission to read the report of Major Holmes dated the 30th October. 262. The Chairman.] You may deny the truth of that, and we will accept it?— May I be permitted to read the report in my favour? 263. Yes, do? —It is dated the 30th October, in Samoa, and signed by Major Holmes : " Prom P.M.0., Samoan Expeditionary Force, to P.M.0., Auckland Military District.—With a detachment of thirty-three men classed as temporarily unfit for service in Samoa will go Captain Yeates, N.Z.M.C. Captain Yeates has carried out his work here admirably. It is essential that a Medical Officer be returned to Samoa by the same boat, and \ trust (hat Captain Yeates, if he so desires it, may be sent back here." 264. Mr. Gray.] You visited the camp last Sunday?—l did. 265. Whom did you see there?— Captain McCristell. 266. The Camp Quartermaster? —Yes; and I told him that I came out to get evidence for this Commission. 267. You were not allowed to go over the camp?—l walked through the camp first.