DISABLED MEN FROM WAR

Press, Volume LXXXI, Issue 24653, 24 August 1945, Page 4

DISABLED MEN FROM WAR

TRAINING CENTRE AT RICCARTON

PLANT BEING INSTALLED

Although the extensive buildings have appeared for some time tp be ready for occupation, the rehabilitation centre on Riccarton road will not be opened until October. Internal fittings are not completed, and drainlaying and road-making have been held up by bad weather. Even by October the centre will be incomplete, as the boiler plant has not arrived from England and the 60-feet concrete chimney has to be erected. The centre, which will be conducted by the Christchurch branch of the Disabled Servicemen’s Re-estab-lishment League, is spacious in both buildings and grounds. The completeness of the buildings is there to be seen; the grounds are still in a rough, state, indeed worse than when the ‘site was first entered upon for building. The plans provide for an imposing entrance from Riccarton road and for the laying out of the ground facing north. The reading and levelling have been held up by the delays in'laying the many chains of drains on the property; the pipes arc on the site, but whenever a beginning has been about to be made on the laying of them rain has fallen. The excavations made for the bowling green towards the Stafford street end of the properly are now a big pond. The swimming pool, between the two wings of the buildings, is dr5 r . The back-filling of the concrete walls of the baths has yet to be done. Most of the machinery for the woodworking section of the centre has arrived from England, and the builders are now placing the ceiling of the main workshop and are about to subdivide tfie assembly room into three compartments, where french polishing, upholstering, and packing will be done. The recreation room is ready ior furnishing. There is a .big fireplace, with box seats extending away from it. Two billiards tables will probably be placed in this room, off which the library will be situated. Stacks have been built for books of a technical nature relating to the trades to be taught at th^'centre, and of general reading. The adjoining cafeteria is also spacious and sunny, and the kitchen is being ■ fitted with modern steam ovens used for some time in military camps. Experience has guided the planning of the section in which the limb-fitting department will be quartered. The approach from the Riccarton road entrance is by ramp and steps; and dressing cubicles, to be locked froiti the inside, have been built in the cebtre of the room. Full-length wall mirrors will be built at each end of the balustrade walk for the amputees, so that their movements when trying artificial limbs can be watched by the fitters. In the western wing are situated the leather room, the “miscellaneous” room, in which many unusual types of trades will be taught, and the wicker-work room. The centre has been promised a special cloth loom built at Pleasant Point which can be operated in turn by men with various limb losses without any readjustments to the loom being made. The total floor space of the centre is 28.000 square feet, all on the ground floor. The contract was supervised by the Public Works Department. At a meeting of the executive of the league yesterday, it was decided that as the training centre was nearing completion an appeal should be made for funds for furnishing the centre and for the general welfare purposes of the trainees. __