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or lion-recognition of the British Medical Association and military men. The so-called military men we have here are really, after all, civilian doctors. 150. Mr. Ferguson.] I suppose they belong to the British .Medical Association? —I do not think so. 151. Do they leave the association as soon as they put on khaki? —Sometimes a doctor in a public position thinks he would have a freer hand if he did not belong to the association—not that he would be ostracized from the association, but that it is better for him to be independent. Our association, which it is known is a community of doctors for the welfare of themselves and for the welfare of the community, try to get everything up to date and to be up to date. We have an executive which is picked by the different branches of our association throughout New Zealand. That executive is stationed in Wellington, so that any big question is immediately brought under their attention, and they can be consulted at a moment's notice. They have not been consulted. 152. The Chair-man.] Well, this matter of having a sort of depot that any soldier on leave might go into and consult a doctor, and perhaps be attended to without having to go to the camp or thehospital, might well, in your opinion, be established at once?— Certainly, sir. 153. It could be opened to-morrow morning at some chemist's shop without any delay?— Yes; and I will state this: that, if necessary, 1 will give one hour every morning myself—from 9 to 10 each morning—because 1 think these men just want a little direction. I know men can escape from the camp in an infectious condition. They may have measles, which may not be apparent one hour, but the next they would be caught at the depot and prevented from going throughout the country. 154. Of course, the Health authorities are here, and 1 dare say your suggestion lias been heard by them? —Another matter I wish to refer to is the eases that, have been sent away from Trentham. I have in my mind one man —1 cannot give his exact, name, but I IhitUv it is C. Turner. That man was passed by the doctors in Christchurch and went into camp hem. The change of diet and change of surroundings made him slightly constipated, and lie was dismissed as being medically unfit, He went back to Christchurch again and got into his normal health. He enlisted again and was passed by the doctors, and when he reported to the camp he was without ceremony thrown out, He returned to Christchurch, and I overhauled him myself. I found him physically fit. He told me why he had been dismissed —on account of chronic constipation, which was not a fact. 1 then wired to Camp Commandant Potter, and he wrote back to me to the effect that the man had been dismissed because of chronic constipation. 155. He has not been taken back? —No. He is quite a good man, a splendid rifle shot, a tip-top Volunteer or soldier, and simply for the want of a little medical attention he was thrown back twice. He feels very wronged about it, and I think rightly so 156. Mr. Ferguson.] Have you looked into the matter of a dispensary at, the camp sir. 157. You have not gone into the chemist's side at all? —No, I have not. Of course, I have heard remarks from the men. The letter you have read will tell you how the men are treated. That man said he got a mixture of Epsom salts, cascara, and some liquorice-powder. 158. He must have been the man who had prescriptions given to him by three doctors?—He said that was what he got in his mixture, and he suggested to his mother (hat he supposed if a man had a broken leg he would get .the same thing. As I said before, a, great deal of trouble and anxiety has been unnecessarily caused by the friends and relations of the men not being able to get any direct information as to their condition, and I have a letter here written by a man, whose name I cannot give, which I will read, in which he gives the circumstances. The letter reads, — "Christchurch, 12th July, 1915. " The Officer in Charge, the Defence Department. " Deak Sib, —On the 14th June a Mr. Leslie Walton left Christchurch to join the Seventh Reinforcements at Trentham, and on the 28th June I sent him a, wire to the effect that, his mother was ill and sinking, and to come at once. The following' day, having received no reply, I wired him ' urgent ' that his mother had passed away. Shortly after a reply was received from him that he could not, come as he had been ordered to the hospital and was writing. [That was the 29th June.] Up to the present I have been unable to get, any further information regarding him [that is the I.2th July], and under the circumstances I would ask you Io investigate the matter and reply as soon as possible. I might mention that Mr. Walton is my cousin. The letter he spoke of in (lie wire has not yet been received, and I am entirely at a loss Io understand the reason why no advice of his illness or the .nature of it has been received by his parents.—Yours faithfully, ." 159. Did you investigate if and get any satisfaction?—! got no satisfaction. I have not written to him personally. 160. Has the whereabouts of the boy been found?-—I do not, know that yet either. T6l. We can only ask the Defence Department or the medical department?—He promised that he would wire me if he did not get satisfaction. That was last, Monday afternoon, the 19th, when I got that communication. He said that if I did not. hear from him within the next day or two it would be all right, so I presume it has been. 162. Mr. Gray.] You have not heard from him?—No; I have not heard from him in the meantime. Now, sir, I wish to make one concluding remark, and thai is that I think the whole thing has been a matter of starvation by the authorities. They have cringed at a few pounds. I think from £5.000 to £10,000 would have made all the difference between a state of perfection almost and the huge muddle we have been through; £2,000 would have established a base hospital, the equipment, for which was given by the ladies of Wellington, and the money for the hospital was subscribed by the doctors throughout New Zealand. 163. That was only for equipment?—No.