QUARTERS FOR AIR FORCE

Press, Volume LXXII, Issue 21714, 22 February 1936, Page 14

QUARTERS FOR AIR FORCE

PROVISION PLANNED AT, WIGRAM £20,000 TO BE SPENT Because in the past permanent members of the New Zealand Air Force have been compelled to live away from the Wigram aerodrome, the centre of their activities, the Defence Department has accepted tenders for' the provision of living quarters for' about 50 single men. Tenders for the work, which is estimated to cost about ] £20,000. have been accepted, and within six months two fine buildings will be completed on a section almost immediately opposite the main entrance to the aerodrome at Sockburn These two buildings will be the sleeping dnd living quarters, which will be linked by a covered way, and, in addition, a large new workshop is to be constructed at the aerodrome. The plans;; which were shown tc~ "The Press" yesterday, provide fori buildings which will be a credit to the I department. l , The living quarters include recreation; 1 reading, writing, and billiards rooms, in addition to the large dining-room, and the necessary, kitchen and boiler room. Two billiards tables will be provided, while the recreation room is 48 feet'long by 25 feet wide. The reading and writing rooms together are about the same sizel The kitchen will be electrified. The sleeping quarters, which, like the living quarters, will be constructed almost entirely of wood, will be of two storeys. Two of the bedrooms are double, but the remainder are single, 10 feet by seven feet. Those measurements are of clear floor space, for capacious wardrobes and large dressing-tables will be built in. - Both these buildings will be of the hipped-, roof design, the only gable, and that a very small one, being over the main entrance to the living quarters. The workshop, the estimated cost of which is £IO,OOO, will be of design similar to the existing hangars, As yet no provision has been made for married members of tne force, but it is understood that plans are being prepared for suitable quarters for them.