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97. In deciding to have fifty men in each but were you following any particular experience or rules in such matters? —No, except, that fifty is a fairly divisible number—a company would run to about two hundred and fifty men, and that would give about five huts to a company. 98. Did, the question of the ventilation of those huts occur to you? Yes, ii did. 99. And the question of discipline also, I suppose ?-■ -Yes. 100. You know the military manuals on the subject: we have had if suggested upon those authorities that the proper number should be about twenty-four to a hut : what do you say about that?— That is so according to the text-books, but I do not know Unit we followed them so closely. It, is a matter where other considerations come in. That may be laid down for an all-round permanent place; but we saw that fifty, with sufficient ventilation, was going to be more economical and more handy for us in every way. 101. Than huts for twenty-four men?—-Yes, 102. The question of the cost was gone into, was it not .—Yes. 103. This is Lieut.-Colonel Firths "Military Hygiene" manual (1908) on the subject: il says, " The ground occupied by a hut should be cleared, levelled, and drained. The hut, should be provided with ridge ventilation and projecting eaves to carry off the rain-water from the foundations; it should have the requisite number of windows, and should be raised sufficiently from the ground to allow a free current of air to pass underneath the flooring. Tn hot climates the roof and sides should be double if these latter are not protected from the sun by verandas. Like permanent barracks, they are best placed en echelon to receive l the full advantage of tin winds. Their ventilation is effected by openings in the ridge, or outlet shafts should be used, passing through the roof and terminating in louvres, with inlets under the eaves. Warming may be effected by the use of stoves or an open grate; the latter is preferable, as it assists in ventilation. At, home stations where hutments are in use the floor-space per man is 50 square feet and the cubic space 500 cubic feet; at stations abroad the floor area per man varies between 50 and 70 square feet, and the cubic space between 500 and 850 cubic feet. The construction of huts depends on whether they are used for temporary purposes or whether they are Intended to be of a, more or less permanent character. In the latter case the sides are built usually of brick. AATiat are known as Docker huts have been favourably reported on, and much used both in our own and tho German Army. They are made of wooden or iron frames, covered with a kind of felt, and lined with canvas. They are very portable, and the fastenings are so arranged that they can be put together in a very short time. Those huts are well ventilated by windows, cross-louvres, and ridge ventilators; if so desired, they can be readily warmed. In addition to these there are a variety of other huts, differing from each other only in the nature of the material of which they 7 are constructed. In general design and type they are similar. As a rule huts should not be made to accommodate more than twenty-four men " ? —Yes, sit. 104. Were you aware of the general notion that, about twenty-four men was about flu- number that a hut should be made for?— Yes, 1 was quite well aware of that. 105. Can you say why that was departed from—why il was decided to put fifty men into a hut when twenty-four was looked upon as the tegular thing?—lt was a fairly divisible number, and discipline could be better maintained, and il was more economical. 106. Mr, Ferguson.] In this climate you thought, fifty would be suitable? —Yes, particularly as there was ventilation introduced from Ihe eaves of the hut or sides of il. Lieut.-Colonel Firth has been departed from even a few months ago by the military authorities at Home, where thirty men, are put into a hut measuring 60 ft. by 20 ft. 107. The Chairman!] Very small huts? —Yes. 108. AVhat. is the space each man gets in these huts for fifty men, do you remember? —He w ill hfive from 25 ft. to 70 ft. 109. Mr. Ferguson.] The Home huts provide 10 ft. per man?—-Yes, if thai is what those measurements I have given work out tQ; —thirty men in a hut (iO ft. by 20 ft. . . 110. Then we have fifty men in a hut 70 ft. by 22 ft. : what is thai per man ? Dr. Frengley : Over 31 ft. 111. The Chairman.] Then, according to Colonel firth, from 50 to 70 square feet is what they allow? —Probably the all-round hut has not that clear ventilation right through that, our huts have. 112. Then we have the report of the Board, which was sent in on the I Ith January: did that come before you?— Yes. 113. You reported, I think, in favour of tlie hutments? Yes, sir. 114. Your report in favour of the hutments was based upon these considerations : comfort, during the' winter months; at the conclusion of the war it would be necessary to have some place at which to demobilize; from a medical and sanitary point of view huts are more advisable than tents for a long period; saving is effected by facilitating administration; it, would save a considerable amount of tentage during rifle meetings and annua] training-camps; huts would be available for schools of instruction, or, if not wanted, they could be dismantled and the material sold? —Yes. 115. Dealing with the size of the hutments, Knox, an English authority, says there should.be 50 square feet, and in England it is 40 square feet, and we had 31 square feet. After the plans were referred to the Board did that question come under your consideration —the amount of space per man per hut? —Not that I remember; but the amount of air and ventilation was ample in the method of construction. 116. I see you communicated on the 23rd February. 1915. with the Under-Secretary of Public AVorks as follows: "With reference to.the proposal to erect huts for the accommodation of the troops at Trentham Camp, I have to advise you that the Hon. tlie Minister of Defence has approved of the erection of one hut for officers and one for the men, together with necessary