AIR BARRACKS

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume LXVI, Issue 19886, 14 March 1939, Page 16

AIR BARRACKS

WHENUAPAI STATION PROJECT TO COST £IOO,OOO QUARTERS FOR 100 MEN WORK SPEEDED UP '•'■' • (Pel Press Association.) AUCKLAND, this day. The entering into by the Government of a contract to construct airmen's barracks and the decision to consider .tenders for the erection of officers' messrooms and quarters, is the latest development in the creation of an operational station for the Royal New Zealand Air Force at Whenuapai, near Hobsonville. The amounts involved in the construction of these barracks and quarters are likely to total more than £IOO,OOO, and give a further illustration of the ambitious nature of the defence programme at Whenuapai, the pace of which has been accelerated. The successful tenderer for the men's barracks at Whenuapai is Mr. W. H. Whittaker, of Sandringham, and while the price is not disclosed, it is thought to be in the vicinity of £80,000.: The airmen's barracks will make provision for the accommodation of and recreation for a permanent force of over 100 men, with special quarters for sergeants, corporals and other ranks. Whereas the barracks will 'be of two storeys, the officers' mess and quarters, for which tenders are to be invited, will be of one storey only. Like the barracks, the officers' section will comprise a central block with flanking wings, connecting by corridors-and containing 28 bedrooms and will probably cost from £25,000 to £30,000.