KEEN SOLDIERS

New Zealand Herald, Volume 78, Issue 24136, 1 December 1941, Page 9

KEEN SOLDIERS

BUILDING OWN CAMP ARMY SERVICE CORPS

WORK AT GLOUCESTER PARK Working voluntarily in their spare time, territorials of the Army Service Corps units in Auckland are engaged in transforming Gloucester Park, Onehunga, into a permanent A.S.C. training depot. The use of the park has been granted to the units by the Onehunga Borough Council for the duration of the war and aa long afterward as it is required. This enterprising scheme follows the successful establishment by the units of headquarters in' the city in the Northern District Army Service Corps clubrooms in Anzac Avenue, where two floors are in nightly use for lectures and parades. Clearing Level Parade Ground Tim units concerned are the Ist and sth Composite Companies, Army Service Corps, and the Ist Reserve Motor Transport Company. Work was commenced at Gloucester Park in the weekend, and fair numbers of territorials were present both yesterday and on Saturday. Consisting of 20 acres on the Onehunga foreshore, Gloucester Park was formerly used as a speedway, At present" stormwater from the streets flows into the park, but the council has volunteered to divert this elsewhere. The use of a large tea-kiosk also will be granted for orderly rooms and quartermasters' stores. It is proposed to clear the entire _ park for a level parade ground. Raised ground along the western side of the park will be graded and rows of tents will be pitched on two separate levels to preclude the possibility of flooding. Council's Full Co-operation Several lorries were wo. king over the week-end bringing scoria from the pit owned by the Mount Smart Domain Board. The Army Service Corps at present is paying 3d a yard royalty to the board, but it is hoped that negotiations proceeding will result in the removal of the charge, as all the work to be done is in the interests of national defence. The_ initiative of the Army Service Corps is to be commended, and the council will give every assistance possible, ' said Mr. J, Park, Mayor of Onehunga, yesterday. "The council lias placed the service of its technical officers at the disposal of the units, and from discussions with officers in charge, it can be predicted that the park will eventually be one of the finest training grounds in the metropolitan area."