NEW ARMY DEPOT

New Zealand Herald, Volume 78, Issue 24135, 29 November 1941, Page 10

NEW ARMY DEPOT

CONVALESCENT CASES : PROPERTY AT BOMBAY TREATMENT OF SOLDIERS The convalescent training depot for soldiers which is to be established in the Northern Military District will bi built on the Raventhorpe farm pro. perty at Bombay. After it was announced in May that such , a depot was to be provided in the district, it wa« stated that several sites were under consideration, the two gaining aost favour being the Raventhorpe property and one at Red Hill, Papakura, near the present military camp. Since then the construction of the depot has been taken a stage further by the selection of the Raventhorpe property and by the approval of pl&ng for the buildings. Tenders have not yet been called, but in view of the fact that similar depots in the central and southern districts are in hand, it is expected that a start on the Northern Military District establishment will not be long delayed. The site is about half a mile north of St Stephen's College and is adjacent to the Great South Road. Large Cost Involved The authorities concerned are the Army and the Public Works Department. The depot will be under purely military control and will the responsibility of any hospital board. No statement would be made.in Auckland yesterday about the cost of the establishment. However, it is known that it will;- cost many -thousands of pounds. One estimate even placed ths figure as high as £IOO,OOO. It is stated that the plans provide for an adminstration block, physiotherapy and massage departments, gym. nasium, lecture hall and recreation theatre. Lectures, will be a regular feature, the idea being to effect mental as well as physical improvement in the men. The depot will probably have a capacity of about 200. A Dual Purpose Like those being established in the two other military districts, the Raventhorpe depot will serve a dual purpose. It will take short-term convalescent soldiers after hospital treatment and provide them with graduated treatment and training to harden them for return or admission to ordinary camp .-life. In addition, it will serve a remedial purpose, treating such conditions as flat feet and poor development to make the men suffering from such defects fully fit for active service. It has also been explained by the Director-General of Medical Services, Brigadier F. T. Bowerbank. that such depots will also take war-weary men from overseas and those sent back for I change. The depots will be staffed by medical personnel and attendants and by skilled recreational training officer*.