INADEQUATE DRILL HALLS.

Auckland Star, Volume XLII, Issue 194, 16 August 1911, Page 2

INADEQUATE DRILL HALLS.

AN AUCKLAND KEMEMEi In Major-General Godlej*s first report on the defences of New Zealand, presented to Parliament yesterday, it was stated that the drill halls at present in use were totally inadequate for the increased number of men and boys to be trained under the new scheme.

Seen by a "Star" representative this morning on the matter, Captain Carpenter, of the local staff, said that the Auckland drill hall was one of the largest in New Zealand. The reserve on which the building was situated would not accommodate a bigger structure, and he did not think that it would he advisable to go to the expense of purchasing another central site. Their intention •was to use the present building more as a District Staff headquarters than as the territorial drill halL

The district area officers were to obtain possession of all the suitable halls, and school rooms where necessary, for the drilling of the men in the vicinity. This would to a large extent, overcome any danger of cramping, and parades required ior any units larger than a company could be arranged to take place out of doors. Asked if he thought any difficulty would he experienced in getting the 'buildings required, Captain Carpenter said that if anything of that sort occurred they would 'be empowered by law to use any place that was necessary for carrying on operations.