195

H.—l9b.

E..A. VINCENT, j

60. Did the orderly-sergeant give you the straw?—He brought it, along the lines. 61. Did you notice immediately the straw was damp?— Yes, when it was opened. 62. Pretty soon after you got it? —Yes. 63. You made no complaint that night?—We either had to take that or go without. 64. You got it at half past 8 : were there others to be supplied ?—No, we were the last. There were other men waiting for an issue of blankets. 65. Do you suggest that neither you nor any of your tent-mates were capable of making a protest to somebody that night?—We did not know whom to complain to. We were just put into the tent to sleep that night. 66. Did it occur to any of your mates to go back and say, " You have given us damp straw " ? —But the whole bale was not damp. 67. You slept on what you knew to be damp straw?— Yes. 68. You knew at the time it was damp?— Yes. 69. Do you not think it was a foolish thing to do?—No; I had a good waterproof sheet. 70. And you took the risk? —Yes. 71. Did it not occur to you as a foolish thing to do? —No; 1 did not take much notice of it. 72. Had you ever slept on damp straw before? —Not that I know of. 73. At all events, it is to the damp straw you attribute all your troubles? —Yes. . 74. You knew it was damp and you did not make a protest to any one?— No. 75. The Chairman.] Did the others not get damp straw too?— The bale was gone in the centre. 1 waited till I saw we had everything we wanted for the night, and then went to the canteen to get a cup of coffee before going to bed. By the time 1 came back the others had taken most of the straw and left me the centre. 76. Apr. Ferguson.] Did you put the waterproof sheet over the damp straw?— Yes. 77. Mr. Gray.] Did you feel any inconvenience during the night?—No; it was on the Monday morning I noticed it. 1 was slightly off my sheet when I woke up 78. You went into the camp on the Saturday?— Yes. 79. Had the straw not got dry by the Sunday? —No; it had no chance of getting dry. 80. Was it a wet day?—No; but it was left in the tent. 81. The Chairman.] Did you not have it changed on the Saturday?—lt was on the Monday 1 got a new lot—when we were shifted to a new tent. 82. Mr. Gray.] Was the canteen open on the Sunday? —Yes, I think so. 83. Did you make an attempt on the Sunday to get fresh straw? —Y r es; we got half a bale. 84. There was no difficulty in getting fresh straw if you asked for it ?—I do not think so. 85. The Chairman.] You were sleeping in a tent for two years before you went to camp?— Yes, on and off. I was not out of it very much except when up country. 86. Well, up to the time you joined the Force to go to camp where were you sleeping —in a tent at Palmerston North? —Yes. 87. What had you to sleep on in the tent? —A boarded floor and a stretcher. 88. Did you sleep there on account of your health?—No, in preference to being in the house. 1 prefer a tent to the house. 89. Did any of the others in your tent suffer in any way that you know of? —No, I do not think so. 90. Mr. Ferguson.] Had you been a Territorial before? —Not in the Territorials. I had three years in the Manawatu Mounted Rifles. 91. You are used to camping?— Yes. 92. You knew what you were expected to do? —Yes. 93. You were not a stranger to the life?— No. I had not only been in camp with the Mounted Rifles, but had worked in camp. 94. You knew who the man was in charge of the camp : you knew he was called the Quartermaster, did you not? —Yes. It was hard to find out whom to go to. The orderly-sergeant got us the straw. 95. Do you think it was neglect on the part of the medical department in not examining you quicker? You said you had to stay there from early morning till half past 3 in the cold till the Medical Board could examine you : did you think that was neglect in any way ?—Well, all the others had to wait there, and there was no place to sit down or anywhere to get a comfortable seat. When I wanted to sit down I had to get some one who would help me down and help me up again. That was after I had the two months' leave. 96. Mr. Salmond.] Were the medical authorities aware at that time what you had been suffering from? —1 do not know about the medical authorities, but the Camp Commandant should have known. 97. Why?— Because I had written to him before the two months' leave was up, and my mother wrote to the Camp Commandant wanting to know on whose part the neglect was that she had not been notified. He wrote back that I was admitted to Wellington Hospital with a mild attack of rheumatism. 98. After being sent away from the camp to the Wellington Hospital were your parents notified? —No; it was by accident they found out. 99. How long afterwards? —Thirteen days after I went to the hospital. They found out through an uncle of mine who was in Wellington. I really inquired for him. I could not write myself for a couple of days after my hands were bad. 100. Have you got a copy of that letter you sent to the Camp Commandant?—l have not it with me. 101. Did you make a copy?—l have a copy at home, I think.