MOBILISATION BASE.

Auckland Star, Volume 198, Issue LVII, 21 August 1926, Page 11

MOBILISATION BASE.

NGARUAWAHIA TRAINING CAMP. CONSTRUCTION OF BUILDINGS. (By Telegraph.—ParUamentai-y Reporter.) WELLINGTON, Friday. Reviewing the expenditure on works for the Defence Department, the Public Works Statement says that considerable progress has been made with the development of the mobilisation base and traininsr camp at Wifkato camp. Ngaruawahia. Four magazines for big explosives and the earthworks for others have been completed. Three married quarters and one single men's quarters have been erected. A kitchen and two mess-rooms, capable of accommodating 1000 men. have been provided, and were in full use in February. The water-sup-ply system is now complete. Surface drainage and roading have effected considerable improvement to the camping area. The construction of the larg.--ordnance depot buildings for reception of stores is now being undertaken. In view of the development of Waikato camp little money was available for works elsewhere, although many of these are of considerable importance. Several new drill halls are urgently required, while mess-room accommodation, married quarters, and store-rooms at Burnham camp are very necessary. It is hoped to complete the more urgent of these works this year, but the majority must be delayed pending the completion of Waikato camp. Another urgent work similarly affected is the development of the important, recently acquired aerodrome site at Hobsonville. Purchase of land for the aerodrome site at Hobsonville cost £26J)25. There is no vote this year for the aerodrome. This year's votes, with last year's expenditure in parentheses, for the camps are as follow: —Ngaruawahia, £50,000 (£42,126): Burnham, £10,000 (£4133); and Trentham, £40,000 (£10,863). There is a vote of £10,000 for harbour defences; last year's expenditure was £1275.